Preserving Fresh Seafood Quality from Catch to Processing: Flake ice is universally recognized as the optimal preservation medium for seafood due to 4x greater surface contact area compared to crushed block or tube ice. Tan Long SUS316 flake ice machines with stationary vertical drums and internal helical ice blades produce sub-cooled, dry ice flakes that wrap softly around delicate seafood without scratching skin or damaging flesh.
3. Mechanical Architecture & Stationary Evaporator Drum Technology
Unlike conventional rotating-drum ice makers (prone to catastrophic refrigerant leaks at dynamic mechanical seals after 1-2 years), Tan Long flake ice machines employ advanced Stationary Vertical Evaporator Drum Technology with vertical rotating scraper blade:
- Double-Walled SUS304/316L Stainless Evaporator Drum: Internal drum freezing wall is precision CNC mirror-machined, with internal refrigerant channels welded and tested to 28 bar hydrostatic pressure.
- Hardened SUS304 Stainless Helical Ice Cutter Blade: Helical tooth profile cleanly shears ice flakes with minimal friction, reducing blade wear and gearbox motor power consumption.
- Recirculation Water Sump & Circulation Pump: Water cascading from top to bottom is captured in the stainless sump and re-pumped to top distributors, recirculating 100% with zero water waste.
- 60mm Monolithic Polyurethane Insulation: Exterior clad in brushed SUS304 with high-pressure injected PU foam preventing 100% of condensation sweating.
4. Flake Ice vs. Other Ice Types in Seafood Preservation
| Technical Parameter | Tan Long Flake Ice | Crushed Block Ice | Tube Ice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flake Ice Thickness & Geometry | Dry sub-cooled flakes, 1.5 - 2.2 mm thickness | Jagged sharp chunks, irregular sizes | Hollow round tubes, 22 - 35 mm diameter |
| Harvested Ice Temperature | -6°C to -8°C (sub-cooled dry) | -0.5°C to -1°C (prone to wet thaw) | -1°C to -2°C (wet surface) |
| Seafood Skin & Tissue Bruising Risk | Zero scratching; softly conforms to delicate fish and shrimp contours | Sharp edges pierce fish eyes and crush delicate shrimp tissue | Point contact; sharp edges dent and puncture fish skin |
| Cooling Heat Transfer Speed | Instantaneous (surface area > 1,800 m²/ton) | Moderate (prone to block agglomeration) | Slow due to limited surface contact area |
| Electrical Power Consumption / Ton of Ice | 75 - 85 kWh / ton | 105 - 125 kWh / ton (including crushing labor/power) | 90 - 100 kWh / ton |
5. Sanitation & Food Safety Operating Protocols for Flake Ice Machines
To maintain pristine food-grade ice quality meeting export seafood hygiene standards, Tan Long engineers recommend:
Weekly Cleaning & Chemical Sanitization
Drain water sump, flush distribution nozzles with food-grade sanitizer. Inspect ice cutter blade alignment and lubricate bearings with NSF H1 food-grade grease.
Feedwater Pre-Treatment & Conditioning
Feedwater should pass through softening filters to remove calcium and magnesium ions, eliminating limescale scaling that degrades thermal transfer by 15-20% over 6 months.
1. Mechanical Engineering & Core Advantages of Tan Long Flake Ice Machines
- SUS316L Stainless Stationary Evaporating Drum: Internal and external drum surfaces are CNC mirror-machined from medical-grade SUS316L stainless steel, enduring high seawater salinity and chlorine sanitizers without surface pitting after 10 years.
- Hardened Helical Rotary Ice Cutter Blade: Precision-machined wear-resistant alloy cutter blade rotates around a fixed vertical axis, shearing ice cleanly with minimal friction and motor power draw.
- Monolithic Injected PU Foam Insulation: The drum circumference is insulated with seamless 75mm injected polyurethane foam preventing surface sweating and thermal loss.
- Freshwater & Direct Seawater Freezing Options: Tan Long delivers two configurations: Freshwater flake ice machines for onshore food processing plants, and direct marine seawater flake ice machines installed on offshore fishing vessel decks.
2. Tan Long Flake Ice Machine Capacity Matrix
| Machine Model | 24-Hour Ice Production | Drum Dimensions (Diameter x Height) | Required Refrigeration Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| TL-FIM-02T | 2 Tons / 24h | Ø 550 x 850 mm | 11 kW (-22°C) |
| TL-FIM-05T | 5 Tons / 24h | Ø 750 x 1,200 mm | 28 kW |
| TL-FIM-10T | 10 Tons / 24h | Ø 1,050 x 1,600 mm | 54 kW |
| TL-FIM-25T | 25 Tons / 24h | Ø 1,450 x 2,100 mm | 135 kW (Recommended NH3) |
In-Depth Technical FAQs on Stainless Flake Ice Machines
1. Does flake ice clump or freeze into solid blocks inside ice storage rooms?
Flake ice harvested from Tan Long machines boasts over 98% dryness at -7°C, delivering sub-cooled free-flowing flakes. When held in ice storage chambers with gentle air cooling or automatic rake systems, the ice remains loose without fusing into solid blocks.
