Dry Ice Production Demystified: Go Behind the Scenes and Uncover the Magic of Pelletizers

        In the world of cutting-edge technology, Dry ice pelletizers are a striking innovation. This revolutionary machine opens the door to countless applications and pushes the boundaries of what is possible in freezing carbon dioxide. In this comprehensive exploration, we'll delve into the world of dry ice, tracing its history, assessing its safety, understanding its production process, and uncovering the differences between dry ice and liquid nitrogen. Finally, if you are also very interested in the dry ice manufacturing project, we also provide configuration plans and dry ice related expansion information.

What is Dry Ice?

        Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide that captures people's imaginations with its mysterious properties. Dry ice is made by liquefying carbon dioxide and injecting it into a storage tank, where it is frozen at -109° F and compressed into solid ice. Depending on whether dry ice is made in a pelletizer or briquetting machine, dry ice can be made into pellets or chunks. Unlike regular ice, dry ice does not melt into liquid when it heats up. Instead, it is converted directly back to its gaseous form through a process called sublimation. It sublimates directly into dense fog, making it a unique and versatile substance. Its subzero temperatures and ability to create dramatic effects make it widely used in various industries.

        At -109° F, dry ice also has a much cooler surface temperature than regular ice, which is 32° F.

Historical Journey of Dry Ice

        The history of dry ice dates back to the early 19th century and is primarily associated with the research of French scientist Adrien-Jean-Pierre Thilorier.

        Discovery of Adrien-Marie Applet (1835): Applet was a French chemist who conducted a series of experiments between 1834 and 1835 that ultimately led to his successful preparation of solid carbon dioxide. That is dry ice. He used carbon dioxide gas under high pressure and reduced the pressure to quickly solidify it, forming dry ice similar to snowflakes.

        Initial uses: Dry ice initially did not attract widespread attention because it was relatively difficult to produce and preserve. However, people soon realized its potential for application in some special fields. First, people began to use it for refrigeration and preservation. Over time, people gradually realized its importance in laboratories, medicine, and food transportation.

        Industrial production (early 20th century): With the continuous exploration of the uses of dry ice, industry began to produce dry ice on a large scale at the beginning of the 20th century. This makes dry ice more accessible, prompting its widespread use in many fields.

        Frozen food and transportation: With the development of food freezing technology, dry ice has become an important refrigerant. It is widely used for refrigeration and transportation of biological products and food products that require extremely low temperatures.

        Experiments and Special Effects: Dry ice is also widely used in scientific experiments and special effects, such as creating smoke effects on stage.

        The history of dry ice is a gradual development process, from early laboratory discovery to industrial production and wide application in different fields. Today, dry ice remains an important cryogen and laboratory tool in many industries.

Safety Considerations of Dry Ice

        While dry ice is widely used and anyone can take advantage of its many benefits, it is important to understand and address the potential dangers associated with its use. Keep a few safety tips in mind:

        - Protective measures: Use gloves and goggles to protect skin and eyes. Because dry ice is extremely cold, direct contact may cause frostbite.

        - Ventilation: When using large amounts of dry ice indoors, make sure you have a good ventilation system. Carbon dioxide is a colorless and odorless gas but can be harmful to humans in high concentrations.

        - Avoid closed containers: Do not put dry ice into closed containers because the carbon dioxide gas produced by the dry ice will gradually accumulate and may cause the container to explode. Use breathable containers or packaging materials to ensure the carbon dioxide can be released.

        - Avoid Prolonged Contact: Avoid prolonged contact with dry ice, especially on unprotected skin. Freezing effects may cause tissue damage.

        - Handle Properly: Dry ice quickly transforms into a gas at room temperature, which is called sublimation. Therefore, when using in sealed bags or containers, ensure there is proper ventilation to prevent internal pressure from building up.

        - KEEP OUT OF CHILDREN: Keep dry ice out of the reach of children. Because of the risks of dry ice, children should use it under adult supervision or avoid contact.

        - Emergency measures: If you come into contact with dry ice, rinse immediately with warm water and seek medical help. If you inhale large amounts of carbon dioxide, leave the contaminated area quickly and seek emergency medical assistance.

        These safety considerations help ensure that potential risks are minimized when working with dry ice. Depending on the specific use, relevant industry and manufacturer safety recommendations should also be followed.

Dry ice is safe to use in areas with air circulation, but it can cause carbon dioxide buildup in small enclosed spaces. Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen molecules, which can cause asphyxiation over time. Some of the early signs of oxygen deprivation are:

- Headache

- Confusion

- Disorientation

- Difficulty breathing

- Bluish tint to the skin

        Because dry ice releases carbon dioxide gas, you also shouldn’t store the material in an airtight container. Otherwise, gas buildup can pressurize the container and cause it to burst.Be cognizant of the types of materials that interact with dry ice. Glass, ceramic, stoneware, plastic, and other surfaces can crack if they’re exposed to dry ice because of the dramatic temperature difference. It’s common to use Styrofoam coolers to transport and store dry ice because it won’t crack, is insulative, and lets carbon dioxide disperse safely. 

        If you touch dry ice without wearing protective gear, it can cause frostbite. Always wear gloves when handling the material and consider using tongs to move pieces instead of handling them directly.

Production Process of Dry Ice

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, usually produced by converting liquid carbon dioxide gas into its solid form.

        ①Preparation of liquid carbon dioxide: The production of dry ice begins with the preparation of liquid carbon dioxide. This is usually produced by compressing and cooling carbon dioxide gas to a sufficiently low temperature. Under high pressure, carbon dioxide changes to its liquid form.

        ②Lower Temperature and Pressure: After preparing liquid carbon dioxide, the temperature and/or pressure need to be lowered to turn it into a solid state. This step is usually accomplished by reducing the pressure of the liquid carbon dioxide. Because liquid carbon dioxide is very cold at room temperature, decompression will cause the temperature to drop sharply, causing the liquid to directly sublime into a solid, forming dry ice similar to snowflakes.

        ③Molds and Cutting: During the sublimation process of carbon dioxide, blocks of dry ice are formed. These blocks can be molded into dry ice blocks of different shapes and sizes. Some production processes also include cutting dry ice to obtain the required specifications.(OLLITAL®, as the leader in the Dry Ice Cleaning industry in mainland China, its HR-KL series of Dry Ice Pellet Making Machines can directly produce dry ice blocks of different shapes and sizes.)

        ④Packaging: Prepared dry ice cubes need to be packaged to maintain their quality and prevent sublimation during transportation. Common packaging materials include insulated bags or insulated containers.

        ⑤Storage and transportation: Dry ice needs to be stored at extremely low temperatures, typically below minus 78.5 degrees Celsius (minus 109.3 degrees Fahrenheit). This ensures that the dry ice remains solid rather than sublimating into a gas. During transportation, insulating materials and packaging are required to prevent leakage of carbon dioxide gas and maintain temperature.

        It is worth noting that dry ice is not durable and will sublimate into a gas at room temperature. Therefore, the time from production to use needs to be minimized to ensure that it remains solid when needed.

What Is the Difference Between Dry Ice and Liquid Nitrogen?

- Chemical composition:

        Dry ice: It is solid carbon dioxide (CO₂), its molecule consists of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

        Liquid nitrogen: It is liquid nitrogen (N₂), and its molecule is composed of two nitrogen atoms.

- Temperature:

        Dry ice: Sublimation temperature is minus 78.5 degrees Celsius (minus 109.3 degrees Fahrenheit).

        Liquid nitrogen: Boiling point is minus 195.8 degrees Celsius (minus 320.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

- State:

        Dry ice: It is solid at room temperature and sublimates directly into a gas.

        Liquid nitrogen: It is a liquid at room temperature, but it quickly evaporates into a gas at room temperature.

- Use:

        Dry ice: commonly used in refrigeration, frozen food and biological products, special effects stage smoke, laboratory freezing, etc. Since the gas produced by sublimation is limited, it is relatively safe.

        Liquid nitrogen: widely used in laboratories, industrial cooling, food freezing, medicine and manufacturing, etc. Liquid nitrogen has a more powerful cooling effect, but needs to be used with caution due to the large amount of gas produced by evaporation.

- Safety Precautions:

        Dry Ice: Pay attention primarily to the carbon dioxide gas produced by sublimation and ensure ventilation and appropriate personal protection.

        Liquid nitrogen: Care must be taken to prevent damage to skin and tissue caused by extremely low temperatures, and direct contact with liquid nitrogen must be avoided.

- Environmental friendly:

        Dry ice: It is renewable and its raw material, carbon dioxide, is a natural component of the atmosphere.

        Liquid nitrogen: It is a kind of gas and is relatively abundant, but its large-scale use will cause gas emissions and energy consumption problems.

        Liquid nitrogen is much colder than dry ice, typically between -346°F and -320.44°F, which also makes it more dangerous to handle. Because it is a liquid rather than a solid, it is also more challenging to use in many environments and can be difficult to control.

        Liquid nitrogen is commonly used as a refrigerant due to its extremely low temperature, typical for food freezing, storage of biological products in specialized freezers, and thermal grain refinement in metallurgy, but it is most commonly used for the storage or transportation of gaseous nitrogen Useful ways.

        Dry ice, although not as cold, can be used as a method of transporting frozen goods as it can stay cold in designed shipping cartons for up to 7 days.

Dry ice is also used in the food processing industry to prevent spoilage in large-scale mixing or grinding processes (such as hamburger production). Dry ice particles are added directly to the grinding process to keep the grinding temperature below the bacterial growth temperature range. Liquids are useful for these applications. Say, nitrogen is usually too cold.

        All in all, both dry ice and liquid nitrogen are powerful refrigerants, and the choice depends on the specific use and needs. When using these refrigerants, pay attention to safe operations and choose appropriate protective measures according to the specific situation.

         As a leading one-stop manufacturing service provider in the cleaning industry in mainland China, OLLITAL ® has various types of dry ice manufacturing and production machines in its product series. Each type of dry ice pelletizer has its own advantages and is used for different purposes in specific industries.Provide customized dry ice pellet machines to meet the needs of different customers. This includes machines of varying sizes, capacities and functions, as well as special designs to suit different industries and applications.

        OLLITAL is a one-stop service manufacturing supplier in the dry ice industry, from 0 to a complete dry ice production line, to dry ice transportation, dry ice use to Dry ice cleaning machines. OLLITAL provides the perfect one-stop service. If you are interested please call +8615960821529 or email kevin@ollital.com and we will be happy to inform you about the possibilities and options for dry ice production.