Method and apparatus for producing and storing a flowable slush, particularly for ice pigging

An apparatus for producing a flowable slush (2) of frozen particles, including:

• a cooling means (11) for partially freezing a liquid (1) to form the flowable slush;
• a tank (22) for storing the flowable slush;
• a powered agitator (23) for agitating the flowable slush within the tank;
• a separator (35) for separating a portion of the liquid remaining in the flowable slush stored in the tank from the frozen particles in a separation phase (63) of a treatment cycle;
• a comminution means (40) for comminuting the frozen particles in the flowable slush stored in the tank in a comminution phase (62) of the treatment cycle;
• and
• a control system (100) for controlling the treatment cycle;
• wherein the control system includes means for sensing at least one operating parameter (OP) of the agitator (23);
• and
• the control system is configured:
• to monitor a control parameter (CP), wherein the control parameter is based on at least the sensed operating parameter (OP) of the agitator, and
• to initiate the treatment cycle responsive at least to the control parameter reaching a threshold value (CPt).