Ice rink grid for ac guys!

[thefoobag]

So each winter I build an ice rink for the kid and myself the the back yard, 55x36, perfect for some quality passing and close quarters stick handling!

Winters have been pretty lack luster in IL as of recent, so I looked into getting a cooler system, however they generally start at 25k . I feel I could easily build the grid, but the pump for something like that is where the cost would come in. Would a compressor unit from a house be enough or should i look for something more efficient?

And for the grid would i just make a long snaking style grid, or is there a parallel style set up that could have orifices going across to the return side? I am curious as to what would keep the most even cooling distribution. This is just preliminary but I figure the more experienced ac guy would be the best to bounce ideas off of.

here is a pic for width/length just in case.

 

[6768rogues]

Are you planning to circulate refrigerant below the ice or have a refrigerating plant and circulate chilled brine? The only ice rink I ever inspected had a brine system because it was too expensive to circulate refrigerant.

 

[Bert_]

I assume it would be set up just like an infloor heating system, Multiple loops depending on the size. Probably running some sort of coolant in the loops under the rink, I could see the condensing unit with a heat exchanger beside it to chill the coolant.

 

[Kaizen]

Just like ice melting for a driveway the btu output needed is insanely high. I don't thing a three ton ac unit will make a dent in it if it's forty degrees. You flood it at night when it's below freezing. Right? These are tough to do


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[LS6 Tommy]

It's not gonna happen with a residential comfort A/C condensing unit. You need to build a brine refrigeration plant.

Tommy

 

[Sjfab]

To make ice you will need to fill the system with glycol, then cool that glycol below 27*F. No residential system would hold up to the rigors of making these temps. Without major system design changes. Tonnage will be your biggest problem. Minimum tonnage on a small ice rink is 50 tons.

 

[Brian_WK]

The lower your tonnage the lower your maximum usable temp will be. Your also going to need to use something that uses a low temp refrigeration as well as a heat exchanger. You would also need to use a manifold and divide the rink into sections. The problem with using pex it's that the cold doesn't travel far from the pipe. Most of the portable ice rinks use pads that the glycol circulates through.
I'm in the same boat ( except my rink is only 32x18) I do HVAC/ refrigeration and it's just not feasible unless you have some serious money. Depending on what part of Illinois your in, a shade shelter would be better but would still keep you off the ice in the extended warm weather. But will keep your ice nicer. I'm in NE South Dakota and still haven't flooded... It's 56f for a high today... Indoor ice until after Thanksgiving.

Brian

 

[thefoobag]

The lower your tonnage the lower your maximum usable temp will be. Your also going to need to use something that uses a low temp refrigeration as well as a heat exchanger. You would also need to use a manifold and divide the rink into sections. The problem with using pex it's that the cold doesn't travel far from the pipe. Most of the portable ice rinks use pads that the glycol circulates through.
I'm in the same boat ( except my rink is only 32x18) I do HVAC/ refrigeration and it's just not feasible unless you have some serious money. Depending on what part of Illinois your in, a shade shelter would be better but would still keep you off the ice in the extended warm weather. But will keep your ice nicer. I'm in NE South Dakota and still haven't flooded... It's 56f for a high today... Indoor ice until after Thanksgiving.

Brian

Yeah I figured it would be a simpler setup. After I looked at a few things i figured Id post here. Yesterday I was added to an ice rink group and ended up seeing a ton of rich dudes building super rinks ('backyard ice rinks' is the group if you are interested). But holy hell no wonder its 25k. The separate cooling pads they had were definitely some quality stuff, the guy was filling it evenly with a spray by walking on them as they were chilling. Definitely out of my league haha!

I also figured a house one wouldn't do it that's why i asked on the size. Was more curious on what would be needed to power it. I guess ill keep gambling on the weather as my rink is currently 54x32 and shrinking for a few extra weeks for that cost wont be worth it till i have grand children likely haha!

 

[thefoobag]

still something i might be able to engineer at some point but not for quite a while!