BinaryIce – Basics

Ice crystals are the smallest producible refrigeration unit. They have the special property to change their state abruptly from melted to frozen or vice versa what is called binary behavior. In contrast to an ice cube that melts continuously, ice crystals have an incredibly high reaction kinetics and are therefore particularly suitable for storing cold energy. In the liquid aggregate phase water has a high fluidity and is therefore particularly well pumpable.

In most applications of refrigeration and air conditioning the needed cooling capacity over an specific period is very variable. For example: If you look at the cooling demand curve of a theater it is clearly noticable that a large cooling capacity is required during the events. Between the events there is little to no need for air conditioning.

Therefore conventional air conditioning systems have to be designed exorbitant in relation to average energy demand. This becomes noticable by very high costs and large space requirements. Unnecessary financial expense can be saved in all applications by employing innovative systems with cold energy storage. So it is possible that a small refrigeration system can continously fill up the cold energy storage, which will be emtied during the events when the cold energy is needed.

We have succeeded in combining the different properties of the aggregate phase of water in one product: BinaryIce. It is possible to pump the ice crystals in a water based mixture and store it in small to large amounts. Our BinaryIce is adjustable in a temperature range from -1.2°C to -35°C.