Dry ice, or solid carbon dioxide, is an important material with a wide range of applications in many fields. Due to its low temperature characteristics and unique sublimation phenomenon, dry ice plays an important role in food refrigeration, medical transportation, industrial cleaning, and stage special effects. This article will introduce the basic concepts, production processes, and application scenarios of dry ice manufacturing in detail to help you fully understand the production process of dry ice and the scientific principles behind it.

1. Basic concept of dry ice

1.1 Definition of Dry Ice

Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2) with a temperature of -78.5 degrees Celsius at normal pressure. Dry ice does not melt into water like ordinary ice, but sublimates directly from solid to gas, hence the name “dry ice”. This unique sublimation property gives dry ice a unique advantage in many applications that require low temperatures but cannot have liquid water.

1.2 Physical properties of dry ice

Dry ice has the following significant physical properties:

• 1. Low temperature properties: Dry ice has a very low temperature of -78.5 degrees Celsius, which makes it very effective in refrigeration and freezing applications.
  2. Sublimation phenomenon: Dry ice changes directly from solid to gas without passing through a liquid state. This property means that dry ice does not leave any liquid residue during use, making it particularly suitable for environments where moisture is not allowed.
  3. Non-toxic and odorless: Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide, non-toxic and odorless, and harmless to the human body under reasonable conditions of use.
  4. High density: The density of dry ice is about 1.56 g/cm3, which is denser than ordinary ice. Therefore, dry ice can provide more cooling capacity in the same volume.

2. Production principle of dry ice

2.1 Source of carbon dioxide

The main raw material of dry ice is carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide used in industrial production of dry ice mainly comes from the following channels:

1. 1. Industrial byproducts: Some industrial processes (such as ammonia production, ethanol fermentation, oil refining, etc.) will produce carbon dioxide gas, which can be used for dry ice production after capture and purification.
   2. Fossil fuel combustion: The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas will also produce a large amount of carbon dioxide, which can be converted into dry ice through capture and purification technology.
   3. Natural sources: Natural carbon dioxide deposits or underground gas reservoirs are also important sources of carbon dioxide. Through mining and processing, these natural carbon dioxide can be used for dry ice production.

2.2 Liquefaction of carbon dioxide

The production of dry ice first requires the liquefaction of gaseous carbon dioxide. The liquefaction process is usually carried out under high pressure, and the gaseous carbon dioxide is converted into liquid by pressurization and cooling. Typical liquefaction conditions are about 20 bar (1 bar is approximately equal to 1 atmosphere) and -20 degrees Celsius.

2.3 Forming of dry ice

Liquid carbon dioxide enters the decompression chamber through a special nozzle. During the decompression process, part of the liquid carbon dioxide evaporates rapidly and absorbs heat, while the remaining part cools rapidly and solidifies into solid dry ice snow. This process is similar to evaporative cooling. Liquid carbon dioxide absorbs a large amount of heat during decompression and evaporation, causing the temperature to drop rapidly, causing the remaining part to solidify into dry ice.

2.4 Compression molding of dry ice

The generated dry ice snow needs to be further compressed and molded for easy use and transportation. Compression molding usually uses a special compressor or hydraulic press to press the dry ice snow into dry ice blocks, dry ice particles or dry ice sticks of different shapes and sizes. The pressure and time need to be controlled during the compression molding process to ensure the density and strength of the dry ice.

3. Dry ice production equipment

3.1 Dry ice manufacturing machine

Dry ice manufacturing machine is a device specially used for producing dry ice. Dry ice manufacturing machines can be divided into small, medium and large types according to production capacity and application requirements. The main dry ice making machines include dry ice block making machine, dry ice pellet making machine and dry ice stick making machine.

1. Dry ice block manufacturing machine: used to produce large blocks of dry ice, suitable for applications such as food refrigeration and industrial cooling.
2. Dry ice pellet manufacturing machine: used to produce dry ice pellets of different sizes and shapes, suitable for industrial cleaning, laboratory research and special cold chain logistics.
3. Dry ice stick manufacturing machine: used to produce dry ice sticks, suitable for scenes requiring large cooling capacity.

3.2 Dry ice storage equipment

The storage of dry ice requires special low-temperature storage equipment to keep the dry ice at a low temperature and reduce sublimation losses. Dry ice storage equipment usually uses insulation materials with good thermal insulation properties, which can effectively reduce the sublimation rate of dry ice.

3.3 Dry ice transportation equipment

The transportation of dry ice requires special transportation equipment, such as low-temperature transport boxes and refrigerated trucks. The dry ice needs to be kept at a low temperature during transportation to reduce sublimation losses and ensure that the dry ice can arrive at the destination safely and intact.

4. Application scenarios of dry ice

4.1 Food refrigeration and preservation

Dry ice has a wide range of applications in food refrigeration and preservation. Due to the low temperature characteristics and sublimation phenomenon of dry ice, it can keep food fresh and frozen without producing liquid water. Dry ice is widely used in the transportation and storage of frozen food, ice cream, meat and seafood to ensure that food maintains the best quality during transportation and storage.

4.2 Pharmaceutical cold chain transportation

Dry ice plays an important role in pharmaceutical cold chain transportation. Many biological products and drugs need to be transported and stored in a low temperature environment to ensure their activity and stability. Dry ice can provide a stable low temperature environment and is widely used in the cold chain transportation of vaccines, blood products and biological samples to ensure that pharmaceutical products remain in the best condition throughout the transportation process.

4.3 Industrial cleaning

Dry ice cleaning is an environmentally friendly and efficient industrial cleaning technology. Dry ice particles are sprayed onto the surface of the object to be cleaned under high pressure, and dirt and contaminants are quickly removed through the low temperature and mechanical impact of dry ice particles. The dry ice cleaning process does not produce secondary pollution and is suitable for equipment maintenance, mold cleaning and cleaning of industrial facilities.

4.4 Stage special effects

Dry ice is also widely used in stage special effects. The white smoke produced by the sublimation of dry ice can create a dreamy stage effect and is widely used in performances, weddings, parties and other scenes. By controlling the amount of dry ice used and the spraying method, a variety of different stage special effects can be created to enhance the audience’s visual experience.

5. Safety and environmental protection in dry ice production

5.1 Safe operation

The dry ice production process involves high pressure and low temperature, which is dangerous. Operators need to receive systematic training to master the correct operation methods and emergency response capabilities of the equipment. Safety regulations must be strictly followed during the production process to ensure the safety of equipment and personnel.

5.2 Environmental protection measures

Environmental protection issues need to be paid attention to during the dry ice production process. Carbon dioxide, as a greenhouse gas, needs to be effectively controlled. By adopting advanced capture and purification technologies, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced and more environmentally friendly dry ice production can be achieved.

6. Summary

Dry ice, as a unique low-temperature material, has important application value in many fields. By selecting appropriate dry ice manufacturing equipment, optimizing the production process, and strengthening the maintenance and maintenance of equipment, the production efficiency of dry ice can be effectively improved and the production cost can be reduced. Understanding the production process and application scenarios of dry ice can help companies better utilize the advantages of dry ice and achieve more efficient and environmentally friendly production.

I hope that through this detailed introduction, you have a more comprehensive understanding of dry ice manufacturing. If you have any questions or need further technical support, please feel free to contact us, we will serve you wholeheartedly.