The gel-ice is an ice crystal suspension in an antifreeze solution. This new type of ice has many advantages in comparison with the traditional ice as it can be used in direct contact with the product to be chilled or be circulated in an indirect way through a heat exchanger.

ADVANTAGES:

• The gel-ice is 100% ecological.
• High heat capacity: The gel-ice is a binary mixture of water and ice with a high heat interchanging capacity amounting to 80 Kcal/kg.
• Capacity of being pumped:One of the main advantages of this system is its easy distribution. This is due to its capacity to flow through small tubes and holes, in addition to its capacity to be pumped through rigid and flexible pipes from its generation point up or down to its application point.
• More hygienic ice quality: The ice is always contained into alimentary reservoirs and piping and therefore there is no possibility to become polluted by air-borne dust that is deposited on the exposed parts of the tanks and vats.
• Ice crystal shape:Due to the round shape of the crystals and the absence of sharp edges, it becomes ideal for applications directly on the product to be chilled so avoiding any damage to the product.
• High heat capacity: The gel-ice is a binary mixture of water and ice with a high heat interchanging capacity amounting to 80 Kcal/kg.
• A large contact surface with the product to be chilled:Due to the large contact surface between the ice and the product and to the fact that the gel-ice is at subzero temperatures, a very fast chilling condition takes place that goes down to temperatures around zero degrees. Once the liquid surplus is drained the product is left totally surrounded by flake-shaped ice and consequently protected from aggressive atmospheres.
• Ability to operate at low temperatures: Even though the flo-ice is applied at temperatures from –3º C to –1º C. It is possible to reach temperatures down to –6º C.
• A lower manufacturing cost:The flo-ice generation means an energy saving between 30 and 40% in comparison to the traditional ice generation. In addition, the flo-ice can be stored in isothermal reservoirs and authorized by health statutory bodies for being reused later on, this condition allows to take advantage of the periods when the electric power has a lower cost.
• A lower infrastructure cost. The necessary infrastructure for the flo-ice is cheaper as it does not need:
    · Infrastructures of great ice silos.
    · Mechanical Systems to remove the ice from the silos.
    · Light tanks to transport the ice until the final destination.
    · Electric or gas-oil trucks.
    · Maintenance of the infrastructure.
    · Conveyor belts for the ice.
• The chilling time becomes reduced: It reduces, amongst a third and half, the chilling time in comparison to the traditional ice.
• It increases the useful life of the product: It increases the useful life of the alimentary product and therefore it improves its quality and price.

APPLICATIONS:

Even though the fish preservation is the more known application of the flo-ice, there are many other applications among which, we underline the following ones:

- Fish gutting
- refrigeration of the fish after theirsacrifice in fish factories
- refrigeration of the fish in boxes
- refrigeration for direct contact of fruitsand vegetables after their gathering
- fast refrigeration of the productsboiled in their own bag by immersion
- refrigeration and cleaning of the birdsafter their sacrifice
- direct refrigeration of the sausagemeat and of the pat during themixture process
- direct refrigeration of the mass duringthe mixture process in the bakeries
- refrigeration of the milk for circulationof gel-ice through the badges of theinterchangers of heat
- concentration ofjuices of fruits- fast refrigeration of animal hides
- ammonia substitution in workingplaces where the refrigerationis required by air
- provision of thermal storage for airconditioning
- provision of thermal storage for milkyproducts
- suppression of exothermic heat duringthe refrigeration of the molds of theConcrete structures
- in bulk productionof ice for theindustrial processes
- artificial ski trail
- fast fire extinguishers
- refrigeration of oilseatables oils, starches and otherproducts like purees of fruits which canbenefit or a very fast refrigeration.
- Increase of the existing brine systems capacity by removing the "bottleneck" that takes place in the brine distribution system.