Ice slurry properties of seawater.

Ice generating machines are more and more used on fishing vessels to produce ice slurry from seawater. Because slurry with up to 60% ice can be handled and poured over the catch, there is excellent potential for long preservation of the catch on board and during transport, improving seafood quality for the end user. A literature search has been made to establish physical property data of seawater as a function of salinity and temperature. Ice slurry properties of seawater have been generated and are presented by means of an enthalpy phase diagram and related diagrams giving ice concentration, enthalpy change, density and viscosity of fine crystalline ice slurry. These studies also confirm that an initial salt content of 2–3% will give optimal performance. Seawater is known to be corrosive and a brief discussion of corrosion factors and problems, use of corrosion inhibitors and choice of materials is included in the paper.