An Economical Standalone Wind-Electric Ice Making System

51155-98-I An Economical Standalone Wind-Electric Ice Making System--Yankee Environmental Systems, Inc., 101 Industrial Boulevard, Turners Falls, MA 01376-1608; (413) 863-0200 Dr. William Q. Jeffries, Principal Investigator Ms. Cynthia A. Cote, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82716 Amount: $75,000 Many regions worldwide have no electric power supply and would benefit from inexpensive locally produced flake ice for preserving food such as fish. Small wind turbines could fill this gap. Such a system has successfully been demonstrated, but problems remain before a wind-powered ice making system is commercially viable. In this project, means of improving this system to increase ice production while retaining simplicity will be explored by reviewing past experience, extensive consultation with refrigeration industry experts, and computer simulations. A system configuration will be selected, components tested, the controller designed and built, and the system as a whole tested at wind test sites. In Phase I, system configurations, including multiple compressors or electronic speed control for load matching to increase ice production, will be examined using simulation tools and industry experience to balance cost, complexity, and efficiency. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Ice-making plants are sold worldwide to fishing and other food industries located where electrical infrastructures exist. But in many coastal regions, such as Alaska, Canada, Central America, and the Philippines, ice for packing fish is expensive or unavailable; these regions often have abundant wind and are good candidates for wind-powered ice making. Ice also has economic value for medical and general food preservation._