Systems and methods for producing ice

Abstract

In accordance with the principals of the present invention, an ice machine, tray, and process for producing high-quality, substantially clear ice is provided. A heat exchanger in the ice machine removes energy from liquid, cooling the liquid from room temperature to freezing temperature, then overcomes the heat of fusion to form ice. The tray containing a liquid is received in a freezing / mixing chamber. The tray includes an energy transfer surface in thermal contact with the heat exchanger to define a liquid / ice boundary layer. The tray further includes at least one freezing cavity having geometry defining surfaces to form the geometry of the ice. An egress area is defined in the tray above the geometry defining surfaces. A mixing mechanism is provided in operative communication with the liquid to create a velocity profile at the liquid / ice boundary layer to create a directional freezing process starting from the energy transfer surface of the tray in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and growing through the freezing cavity up to the egress area. The velocity profile at liquid / ice boundary enables impurities to be washed away during the freezing process, deterring impurities from getting entrapped in the ice. Impurities in the liquid are thereby washed away and concentrate in a pool away from the ice, ultimately in the egress area of the tray to be purged. In addition, in embodiments sensors can be provided to provide various functions selected from the group consisting of, for example, determining ice creation status, determining freezing height, varying ice creation, determining tray presence, detecting freezing / mixing chamber door position, determining liquid level, and combinations thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This utility patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 110,611, filed 6 Nov. 2020, also entitled “Systems and Methods for Producing Ice”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by this reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to high-quality ice making.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND STATE OF THE ART[0003]There are many ice making technologies today that exist to create particular ice forms for specific market needs. Standard ice cubes are opaque and can melt quickly in beverages resulting in a warm drink with a watered-down taste. Large clear ice forms can ameliorate both problems. As used herein, the focus will be on technologies that aim to make substantially clear ice forms. Ice making technologies can be measured against key metrics, which include ice growth, ice shape / form, ice quality, machine price and size, and ease of use.[0004]Ice growth r...

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