Refrigerator for Producing “Ice Slurry” to Cool the Body from Within

Sharp Corporation

Industry: Manufacturing

Company Overview

Sharp Corporation is an electronics manufacturer engaged in a wide range of businesses, including AV equipment, home appliances, mobile phones/communications/information devices, LCD/electronic devices, energy systems, and office equipment. Guided by the words of its founder, Tokuji Hayakawa, “Create products that others want to imitate,” Sharp has strived since its founding in 1912 to be a trusted company that contributes to society by manufacturing products that proactively respond to the needs of the next generation.

Climate Change Impacts

In recent years, Japan’s annual average temperature has been rising due to the effects of climate change, and the number of heatstroke-related emergency transports as well as heatstroke fatalities has remained at a high level. As the number of extremely hot days continues to increase year by year, effective heat mitigation measures are becoming increasingly essential.

Adaptation Initiatives

We have developed an “Ice Slurry Refrigerator” which enables the easy production of ice slurry (Note 1, Fig. 1) from commercially available bottled beverages. Ice slurry is characterized by its high cooling effect, as the fine ice particles absorb heat from within the body as they melt when ingested.

In a conventional freezer, beverages such as sports drinks freeze solid when stored; however, the Ice Slurry Refrigerator achieves precise temperature control and suppresses temperature variations within the compartment through proprietary fan control and a cold air flow path structure. This technology enables commercially available plastic bottles to be cooled for a specified period while maintaining them in a supercooled (Note 2) state (Fig. 2).

Before drinking, by taking the beverage from the refrigerator and shaking the bottle to create impact, it can easily be converted into ice slurry (Fig. 3). Since the optimal temperature for ice slurry formation varies depending on the type of beverage, the refrigerator is equipped with a precise nine-step temperature setting function.

Furthermore, we launched a corporate rental service on May 22, 2025. Owing to its compact size (Note 3), it can be easily installed in break areas and transported via courier services. This feature also facilitates easy relocation to temporary sites or sports away venues.

Effects/Expected Benefits

The utilization of the Ice Slurry Refrigerator is expected to contribute to heat mitigation in various settings, including factories, construction and civil engineering sites, and sports facilities.