Ice Rinks: What Makes Them So Cold?
Albertha Tromp
2025-05-28 15:32:02
Count answers: 5
The magic starts with the refrigeration system beneath the surface of the rink. This system circulates a chilling solution, usually glycol, in pipes under the ice. The glycol absorbs heat from the ice, preventing it from melting. It is like an air conditioner for the rink, but instead of cooling the air, it cools the ice.
June Greenfelder
2025-05-21 07:34:24
Count answers: 2
The slab of ice rinks is chilled using the refrigerant system placed in one of the layers of the rink that pumps the cold glycol through pipes. When this brine passes, the heat is removed from the ice surface, keeping the temperature at -4.0° C. The steel pipe used in this process is placed at 0° C to freeze the water placed on the top of the slab. Usually, for an average size hockey arena, 240 gallons of refrigerant is required.
Theodora Davis
2025-05-13 10:43:51
Count answers: 7
Essentially, outdoor rinks utilize a substance called propylene glycol to maintain the temperature inside ice rinks. Glycol runs through pipes under the rink, pumping coolness throughout a system underneath the ice. It takes about three days to create the ice itself. Water must be sprayed and frozen in thin, individual layers on a chilled surface, typically concrete but sometimes asphalt. Most outdoor rinks use a chiller, which is essentially a large refrigerator set at minus five degrees and running 24 hours a day to keep the ice frozen.
Think of an ice skating rink like an air mattress filled with coolant while the ice sits on top. The mattress, aka the rink, is filled with pipes, which deliver the coolant (such as glycol or other substances) and keep the ice cold.
Many rinks use ammonia and brine to keep the ice frozen. This involves a complex process where the chiller absorbs heat from the ice rink through brine, which transfers the heat to ammonia, causing it to boil and vaporize. The vaporized ammonia is then pressurized by a compressor, raising its temperature, and condensed back into a liquid to restart the cycle. This chilled brine circulates through pipes in the rink floor, drawing heat from the ice surface to keep it at around -4°C, before returning to the chiller to repeat the process.
Athena Torphy
2025-05-02 07:02:35
Count answers: 5
The standard temperature for an indoor ice skating rink is generally between 20°F (-6°C) and 24°F (-4°C). Ice rinks use refrigeration systems that circulate cold brine through pipes beneath the ice to keep the surface frozen.
Lisette McKenzie
2025-05-02 04:48:27
Count answers: 4
The temperature inside an ice rink typically ranges between 55°F (12°C) and 65°F (18°C). However, the ice itself is kept much colder, typically around 24°F (-4°C). Proper insulation helps keep the cold air in and the warm air out. High humidity can cause the ice to become soft and slushy. Effective air circulation helps maintain consistent temperatures throughout the rink. Colder temperatures can help reduce the risk of players overheating during intense physical activity. If the ice is too warm, it can become soft and make skating difficult. Conversely, if it’s too cold, the ice can become brittle and more prone to chipping. Proper ice conditions are crucial for player safety, reducing the likelihood of falls and injuries.
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