At the Raleigh arena, Don MacMillan uses two large water filtration systems to produce deionized water, which is essential for making clear ice.
Underneath the floor at the Raleigh arena, you'll find a refrigeration system like the one shown below. This system consists of three main pieces:
- Chillers (the Raleigh arena has three)
- Steel pipes with 2,800 pipe welds
- Brinewater (an antifreeze agent)
Five miles (8 km) of steel pipe wind under the rink in the Raleigh arena (A). The three chillers cool the brinewater to 16 F (-9 C) and provide up to 270 tons of cooling (see How Air Conditioning Works for the definition of a "cooling ton"). The brinewater's chemical makeup keeps it from freezing.
The maintenance team sets the refrigeration system's temperature manually, based on indoor and outdoor temperatures. To freeze the rink surface, the system pumps 9,000 gallons (34,000 L) of freezing brinewater through the pipes and then onto the ice-bearing concrete slab.
The brinewater is pumped (B) into the pipes embedded in the ice-bearing concrete slab (C). The ice-bearing slab sits between the skating surface (D) and a layer of insulation (E), which allows the ice to expand and shrink as temperatures and time demand. The brinewater helps keep the ice-bearing slab's temperature just below 32 F so that the water spread onto it can freeze.
Underneath the layer of insulation, a heated concrete layer (F) keeps the ground below the ice from freezing, expanding and cracking the rink structure. The entire rink sits on a base layer of gravel and sand (G) which has a groundwater drain at the bottom.
To defrost the skating surface, the brinewater is heated and pumped through the ice-bearing concrete slab. This heats the under layer of the ice, making it easier to break up and remove with front-end loaders.
FAQs
Ice skating works because metal skate blades glide with very little friction over a thin layer of water on the ice surface. At one time, scientists thought skaters created the water layer by melting the surface layers of ice through the pressure of their body weight.
How does an ice rink cooling system work? ›
The most common method of refrigeration used in keeping an ice rink frozen is an indirect refrigeration system. This is where a liquid refrigerant (often ammonia) absorbs heat from a secondary liquid (often brine) which has absorbed heat from the source.
How do ice rink machines work? ›
The Zamboni is a mechanical ice resurfacer. It works by scraping the ice surface and collecting the snow (which is later discarded). Next, it "cleans" the ice, by putting down water which flushes the grooves deep in the ice, loosening any dirt or debris. The excess water and dirt is then collected.
How do ice rinks not melt? ›
To keep the ice cold enough for skaters, the rink uses a minus-5-degree chiller, which is essentially a very large refrigerator that runs for 24 hours a day.
How is ice skating made possible? ›
Hint: If we need to skate on ice, we need to form gaps on the smooth surface of ice by converting it to water. Water can also help as lubricant for movement. So, we need to lower the freezing point of water. This conversion of ice into water by application of external force makes it possible to skate on ice.
How do ice rinks keep cold? ›
In ice rinks, the refrigerant cools brine water, an anti-freezing agent, which goes through pipes underneath the ice. These steel pipes are typically embedded into a concrete slab and kept at 32 F / 0 C, so that any water placed on top of the slab freezes and becomes the skating surface that we see.
How do they keep ice rinks so cold? ›
The technology used in indoor ice rinks is the same type found in refrigerators and air conditioners. Brine water, which is a salt and water solution, is pumped through a system of pipes under the ice. Those pipes are built into the concrete that makes up the arena floor.
How does a Zamboni work? ›
Shaving the Ice: A zamboni cuts away the top layer of ice (often 1/16th of an inch or less) using a sharp blade, much like a shaving razor. Rotating augers carry away the shavings into the 'snow tank,' which lies toward the front of the machine. Washing the Ice: Underneath the snow tank lies the water tank.
Why is a Zamboni called a Zamboni? ›
The first ice resurfacer was developed by American inventor and engineer Frank Zamboni in 1949 in Paramount, California. As such, an ice resurfacer is often referred to as a "Zamboni" as a genericized trademark.
Does a Zamboni use hot or cold water? ›
The machine dispenses warm water (140 to 145 degrees F or 60 to 63 degrees C) through holes at the back, where a towel smoothes it as it freezes along the surface [sources: Exploratorium, Zamboni].
The Model 100 (a small tractor pulled unit) may be in the neighborhood of $10,000.00 or more and the full-sized machines can be up to or in the low six figures.
Are ice rinks fake ice? ›
Traditional rinks utilize a blend of water and chemicals frozen into a solid form to create a dense, smooth skating surface. This process demands precise temperature control to maintain the ice's integrity. Conversely, the best synthetic ice is crafted from high-quality and very dense polymer materials.
Does fake ice melt? ›
What is the advantage of artificial ice cubes in comparison to real ice cubes? The advantage of our decorative ice cubes is that they do not melt.
Are ice rinks made of real ice? ›
There are two types of ice rinks in prevalent use today: natural ice rinks, where freezing occurs from cold ambient temperatures, and artificial ice rinks (or mechanically frozen), where a coolant produces cold temperatures in the surface below the water, causing the water to freeze.
Do they use real ice for ice skating? ›
There are two types of ice rinks in prevalent use today: natural ice rinks, where freezing occurs from cold ambient temperatures, and artificial ice rinks (or mechanically frozen), where a coolant produces cold temperatures in the surface below the water, causing the water to freeze.
Why can you skate on ice but not glass? ›
As long as what's underneath it is also not compressible, it can withstand impressive force on top of it. The pressure under the skate actually cause the ice to melt temporarily - allowing the skate to slide - and the the water refreezes because of the surrounding ice.
