Abstract: An ice machine includes a plurality of cooling tubes with each cooling tube having an inner tube and an outer tube extending around the inner tube to define an annular cavity between the inner tube and the outer tube. When refrigerant flows through the annular cavity between the inner tube and the outer tube, water in the inner tube freezes. The ice machine may also include a shell defining an internal cavity through which the plurality of cooling tubes extend; a water source operably connected to a water pump to flow water through the inner tube; a refrigerant source operably connected to a refrigerant pump to flow refrigerant through the annular cavity; and a heater operably connected to the internal cavity of the shell to flow a heated fluid through the internal cavity and across the plurality of cooling tubes.

Abstract: An ice machine for an ice-based thermal storage system comprises a plurality of pillow plates arranged in a plate bank, wherein each of the plurality of pillow plates includes an inlet connection and an outlet connection, with the respective inlet connections connected to a feed header, and with the respective outlet connections connected to a suction header. A water distribution pan is positioned at a top of the plate bank, and a tank is positioned below the plate bank. As an evaporator, the ice machine causes ice to form on the pillow plates, which then falls into the tank. As a condenser, the ice machine transfers heat to water flowing over the pillow plates, such that water at an increased temperature falls into the tank and melts the ice in the tank.

Abstract: An ice machine includes a plurality of cooling tubes with each cooling tube having an inner tube and an outer tube extending around the inner tube to define an annular cavity between the inner tube and the outer tube. When refrigerant flows through the annular cavity between the inner tube and the outer tube, water in the inner tube freezes. The ice machine may also include a shell defining an internal cavity through which the plurality of cooling tubes extend; a water source operably connected to a water pump to flow water through the inner tube; a refrigerant source operably connected to a refrigerant pump to flow refrigerant through the annular cavity; and a heater operably connected to the internal cavity of the shell to flow a heated fluid through the internal cavity and across the plurality of cooling tubes.