A new ice arena in the Kirovsky district of St. Petersburg: an impetus for industrial cold

In the Kirovsky District of St. Petersburg, on Soldata Korzuna Street, a modern indoor ice arena will soon be built. The developer's approval of the construction permit in early September marked the start of this important infrastructure project. The arena is designed for training athletes over the age of 18, as well as for hosting amateur hockey competitions. The one-story building with an ice rink will be complemented by a four-story building that will accommodate administrative offices, coaching rooms, sanitary facilities, and necessary infrastructure. The project also includes the landscaping of the surrounding area and the creation of a guest parking lot. The facility is planned to be operated year-round, which makes it significant not only for the sports community, but also for related industries.

The construction of an ice arena in the Kirovsky District will have a significant impact on companies specializing in the design, supply, and maintenance of industrial refrigeration equipment. Such a sports facility is a consumer of high-tech solutions that ensure the optimal temperature of the ice surface throughout the year. The commissioning of the new arena will create demand for the supply, installation, and further maintenance of complex refrigeration equipment, and may also stimulate the introduction of new, energy-efficient technologies.

Industrial refrigeration equipment for ice arenas: the heart of the ice field

The operation of an indoor ice arena is impossible without a reliable and efficient cooling system. Maintaining the required temperature and quality of ice requires the use of specialized industrial equipment. Let's explore the main components of such a system and their characteristics:

• Chillers (water cooling units): This is the main equipment responsible for cooling the coolant (most often an aqueous solution of glycol or propylene glycol), which is circulated in a system of pipelines located directly under the ice surface.

  • Principle of operation: The coolant is cooled as a result of the refrigerant's evaporation process in the chiller. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the coolant and turns into a gaseous state. Then, using a compressor, the gaseous refrigerant is compressed, increasing its temperature, and enters the condenser, where the refrigerant condenses and releases heat into the environment (air or water cooling). The liquid refrigerant then enters the evaporator again, and the cycle repeats.
  • Specifications: Cooling capacity (measured in kW or refrigeration tons), type of refrigerant used (ammonia, freons, CO2), energy efficiency (COP or EER), presence of a heat recovery system, and noise level.
  • Application: Cooling of the coolant to maintain the temperature of the ice field, cooling of the ventilation and air conditioning systems in the arena.

• Pump stations: They ensure the circulation of cooled coolant in a closed loop: from the chiller to the under-ice piping system and back.

  • Principle of operation: Centrifugal pumps create the necessary pressure to overcome the hydraulic resistance of the pipeline system.
  • Specifications: Flow rate (m³/h), head (m of water column), power consumption, pump type (variable speed or not), and materials of construction.
  • Application: Ensuring the circulation of the coolant in the ice field cooling system.

• Under-ice cooling piping system: This is a network of pipes laid under a layer of sand or concrete, on which an ice cover is formed.

  • Principle of operation: The cooled heat carrier, circulating through the pipes, removes heat from the surface, causing the water to freeze and form ice.
  • Specifications: Pipe material (polyethylene, steel), pipe diameter, laying pitch (distance between pipes), and hydraulic resistance.
  • Application: Direct cooling of the surface to form an ice coating.

• Automation and control systems: They control and regulate the operation of all refrigeration equipment, maintaining the specified temperature and humidity parameters.

  • Principle of operation: Temperature and pressure sensors transmit data to the controller, which in turn controls the operation of chillers, pumps, and other devices.
  • Specifications: Controller type (programmable logic controller – PLC), set of functions (automatic start/stop, power regulation, alarm system), remote monitoring and control capabilities.
  • Application: Automatic maintenance of optimal refrigeration system parameters, energy savings, and prevention of emergencies.

• Air ventilation and dehumidification systems: They control the humidity and temperature of the arena's air, preventing condensation on the ice surface and maintaining its quality.

  • Principle of operation: Ventilation units provide fresh air intake and exhaust, and dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air.
  • Specifications: Air capacity (m³/h), dehumidifier refrigeration capacity (kg/h), type of filters used, energy efficiency.
  • Application: Maintaining comfortable conditions for spectators and athletes, and preventing condensation and frost on the ice.

The new ice arena in the Kirovsky district will undoubtedly become a growth point for companies specializing in industrial refrigeration. In addition to the supply and installation of equipment, regular maintenance and repair will be required to ensure the stable operation of the arena for many years. In the long term, the facility may become a platform for the introduction of new technologies in the field of energy conservation and environmental improvement of refrigeration systems.