How do hockey rinks stay frozen?

Asked by: Jessica Roberts

The most common method of refrigeration used in keeping an ice rink frozen is an indirect refrigeration system. This is where a liquid refrigerant (often ammonia) absorbs heat from a secondary liquid (often brine) which has absorbed heat from the source.

How do they keep ice frozen in a hockey arena?

At the beginning of the hockey season, the arena uses an advanced refrigeration system that pumps freezing “brinewater” (salt water) through a system of pipes that run through a large piece of concrete known as the “ice slab.” When the “ice slab” gets cold enough, layers of water are applied to it.

How does ice stay frozen on the ice rink?

In ice rinks, the refrigerant cools brine water, an anti-freezing agent, which goes through pipes underneath the ice. These steel pipes are typically embedded into a concrete slab and kept at 32 F / 0 C, so that any water placed on top of the slab freezes and becomes the skating surface that we see.

How thick is the ice on a hockey rink?

The jersey is sometimes called a sweater because, during hockey’s early years, players actually wore sweaters and not the mesh-like jerseys of today. How thick is the ice? Ice is approximately 3/4″ of an inch thick and is usually chilled at 16 degrees fahrenheit. The thicker the ice, the softer and slower it becomes.

How long does it take to freeze a hockey rink?

It freezes almost immediately when it hits the cold floor. Then, more super-thin layers are applied. They are painted white to contrast with the black puck, and lines and logos are also painted on. The entire process can take almost 48 hours.

Does Zamboni use hot water?

The machine dispenses warm water (140 to 145 degrees F or 60 to 63 degrees C) through holes at the back, where a towel smoothes it as it freezes along the surface [sources: Exploratorium, Zamboni].

What happens to the ice after a hockey game?

The ice in an ice hockey rink is only removed when the regular season and playoffs are finished. When it’s time to get rid of the ice, the brinewater is warmed and circulated under the ice to begin the melting process. Once the ice has melted sufficiently, it is then broken up and carted off by front end loaders.

Do they paint the ice in hockey?

Two to three coats are applied to cover the surface. This is then sealed in with fine water spray, which freezes. The next step is to measure out where all of the lines/circles/logos are to go. Blue/red lines are strung in place and you paint in between the lines – just like we learned in kindergarten.

What refrigerant is used in ice rinks?

HCFC-22 is used as a refrigerant in many applications, including ice rinks.

How is ammonia used in ice rinks?

The majority of ice arenas and curling rinks in Canada use ammonia as a refrigerant in their refrigeration systems to cool the floors in their rinks and subsequently allow applied water to freeze into an ice surface.

How are temporary ice rinks made?

Rinks are constructed by interlocking panels. Synthetic ice is sometimes called artificial ice, but that term is ambiguous, as it is also used to mean the mechanically frozen skating surface created by freezing water with refrigeration equipment.

How much ice does a Zamboni remove?

When the machine resurfaces the ice, it is capable of removing close to 2,500 pounds of compacted snow, while it can leave behind about 1,500 pounds of water.

What are ice rinks made of?

High density polyethelene (HDPE) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW) are the only materials that offer reasonable skating characteristics, with UHMW synthetic rinks offering the most ice-like skating but also being the most expensive.

How cold is it inside a hockey arena?

between 50 and 60°

It’s going to be cooler the closer to the ice you are. Generally speaking, the ice will be about 25° and the air, for an inside game, will be somewhere between 50 and 60°. That’s not bad considering outdoor games must be played in freezing or below-freezing temperatures.

What temperature is hockey ice?

“The ice temperature before warm-up is about 18 degrees Fahrenheit, but that will climb as high as 24 degrees during the game,” says King. “The NHL’s standard for maximum temperature at the conclusion of a game is 24 degrees.”

Can you walk on synthetic ice?

Low quality synthetic ice can cause friction, leading to an undesirable skating experience and dull skates. Even the slightest friction will disrupt a skaters’ flow. It makes gliding difficult and requires more effort.

Does synthetic ice ruin skates?

Expect your skate blades to create small surface cuts that cause light shavings but note that low-quality, “textured” synthetic ice surfaces create more shavings than usual. This makes skating even more difficult and dulls your blades much quicker the more you skate on it.

How realistic is synthetic ice?

Synthetic ice isn’t as smooth as real ice and therefore is more resistant against skate blades (friction). So this means that it takes a little more effort than skating on a real ice surface. The benefit is that it makes you work harder to skate and that will translate into an easier experience on real ice.

How do you lubricate synthetic ice?

‘ A slip agent is a lubricant applied to the surface of the panels. It could recreate the physics of natural ice, allowing skaters to have a better experience. Adding slip agents to synthetic ice was a resounding success.

How long do synthetic ice tiles last?

Reality: The tiles are built to last

Synthetic Ice tiles are made to stand up to intense skating for years to come. In fact, some panels have a 8-year warranty and can last well beyond that timeframe. Technology has not only improved the skating experience but the durability as well.

What do you spray on synthetic ice?

EZ Glide Enhancer™

EZ Glide Enhancer is a non-toxic, non-staining spray-on glide enhancer developed by Ice Rink Engineering and Manufacturing, LLC for use on all synthetic ice surfaces, including self-lubricating and oil infused panels once their lubrication has dissipated.