Comments on: Ice cubes and air bubbles http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/ - dedicated to molecular gastronomy Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:56:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: erik http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-108822 erik Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:29:57 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-108822 Late, but anyhow: a somewhat related problem that is rather fun is making perfect ice spheres. Reference at food for design (http://foodfordesign.blogspot.com/2008/05/perfect-ice-for-perfect-drinks.html). However, you need some new equipment that has to be stowed away in the kitchen when it's not used (a common problem in our home). This seems to require that you have a bubble-free ice cube to begin with, though. The final alternative is of course to obviate the ice altogether and use small rocks. Get some good looking small pebbles from the beach or a souvenir shop (commonly in science and natural historic museums), run them thoroughly in the dishwasher, and put them in the freezer. Reusable and not prone to dilute the drink. It takes all the fun out of experimenting with the ice, though :) Late, but anyhow: a somewhat related problem that is rather fun is making perfect ice spheres. Reference at food for design (http://foodfordesign.blogspot.com/2008/05/perfect-ice-for-perfect-drinks.html). However, you need some new equipment that has to be stowed away in the kitchen when it’s not used (a common problem in our home). This seems to require that you have a bubble-free ice cube to begin with, though.

The final alternative is of course to obviate the ice altogether and use small rocks. Get some good looking small pebbles from the beach or a souvenir shop (commonly in science and natural historic museums), run them thoroughly in the dishwasher, and put them in the freezer. Reusable and not prone to dilute the drink. It takes all the fun out of experimenting with the ice, though :)

]]> By: help needed http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-99866 help needed Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:40:24 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-99866 hi...i am doing some work on a project in which I have to establish laminar flow in a closed chamber which have 5 inlet holes and 5 outlet holes. I am pouring water into the inlets by using a water reservoir and the outlets are open to air.However there are bubbles being formed inside the chamber which are getting difficult to remove.These hinder the flow and dosen't make the flow laminar.Could anyone suggest a way to remove these air bubbles? If there is any solvent which helps in dissolving air bubbles,it would help. hi…i am doing some work on a project in which I have to establish laminar flow in a closed chamber which have 5 inlet holes and 5 outlet holes. I am pouring water into the inlets by using a water reservoir and the outlets are open to air.However there are bubbles being formed inside the chamber which are getting difficult to remove.These hinder the flow and dosen’t make the flow laminar.Could anyone suggest a way to remove these air bubbles? If there is any solvent which helps in dissolving air bubbles,it would help.

]]> By: Gastroholic http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-99848 Gastroholic Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:45:27 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-99848 I am working on making very clear ice and have resorted to my Anti-Griddle. I place silicone ice trays filled with distilled water on top of the anti-griddle. The water starts to freeze from the bottom up, therefore giving the bottom a head start, and thusly pushing the air out of the top. Clear as a bell. I am working on making very clear ice and have resorted to my Anti-Griddle. I place silicone ice trays filled with distilled water on top of the anti-griddle. The water starts to freeze from the bottom up, therefore giving the bottom a head start, and thusly pushing the air out of the top. Clear as a bell.

]]> By: Gianluca http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-88454 Gianluca Thu, 01 May 2008 21:44:35 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-88454 to avoid bad smells it's even easier to use ice cube bags like this: http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=30314 . in Europe they're much easier to find, but at least they're finally available in the US as well. to avoid bad smells it’s even easier to use ice cube bags like this: http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=30314 . in Europe they’re much easier to find, but at least they’re finally available in the US as well.

]]> By: Dot http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-86754 Dot Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:45:28 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-86754 how about the PH of the water, any trials with differing PH how about the PH of the water, any trials with differing PH

]]> By: Aaron J http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-86322 Aaron J Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:43:12 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-86322 Seems like freezing under a partial vacuum (would take a lower temperature) would help remove dissolved gases. Seems like freezing under a partial vacuum (would take a lower temperature) would help remove dissolved gases.

]]> By: Martin Lersch http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-85179 Martin Lersch Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:51:47 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-85179 I've googled a little and found <strike>two</strike> several patents on ice cube trays coupled with vibrators! <a href="http://www.google.com/patents?id=dzMdAAAAEBAJ&dq=Automatic+ice+maker+and+household+refrigerator+equipped+therewith" rel="nofollow">Automatic ice maker and household refrigerator equipped therewith</a> <a href="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2006/0032262.html" rel="nofollow">Icemaker</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3451227" rel="nofollow">Ice maker with oscillating movement</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3224213" rel="nofollow">Method for making and harvesting ice using ultrasonic vibrators</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1296741" rel="nofollow">Vibrator</a> I’ve googled a little and found two several patents on ice cube trays coupled with vibrators!

Automatic ice maker and household refrigerator equipped therewith

Icemaker

Ice maker with oscillating movement

Method for making and harvesting ice using ultrasonic vibrators

Vibrator

]]> By: David http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-85147 David Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:19:48 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-85147 You can always pick up an old freezer! I had an old refrigerator that used to vibrate a little and noticed all my ice cubes out of the trays were crystal clear. Older might be better. You can always pick up an old freezer! I had an old refrigerator that used to vibrate a little and noticed all my ice cubes out of the trays were crystal clear.
Older might be better.

]]> By: Martin Lersch http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-85079 Martin Lersch Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:49:15 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-85079 anon: Good suggestion. Does anyone make vibrators fit for clear ice cube production? justin: Yes - they use "cold fingers" (cylindrical metal tips) that are cooled and immersed into water which is circulated. Some models also allow water to freeze at the end of the cold finger, giving cup shaped ice cubes. anon: Good suggestion. Does anyone make vibrators fit for clear ice cube production?

justin: Yes - they use “cold fingers” (cylindrical metal tips) that are cooled and immersed into water which is circulated. Some models also allow water to freeze at the end of the cold finger, giving cup shaped ice cubes.

]]> By: justin http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-85037 justin Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:58:00 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-85037 "Turns out that someone has actually patented something similar where metal “fingers” are used to conduct away heat from the center, giving ring shaped ice cubes. Does anyone know if these were ever made for sale?" i often see bags of ice that consists of cylinderical hollow pieces of ice they were probably made in a similar process “Turns out that someone has actually patented something similar where metal “fingers” are used to conduct away heat from the center, giving ring shaped ice cubes. Does anyone know if these were ever made for sale?”

i often see bags of ice that consists of cylinderical hollow pieces of ice they were probably made in a similar process

]]> By: chadzilla http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-84905 chadzilla Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:14:15 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-84905 I've always wondered about that myself... but not to the analytical extent that you have. Years ago (when ice carvings was just a little bit cooler than it is now), we'd often purchase the huge blocks of ice necessary for carving. The blocks often came in with a 'feather' in the middle... or the flat straight section dead center that contained micro bubbles and impurities. If we wanted a clear sculpture, it was necessary to cut out the feather and design a sculpture around that idea. Other companies started to offer (at a higher price) blocks without the feather. I was told that they achieved this by freezing running water... although I never took the thought process further than that. Nice post. Very interesting. I’ve always wondered about that myself… but not to the analytical extent that you have.
Years ago (when ice carvings was just a little bit cooler than it is now), we’d often purchase the huge blocks of ice necessary for carving. The blocks often came in with a ‘feather’ in the middle… or the flat straight section dead center that contained micro bubbles and impurities. If we wanted a clear sculpture, it was necessary to cut out the feather and design a sculpture around that idea.
Other companies started to offer (at a higher price) blocks without the feather. I was told that they achieved this by freezing running water… although I never took the thought process further than that.
Nice post. Very interesting.

]]> By: anon http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/#comment-84780 anon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:38:41 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-84780 Putting a vibrating object under the icecube tray (or other figure to be frozen) seems to work really well. Play around with different levels of vibration and such, but with very little effort you should be able to get pretty much clear ice. Putting a vibrating object under the icecube tray (or other figure to be frozen) seems to work really well. Play around with different levels of vibration and such, but with very little effort you should be able to get pretty much clear ice.

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