Flake ice
Encyclopedia
'Flake ice' is a loose definition of a group of ice types with irregular particle sizes. These types can be roughly grouped into two main types, 'scale ice' and 'granular ice'.
This can cause a lot of confusion as different manufacturers, industries or even geographical areas will say 'flake ice' and mean different things.
is usually large, flat, thin pieces of ice (1-2mm), subcooled down to around -7degC in order to make it brittle enough to crack off the ice maker evaporator. Often called 'flake ice' or 'scale ice' Mainly used in the fishing and concrete cooling industries, typically in large quantities.
Advantages: Can be stored below zero, fairly large surface area, flat pieces good for 'layering' Available with a single evaporator up to 50 tonnes.
Disadvantages: If allowed to melt it will freeze together into large lumps, rendering it unfit for purpose.
Ideal storage: Refrigerated below zero.
can vary from very small pieces that look like coarse snow for rapid cooling and gentle packing, up to pieces 9mm thick for extended storage in warm environment. The small types are often called 'crushed ice', 'granular ice' 'fine ice', or 'micro ice'. The middle and thick sizes are often called 'flake ice', 'chip ice', 'granular ice'. As these ice types are made in a scraped surface evaporator, they don't need to be sub-cooled to make them brittle so are usually around -0.5 to -1degC
Mainly used in the process industries including bakeries, fish, meat and in laboratories. Most people are familiar with this type of ice due to its widespread use in retail fish sellers such as fishmongers and Supermarkets. Machines are commonly available from 30 kg up to 1,500 kg with some manufacturers producing machines up to 10 tonnes daily capacity.
Advantages: Available in different sizes to suit a wide range of applications, suitalbe for use in warm environments, does not freeze into lumps during prolonged storage above zero.
Disadvantages: Not econonomical when requirements are for above 15 tonnes, cannot be stored below zero.
Ideal storage: +2degC to +10degC.
Geneglace call scale ice 'flake ice' and granular ice 'granular ice'.
Ziegra call scale ice 'scale ice' and granular ice 'chip ice'.
Scotsman call scale ice 'scale ice' and granular ice 'flake ice'.
Other manufactures who offer only one type generally call them all 'flake ice' regardless of which type it is, thus rendering the term almost meaningless.
This can cause a lot of confusion as different manufacturers, industries or even geographical areas will say 'flake ice' and mean different things.
Scale ice
Scale iceScale ice
Scale ice is one of the types of ice commonly referred to as Flake iceMade on a large vertical or horizontal drums, ice is formed on either the inner or outer surface of this drum by pouring a film of water over it, then contact freezing it into a thin sheet of ice. This ice is sub-cooled down to...
is usually large, flat, thin pieces of ice (1-2mm), subcooled down to around -7degC in order to make it brittle enough to crack off the ice maker evaporator. Often called 'flake ice' or 'scale ice' Mainly used in the fishing and concrete cooling industries, typically in large quantities.
Advantages: Can be stored below zero, fairly large surface area, flat pieces good for 'layering' Available with a single evaporator up to 50 tonnes.
Disadvantages: If allowed to melt it will freeze together into large lumps, rendering it unfit for purpose.
Ideal storage: Refrigerated below zero.
Granular ice
Granular iceGranular ice
Granular ice is one of the types of ice commonly referred to as Flake ice.Made in a tall, thin, vertical drum or 'freezing unit' with an auger running axially in the centre...
can vary from very small pieces that look like coarse snow for rapid cooling and gentle packing, up to pieces 9mm thick for extended storage in warm environment. The small types are often called 'crushed ice', 'granular ice' 'fine ice', or 'micro ice'. The middle and thick sizes are often called 'flake ice', 'chip ice', 'granular ice'. As these ice types are made in a scraped surface evaporator, they don't need to be sub-cooled to make them brittle so are usually around -0.5 to -1degC
Mainly used in the process industries including bakeries, fish, meat and in laboratories. Most people are familiar with this type of ice due to its widespread use in retail fish sellers such as fishmongers and Supermarkets. Machines are commonly available from 30 kg up to 1,500 kg with some manufacturers producing machines up to 10 tonnes daily capacity.
Advantages: Available in different sizes to suit a wide range of applications, suitalbe for use in warm environments, does not freeze into lumps during prolonged storage above zero.
Disadvantages: Not econonomical when requirements are for above 15 tonnes, cannot be stored below zero.
Ideal storage: +2degC to +10degC.
Problems
It can be very difficult when trying to compare machines as there is no agreed standard for naming these machines. Below are the manufacturers that supply both types and what they name them.Geneglace call scale ice 'flake ice' and granular ice 'granular ice'.
Ziegra call scale ice 'scale ice' and granular ice 'chip ice'.
Scotsman call scale ice 'scale ice' and granular ice 'flake ice'.
Other manufactures who offer only one type generally call them all 'flake ice' regardless of which type it is, thus rendering the term almost meaningless.