Fast Ice Technology

[Vapor 0]

I remember seeing this at the garden a few years ago, but forgot to make a post. It is called "Fast Ice" and it says "The Future of Ice Making" or something along those lines. There are a bunch of valves that looks like it is spraying some sort of liquid (hot water, or a mixture of something I assume). I was just trying to get some information on what exactly it is, and if anybody knows anything about it.

[Chadd 916]

If it's what I'm thinking it is, it started in Tampa. They were having problems with the humidity and when water was laid down with a traditional conditioner, it wasn't freezing fast enough.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Yep...started in Tampa Bay...it has nozzles and it shoots a fine mist instead of flooding it.

The ice guys also have these laser thermostats and they check certain spots between tv timeouts. It really improved Tampa's ice.

http://www.fastice.com/

[cobrAA 0]

would this be good for minor hockey or just anything then NHL!?

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Any rink.

[cobrAA 0]

and are these fastice really faster?? because if they do... there no reason to not use them!!

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

It is faster to cut the ice...as it freezes faster than a conventional conditioner setup.

I would watch the Lightning guys cut and it'd be dry by the time they got to the other side of the ice.

[jason37 2]

It's used in Dallas also

[UMWhockey 0]

it is also about a $25K add on to your zamboni. A lot of problems that rinks have is when they put in their ice don't build it up with light mists, but heavy floods. this lets too much air into the ice as it takes time to freeze. This makes the ice very brittle and the ice doesn't get as cold as the rink would like. Also rinks that do not use hot enough or too hot water will have problems with the rink freezing fast enough. the worst enemy of ice is air, the colder the water the more air that can get into the water and reduce ice quality, or the hotter the water and the longer it takes to freeze the more air enters the ice and reduces ice quality.

sorry about the little rant. anyway, both zamboni and resurfice (Olympia) have very inexpensive water control systems which will keep a constant flow of water... less water as you slow down and more water as you speed up. These systems help control ice thickness which is one of the biggest causes of poor ice in rinks. To be honest, until the fast ice system comes down about $10K in price I really don't think it is that worth it. Just my opinion.

edit: oh, the concept behind the fast ice system is exactly how you build up ice after you paint it. Using a wand which mists water, the water snap freezes right when it hits the surface. This allows no air into the ice and a much harder firmer sheet of ice with no soft or wet spots

[RadioGaGa 162]

They've got one at one of the local rinks...

I was told that the spray is regulated by the speed of the Zamboni. When it goes slower the spray is less intense, so you don't get puddles.

Seems to make good ice when we've skated on it.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

edit: oh, the concept behind the fast ice system is exactly how you build up ice after you paint it. Using a wand which mists water, the water snap freezes right when it hits the surface. This allows no air into the ice and a much harder firmer sheet of ice with no soft or wet spots

I've been on the hose brigade a few times. That's always fun ;)

[UMWhockey 0]

edit: oh, the concept behind the fast ice system is exactly how you build up ice after you paint it.  Using a wand which mists water, the water snap freezes right when it hits the surface.  This allows no air into the ice and a much harder firmer sheet of ice with no soft or wet spots

I've been on the hose brigade a few times. That's always fun ;)

i think we are going to have to repaint this weekend. they just finished mold remediation at the rink and they decided to leave lifts and other equipment on the ice without putting anything under it.... so needless to say, i walked in today after they finished and found that i had 5 very large spots with no paint....