METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND STORING A FLOWABLE SLUSH, PARTICULARLY FOR ICE PIGGING
An apparatus for generating and storing in a tank (22) a flowable slush (2) of frozen particles usable inter alia in ice pigging comprises a control system (100) which is arranged to monitor an operating parameter OP of an agitator (23) in the storage tank. The control system initiates a slush comminution and separation or dewatering cycle when a control parameter CP based on the operating parameter OP reaches a threshold value CPt. The control parameter may represent a cumulative energy input to the storage tank (22). Comminution may be performed prior to separation, with the treatment cycle being terminated when a sensed rheometric parameter RP of the slush circulating in the treatment flowpath reaches a target value RPt.