Ice plant consists of two circuits: Primary circuit and Secondary circuit.
In primary circuit, ammonia is used as refrigerant, whereas in case of secondary circuit, brine solution is used as refrigerant. As ammonia (primary refrigerant) is toxic in nature, so it should not come in direct contact with the water. Therefore, a secondary refrigerant (brine solution) is used. This brine solution is circulated around the galvanized iron cans containing the water circulating with the help of brine pump. Brine solution takes the heat from the water to convert it into ice. This heat absorbed by brine solution is ejected to primary refrigerant (ammonia) in the heat exchanger.
Figure 1: Ice Plant.