A refrigeration system for an outdoor ice skating rink includes a first heat exchanger that has a first conduit therein and is located outdoors. The first conduit has a first inlet and a first outlet and is configured to discharge heat to the outdoor ambient air. The refrigeration system includes a second heat exchanger that has a second conduit therein, and is in thermal communication with water in the ice skating rink. The second conduit has a second inlet and a second outlet and is configured to absorb heat from the water. The second outlet is in fluid communication with the first inlet via a warm-side conduit. The first outlet is in fluid communication with the second inlet via a cold-side conduit. One or more conveying devices are located in a closed loop that includes the first and second conduits, the warm-side conduit, and the cold-side conduit.

A modular assembled artificial skating rink includes a refrigerating system, a plurality of liquid-supply main pipes and air-return main pipes in the same pipe line as the liquid-supply main pipes. The liquid-supply main pipes communicate with a liquid-supply header pipe. The air-return main pipes communicate with an air-return header pipe. The liquid-supply header pipe communicates with a refrigerant-fluid outlet of the refrigerating system through at least a liquid-supply standpipe. The air-return header pipe communicates with an air-recovery end of the refrigerating system through at least an air-return standpipe. Each liquid-supply main pipe is sheathed in a corresponding air-return main pipe, forming a plurality of groups of sleeve main pipes. The artificial skating rink is divided into different modular regions. Each of the regions has sleeve manifolds and ice-making pipes. Each liquid-supply main pipe has a refrigerant-fluid control valve bank, and each air-return main pipe has an air control valve bank.

A liquid cooling system for an outdoor ice forming surface provides a geothermal heat pump that has a refrigeration circuit with a compressor that is disposed between a cold tube section and a hot tube section. An outdoor structure has an upward facing ice forming surface that is configured to retain a body of ice, where a coolant line is provided at or near the ice forming surface. A fluid pump is coupled with the coolant line and is configured to circulate liquid through the coolant line and over the cold tube section of the geothermal heat pump to dispense heat before being recirculated to the ice forming surface of the outdoor structure.

A liquid cooling system for an outdoor ice forming surface provides a geothermal heat pump that has a refrigeration circuit with a compressor that is disposed between a cold tube section and a hot tube section. An outdoor structure has an upward facing ice forming surface that is configured to retain a body of ice, where a coolant line is provided at or near the ice forming surface. A fluid pump is coupled with the coolant line and is configured to circulate liquid through the coolant line and over the cold tube section of the geothermal heat pump to dispense heat before being recirculated to the ice forming surface of the outdoor structure.

A portable ice rink includes a wall formed of multiple wall members linearly disposed adjacent to one another to form a piecewise continuous wall that encloses a desired area, and also includes a chain of links disposed on the outside of the wall members for reinforcement. The rink may further include a waterproof tarp extending underneath the wall members and folded upwards along the outer side of the wall, with its edge tied to the change of links. The tarp can contain water which then freezes to form a skating surface. Curved wall members are provided to form a rink with round corners. Each wall member is a discrete unit, made of molded plastic, and having a hollow interior which can be filled with water (or other ballast). Each wall member is designed with stiffening features to maintain the flatness of its inner surface after filling.

A portable ice rink includes a wall formed of multiple wall members linearly disposed adjacent to one another to form a piecewise continuous wall that encloses a desired area, and also includes a chain of links disposed on the outside of the wall members for reinforcement. The rink may further include a waterproof tarp extending underneath the wall members and folded upwards along the outer side of the wall, with its edge tied to the change of links. The tarp can contain water which then freezes to form a skating surface. Curved wall members are provided to form a rink with round corners. Each wall member is a discrete unit, made of molded plastic, and having a hollow interior which can be filled with water (or other ballast). Each wall member is designed with stiffening features to maintain the flatness of its inner surface after filling.

The invention provides a water storing and icing device for an ice skating rink. The water storing and icing device for the ice skating rink includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, a plurality of fixing parts, and a plurality of fixing members. The sidewall is connected to and surrounds the bottom wall to form a containing space for storing and icing water. The fixing parts are disposed at an outer side of the sidewall. The fixing members are correspondingly connected to the fixing parts and adapted to be connected to the ground. When the containing space is being used to store and ice water, the fixing members support the sidewall, such that the sidewall stands on the bottom wall, and the fixing members are removed after water is frozen in the containing space, so as to use the water storing and icing device as the ice skating rink.