July 12, lOOG. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



459 



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ARTinCIAL REFRIGERATION. 



The Modem Process of Cooling. 



One of the more recent adaptations 

 of artificial refrigeration, in which it 

 has proven its superiority over the old 

 style ice-box, is the application of this 

 system of cold storage for cut flowers. 

 It has for several years been used by 

 one or two wholesalers, but only recent- 

 ly has it become practicable for a re- 

 tailer to maintain his own refrigerating 

 plant. 



As the amount of heat abstracted, or 

 the amount of cold produced, is under 

 absolute control, the required tempera- 

 ture can always be maintained in the 

 storage boxes, whatever may be the out- 

 side conditions, and no matter how often 

 business may demand the opening of the 

 cold-box doors. If the person in charge 

 finds the temperature rising he merely 

 has to open a valve a little more; or if 

 he finds the flowers are getting too cool 

 he closes the same valve a trifle, and 

 the correct temperature is regained. The 

 simple regulation of temj)erature to a 

 uniform degree has been found to be of 

 the utmost importance. Not only can 

 the flowers be held longer in storage, 

 but they also retain their fresh appear- 

 ance and fragrance for a greater length 

 of time after being taken out. 



The labor and nuisance attendant 

 upon filling an ice-box once, or perhaps 

 several times, a day with natural ice 

 and the much larger waste space required 

 are matters of great annoyance. Par- 

 ticularly would this have been the case 

 had the beautiful show-case illustrated 

 on page 461 not been equipped with 

 artificial refrigeration. The illustration 

 is taken from a photograph of the cut 

 flower display case in the salesroom of 

 the new store of John Breitmeyer 's 

 Sons, at Detroit. 



As is well known, this popular and 

 enterprising firm occupies the first floor 

 and basement in the handsome Breit- 

 meyer building recently erected at the 

 corner of Miami and Gratiot avenues. 

 The building is equipped with a com- 

 }tlete modern power-plant for electric 

 lighting, elevator service, etc., and also 

 with an up-to-date refrigerating plant 

 designed and built by the Great Lakes 

 Engineering Works, of Detroit. 



The refrigerating machine which, as 

 shown in the illustration, is of a new 

 design, consists of two vertical single- 

 acting * ammonia compressors six and 

 one-fourth inches diameter by ten inches' 

 stroke, direct connected to a steam en- 

 gine with a cylinder of nine inches 

 diameter by ten inches stroke. 



The steam valve gear is of the i)iston 

 type, designed for a cut-off of % -stroke 

 and giving as high a ratio of expansion 

 for the steam as is practicable for tiiis 

 tyjH' of valve gear. Tiio ammonia valves 

 were (h'signed especially for this ma- 

 chine, the idea being to make them par- 

 ticularly quick acting. 



In a preliminary trial before leaving 



the works these valves operated perfect- 

 ly under a speed of 140 revolutions per 

 minute. The bearing surfaces of all 

 moving parts are of ample area and the 

 whole is constructed of the best mate- 

 rial and workmanship obtainable. 



The whole equipment, which is placed 

 in a room thirty feet long and twelve 

 feet wide, consists of the machine, oil 

 trap, double ammonia condenser, liquid 

 receiver, brine tank and expansion coils, 

 suction strainer and brine pump. In 

 addition a cold-water tank for supplying 

 ice-water which is pumped to each floor 

 of the building is also connected to the 

 system. 



without operating the refrigerating ma- 

 chine. 



There are two cold boxes for the 

 flowers. One box, located in the work- 

 shop, is a dark one. This box has two 

 coils of cold-brine pipe around three 

 sides fastened to the walls. 



The show-case upstairs in the sales- 

 room is beautifully fitted up to har- 

 monize with its magnificent surround- 

 ings. It also has two coils of cold-brine 

 pipe, but they are completely hidden 

 above the ceiling, which is composed of 

 plate glass mirrors. A drip-pan above 

 the mirrors carries off the moisture as 

 it drips from the pipes. Air ducts are 

 arranged in such a manner that a con- 

 stant circulation of air is forced down 

 one side of the box and up the other 

 to the brine coils, over and around 

 which it passes and when it is cooled. 

 The room is always dry and customers 

 may be admitted. 



Philip Breitmeyer, in speaking of the 

 apparatus, said: "We are much pleased 

 with the artificial refrigeration installed 

 for us in our new store. We have no 

 ice to handle and no muss to clean up, 

 but always a place ready, clean and 



Refrigerating Machine in the Breitmeyer Store, Detroit. 



(Steam engine with two vertical, self-actlD? ammonia compreBsors.) 



The rofrigemtion supplied to the 

 store boxes is by the brine system, the 

 brine tank having sutiicient capacity for 

 maintaining the temperature overnight 

 by simply keeping the brine pump going 



sweet. We are satisfied that the process 

 is ahead of ice for cooling rooms for 

 flowers and Me certainly should not like 

 to return to the old system." 



A. E, Beals. 



