Tube Ice Maker (Low-Side Only)
The heart of a tube ice machine is the ice generator — a vertical shell-and-tube vessel surrounded by a water tank. Water is evenly distributed through specially designed distributors at the top of each tube, creating a continuous spiral flow along the inner tube surface. Excess water is collected below the generator and recirculated, ensuring efficient water utilisation and consistent ice production.
Overview
Tube ice is produced as clear, hollow cylindrical ice measuring approximately 50 mm in length and 50 mm in diameter, with a wall thickness of 10 – 12 mm.
The system operates on the proven shell-and-tube heat exchange principle: water flows inside the vertical tubes while ammonia refrigerant circulates around them, and ice gradually forms on the inner tube walls.
Technical specifications
Specifications
- Ice form
- Hollow cylindrical, approx. 50 × 50 mm
- Wall thickness
- 10 – 12 mm
- Operating temperature
- −8 °C to −10 °C
- Storage temperature
- Approx. −5 °C
- Refrigerant
- Ammonia (NH₃)
- Harvest
- Automatic hot gas defrost with precision cutter
- Optional
- Adjustable ice crusher for varied particle sizes
Applications
Industries we serve
Key features
Engineered detail that shows up in uptime
Fully automatic ice-making process
Continuous water recirculation for high efficiency
Uniform, crystal-clear tube ice
Adjustable ice length with optional crushed ice
Automatic harvesting and conveying to storage
Low maintenance and energy-efficient operation
Designed for continuous industrial use
Production efficiency
- Capacity depends on evaporating temperature and feed water temperature
- Freezing cycle duration and refrigeration capacity determine output
- Parameters are optimised for maximum ice production at minimum energy consumption
- Optional adjustable ice crusher converts tube ice into various particle sizes
How it works
From water to packed ice
-
Water is distributed at the top of each vertical tube and flows in a spiral film along the inner surface; excess water is recirculated.
-
Ammonia refrigerant circulates around the tubes, freezing ice progressively on the inner tube wall.
-
When the freezing cycle completes, the machine initiates an automatic hot gas defrost cycle to release the ice tubes.
-
A precision cutter slices the ice to the desired length — typically 50 mm, adjustable to customer requirements — and the harvested ice is conveyed automatically to storage.
Send us a message
Fill in the form and our team will reach out within 24 hours.
Related products
