Method and device for determining ice making time of ice maker

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ice making control, and particularly provides a method and device for determining ice making time of an ice maker, and the method comprises the steps: detecting the temperature of an aqueous solution of a cold liquid box, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and the environmental parameters of an ice making module, the water solution is used for making ice in the ice making module; determining solidification parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration; calculating theoretical ice making time according to the water solution temperature, the environment temperature and the solidification parameters; according to the water solution temperature and the environmental parameters, corresponding correction is obtained, the theoretical ice-making time is corrected to obtain the ice-making time, and the correction is calculated according to the difference between the corresponding theoretical ice-making time and the actual ice-making time under different water solution temperatures and environmental parameters. The problems that in the prior art, an ice maker cannot accurately display the ice making time, so that a user is prone to wait anxiety, and the experience becomes poor are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of ice making control, and in particular to a method and device for determining the freezing time of an ice making machine. Background Art

[0002] The fastest ice makers in the related art generally use a compressor to make ice, but this still requires users to wait for a long time. Existing machines generally do not display the ice-making time. Users do not know how long it will take to make a batch of ice under the current conditions. If there is no ice, they cannot immediately access the freshly made ice. Even if there is ice in the ice bin, they cannot know the current ice-making speed or estimate the ice quantity in the bin, which can cause anxiety and affect the user experience.

[0003] Currently, no effective solution has been proposed to the problem that ice makers in related technologies cannot accurately display the ice making time, which easily causes users to wait anxiously and have a poor experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a method and device for determining the ice making time of an ice maker, which at least solves the problem that the ice maker cannot accurately display the ice making time, which easily causes users to wait anxiously and have a poor experience.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining the freezing time of an ice making machine, comprising: detecting the temperature of a water solution in a cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the water solution, and environmental parameters of the ice making module, wherein the environmental parameters include the ambient temperature and the ambient contact area, and the water solution is used to make ice in the ice making module; determining the freezing parameters of the water solution according to the solute concentration, wherein the freezing parameters include the freezing latent heat, the heat transfer coefficient, the mass, and the specific heat capacity; calculating the theoretical freezing time according to the water solution temperature, the environmental parameters, and the freezing parameters; obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the water solution temperature and the environmental parameters, and correcting the theoretical freezing time to obtain the freezing time, wherein the correction amount is calculated based on the difference between the corresponding theoretical freezing time and the actual freezing time under different water solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

[0006] As an optional embodiment, determining the coagulation parameter of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration includes: calculating the freezing point depression value of the aqueous solution relative to pure water using the solute concentration through a second formula; wherein the second formula is as follows: , where is the freezing point depression value, is the freezing point depression constant of water, n is the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, and i is the van't Hoff factor; when the freezing point depression value is not zero, the solidification parameter is determined according to the freezing point depression value.

[0007] As an optional embodiment, calculating the theoretical ice-making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the ambient temperature, and the freezing parameter includes: calculating the theoretical ice-making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the ambient temperature, and the freezing parameter using a first formula, where the first formula is as follows: , where t is the theoretical ice-making time, Q is the total heat required for ice formation, and P is the heat dissipation power. is the loss coefficient, m is the mass of the aqueous solution, c is the specific heat capacity, is the initial temperature difference between the aqueous solution and the environment, L is the latent heat of solidification, k is the heat transfer coefficient, A is the surface area of ​​the container, T1 is the temperature of the aqueous solution, and T2 is the ambient temperature.

[0008] As an optional embodiment, before the theoretical ice-making time is corrected, a corresponding correction amount is obtained according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and the method further includes: calculating the corresponding theoretical ice-making time according to the first formula according to different aqueous solution temperatures and environmental temperatures; for a set of fixed aqueous solution temperatures and environmental parameters, based on the thermodynamic model of the ice-making machine created by thermodynamic simulation software, using the physical properties of the aqueous solution and environmental conditions, outputting the corresponding actual phase change time; determining the average difference between the actual phase change time and the theoretical ice-making time by taking the average of multiple repeated tests; and when the average difference is verified and the accuracy reaches a preset accuracy, recording and storing the average difference as the correction amount corresponding to the aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters.

[0009] As an optional embodiment, a corresponding correction amount is obtained according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and the theoretical ice-making time is corrected to obtain the ice-making time, including: obtaining a corresponding correction amount through the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters; correcting the theoretical ice-making time according to the correction amount to obtain the ice-making time; after obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and correcting the theoretical ice-making time to obtain the ice-making time, the method further includes: calculating the ice-making time according to the ice-making time in combination with the ice-making time of the ice-making module and the ice-discharging outlet.

[0010] As an optional embodiment, before calculating the ice-out time based on the revised theoretical ice-making time and in combination with the ice-out time of the ice-making module and the ice-out outlet, the method further includes: setting a plurality of different ice cube quantities when the ice bin is actually used according to the capacity of the ice bin; detecting, through multiple tests, the average ice-out time of the ice cubes from the ice bin to the ice outlet when the target ice cube quantity is in the ice bin, wherein the target ice cube quantity is one of the plurality of different ice cube quantities; and taking the longest time among the average ice-out times corresponding to the plurality of different ice cube quantities as the ice-out time.

[0011] As an optional embodiment, the method further includes: responding to an ice-making instruction, monitoring the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, and displaying waiting for ice-making on the display panel of the ice maker; when the temperature of the aqueous solution is greater than a preset ice-condensing temperature, continuously displaying the waiting for ice-making; when the temperature of the aqueous solution is less than or equal to a preset ice-condensing temperature, calculating and displaying the ice-making time, and counting down based on the ice-making time.

[0012] As an optional embodiment, the method also includes: estimating the number of ice cubes in the ice bin based on historical ice making data and ice output data; displaying the number of ice cubes on the display panel; and automatically triggering the ice making instruction to make ice when the number of ice cubes is less than a preset threshold.

[0013] As an optional embodiment, detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and the ambient temperature of the ice-making module includes: detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution by a first temperature sensor arranged in the cold liquid tank, and detecting the ambient temperature by a second temperature sensor arranged on the outer wall of the ice-making module; and detecting the solute concentration by a corresponding solute detection sensor according to the solute type of the aqueous solution.

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for determining the ice-making time of an ice-making machine, comprising: a detection module for detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and the environmental parameters of the ice-making module, wherein the environmental parameters include the ambient temperature and the environmental contact area, and the aqueous solution is used to make ice in the ice-making module; a determination module for determining the solidification parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration, wherein the solidification parameters include latent heat of solidification, heat transfer coefficient, mass, and specific heat capacity; a calculation module for calculating the theoretical ice-making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the environmental parameters, and the solidification parameters; a correction module for obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and correcting the theoretical ice-making time to obtain the ice-making time, wherein the correction amount is calculated based on the difference between the corresponding theoretical ice-making time and the actual ice-making time under different aqueous solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device for an ice maker, comprising: a processor, and a memory for storing a program, wherein the program comprises instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor executes any one of the methods described above.

[0016] The present invention provides a method for determining the freezing time of an ice maker. The method determines the freezing parameters of an aqueous solution based on the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, as well as the parameters affecting freezing. The method then calculates the theoretical freezing time using a first formula using the aqueous solution temperature, ambient temperature, and freezing parameters. A corresponding correction is then obtained based on the aqueous solution temperature and ambient parameters, and the theoretical freezing time is corrected to obtain the freezing time. This method accurately calculates the freezing time for display and user review, improving the user experience. This method addresses the problem in related arts where ice makers cannot accurately display the freezing time, which can easily lead to user anxiety and a poor user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other embodiments can be obtained based on these drawings without inventive effort.

[0018] Figure 1 The present invention is a flowchart of a method for determining the freezing time of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of an ice making machine structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 The present invention is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for determining ice making time of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the electronic device created by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the present invention. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In order to solve the problem in the related art that ice makers cannot accurately display the ice making time, which easily causes users to wait anxiously and have a poor experience, the embodiment created by the present invention provides a method for determining the ice making time of an ice maker. Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for determining the freezing time of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the method for determining the freezing time of an ice maker provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0024] Step S101, detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and environmental parameters of the ice-making module, wherein the environmental parameters include the ambient temperature and the ambient contact area, and the aqueous solution is used to make ice in the ice-making module;

[0025] Step S102, determining the solidification parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration, wherein the solidification parameters include latent heat of solidification, heat transfer coefficient, mass, and specific heat capacity;

[0026] Step S103, calculating the theoretical ice making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, environmental parameters, and freezing parameters;

[0027] In step S104, a corresponding correction value is obtained based on the water solution temperature and environmental parameters, and the theoretical ice making time is corrected to obtain the ice-out time. The correction value is calculated based on the difference between the corresponding theoretical ice making time and the actual ice making time under different water solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

[0028] The method for determining the freezing time of the ice-making machine provided in the embodiment of the present invention determines the freezing parameters of the aqueous solution and the parameters affecting freezing based on the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, and then calculates the theoretical freezing time based on the first formula using the aqueous solution temperature, ambient temperature, and freezing parameters; then, based on the aqueous solution temperature and ambient parameters, obtains the corresponding correction amount, corrects the theoretical freezing time to obtain the freezing time, and thus accurately calculates the freezing time for display and user viewing, thereby improving the user experience.

[0029] The ice maker may include a cold liquid tank, an ice making module, and an ice bin. The aqueous solution may include water, beverages, sugar water, and other common aqueous solutions that can be used to form ice. It should be noted that water generally contains impurities such as gases and ions. Therefore, the aqueous solution mentioned above should not be understood as a mixture of a specific solute and water, but also includes common purified water, drinking water, mineral water, etc.

[0030] To detect the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, a temperature sensor can be used. This temperature sensor can be a thermistor (NTC / PTC), a platinum resistance thermometer, or a digital temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can insert its probe directly into the cold liquid tank, ensuring full contact with the aqueous solution and accurately detecting the temperature.

[0031] When testing the solute concentration of an aqueous solution, different methods can be used for different types of solutes due to the different detection principles of different solutes. For mixed types of solutes, separate tests can be performed and then the solute concentration can be determined by comprehensive calculation.

[0032] It should be noted that for standard aqueous solutions, including packaged liquids, the solute concentration of the aqueous solution can be detected and recorded in advance outside the ice maker. When in use, the solute concentration can be input into the ice maker by entering the product type or product barcode of the standard aqueous solution.

[0033] Since the ice maker is a household ice maker, there are errors in the solute concentration of the mixed aqueous solution detected by multiple sensors. This embodiment prefers to use a standard aqueous solution to make ice, which is not only convenient and quick to use, but also more accurate in calculating the ice making time.

[0034] The ambient temperature of the ice-making module affects ice-making efficiency. A multi-point detection method can be used, with temperature sensors installed at multiple locations on the ice-making module and the ice-making bin. The ambient temperature can then be calculated using data fitting. The ambient contact area can be the surface area of ​​the ice-making module's container. For the same model of ice-making machine, the container surface area can be pre-calculated and only needs to be obtained.

[0035] Changes in solute concentration can cause changes in freezing parameters, particularly the latent heat of freezing and the heat transfer coefficient. This directly impacts the freezing time. Therefore, we first determine the freezing parameters of the aqueous solution based on the solute concentration, including the latent heat of freezing, the heat transfer coefficient, the mass, and the specific heat capacity. The theoretical freezing time is then calculated using the solution temperature, the ambient temperature, and these newly calculated freezing parameters.

[0036] The calculated ice-making time is the exact time it takes for the liquid to solidify into ice cubes. However, the size of the ice cubes and the structure of the ice-making machine can affect the ice-making time. Therefore, this embodiment uses simulation to determine the difference between the calculated theoretical ice-making time and the actual ice-making time, and to determine the correction amount for different aqueous solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

[0037] After calculating the theoretical ice making time, the corresponding correction amount can be obtained according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and the theoretical ice making time can be corrected to obtain the ice making time. The final ice making time is not only consistent with the theory but also with the actual situation, and has high accuracy.

[0038] When controlling the ice maker, the ice making time can be displayed, and a countdown can be performed along with the ice making process, so as to intuitively show the user the ice making process and the remaining time, thereby improving the user experience.

[0039] As an optional embodiment, determining the coagulation parameter of the aqueous solution based on the solute concentration includes: calculating the freezing point depression value of the aqueous solution relative to pure water using the solute concentration through a second formula; wherein the second formula is as follows:

[0040]

[0041] Where, is the freezing point depression value, is the freezing point depression constant of water, n is the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, and i is the van't Hoff factor; when the freezing point depression value is not zero, the freezing parameters are determined based on the freezing point depression value.

[0042] Electrolyte solutes, such as NaCl and CaCl, depress the freezing point more significantly than non-electrolytes (such as sucrose, i=1) because they ionize (i>1). The higher the solute concentration, the greater the freezing point depression.

[0043] Example: Calculate the freezing point depression of a 5% NaCl solution (i=2). Molar concentration (n): 5g NaCl dissolved in 95g water → n(NaCl) = (5 / 58.44) / 0.095 kg ≈ 0.901 mol / kg. is 1.86.

[0044] = 2 × 1.86 × 0.901 ≈ 3.35°C.

[0045] Freezing point ≈ 0°C - 3.35°C = -3.35°C.

[0046] After the freezing point depression value is determined, the solvent activity is calculated based on Raoult's law and the freezing point depression value. The solute mole fraction is calculated based on the solvent activity, and the latent heat of solidification is estimated. Specifically, as the freezing point is lowered, the latent heat of solidification decreases: when an aqueous solution with a lowered freezing point solidifies, Lf is usually smaller than that of pure water. The calculation formula is: L f,solution ≈L f,water ×(1−x s ), where L f,solution is the latent heat of solidification of the dilute solution, L f,water is the latent heat of solidification of pure water, x s is the solute mole fraction.

[0047] Solutes can increase or decrease the solution's heat transfer coefficient. For example, ionic solutions enhance thermal conductivity due to ionization. Polymeric solutions reduce thermal conductivity due to molecular entanglement. A lowered freezing point widens the phase transition temperature range and prolongs the unsteady-state heat transfer time. A loosened ice crystal structure reduces solid-phase thermal conductivity. The corresponding heat transfer coefficient can be calculated using Newton's law of cooling.

[0048] The addition of solutes increases the total mass and causes a change in density. The specific heat capacity of an aqueous solution depends on the type of solute: Ionic solutions: The specific heat capacity is slightly higher than that of pure water. Organic solutions: The specific heat capacity is usually lower.

[0049] Thus, the solidification parameters such as the solidification latent heat, heat transfer coefficient, mass and specific heat capacity of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank are determined, and then the theoretical ice making time is accurately calculated through the first formula.

[0050] As an optional embodiment, the first formula is as follows:

[0051]

[0052] Where, t is the theoretical ice making time, Q is the total heat required for ice formation, and P is the heat dissipation power. is the loss coefficient, m is the mass of the aqueous solution, c is the specific heat capacity, is the initial temperature difference between the aqueous solution and the environment, L is the latent heat of solidification, k is the heat transfer coefficient, and A is the surface area of ​​the container. T1 is the temperature of the aqueous solution, and T2 is the ambient temperature.

[0053] Based on the determined solidification parameters, the theoretical ice-making time corresponding to the aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters can be accurately calculated through the above formula.

[0054] As an optional embodiment, before obtaining a corresponding correction amount based on the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters and correcting the theoretical ice-making time, the method further includes:

[0055] According to different aqueous solution temperatures and ambient temperatures, the corresponding theoretical ice-making time is calculated using the first formula;

[0056] For a fixed set of aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters, a thermodynamic model of the ice maker created using thermodynamic simulation software outputs the corresponding actual phase change time using the physical properties of the aqueous solution and environmental conditions.

[0057] The average difference between the actual phase change time and the theoretical ice making time is determined by taking the average value through repeated tests.

[0058] When the average difference is verified and the accuracy reaches the preset accuracy, the average difference is recorded and stored as the correction amount corresponding to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameter.

[0059] Because the ice-making time varies significantly due to the temperature of the aqueous solution and environmental parameters, compared to factors with minor influences such as ice cube shape and ice-making machine structure, there is a significant difference. To accurately determine the correction between the theoretical and actual ice-making times, it is necessary to select different aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameter control variables. Under the same variables, multiple simulations are performed to obtain multiple actual phase change times and the difference between the actual and theoretical ice-making times.

[0060] The average difference is calculated by averaging the values, which serves as the correction factor for the corresponding aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters. The accuracy of the correction factor can then be calculated through experimental testing. If the accuracy of the correction factor reaches a predetermined value, the correction factor is recorded as the correction factor for the aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters. This ensures the accuracy of the correction factor and the subsequent accuracy of the theoretical ice-making time.

[0061] As an optional embodiment, a corresponding correction amount is obtained according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and the theoretical ice-making time is corrected to obtain the ice-making time, including: obtaining the corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters; and correcting the theoretical ice-making time according to the correction amount to obtain the ice-making time.

[0062] This allows for accurate ice-making time. However, after ice making, the ice cubes are stored in an ice bin and need to be transported from the bin to the ice outlet via a transmission mechanism. This ice-out time is also ideally user-controllable. Therefore, in this embodiment, after obtaining a corresponding correction value based on the aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters and correcting the theoretical ice-making time to obtain the ice-making time, the method further includes calculating the ice-out time based on the ice-making time, combining the ice-making module and the ice-out time of the ice outlet.

[0063] The overall response time from sending the ice-making command to ice discharging from the ice outlet is calculated through the ice-making time and ice-discharging time, providing users with accurate and intuitive ice-discharging timing, thereby improving user experience.

[0064] As an optional embodiment, before calculating the ice-out time based on the revised theoretical ice-making time and the ice-out time of the ice-making module and the ice-out outlet, the method further includes: setting a plurality of different ice cube quantities when the ice bin is actually used according to the capacity of the ice bin; detecting, through multiple tests, the average ice-out time of the ice cubes from the ice bin to the ice-out outlet when the target ice cube quantity is in the ice bin, wherein the target ice cube quantity is one of the plurality of different ice cube quantities; and taking the longest time among the average ice-out times corresponding to the plurality of different ice cube quantities as the ice-out time.

[0065] The above-mentioned ice-discharging time can be calculated through multiple experiments. Considering the varying amounts of ice in the ice bin and their distance from the ice outlet, this can lead to unstable ice-discharging times. Furthermore, ice may clump in the ice bin, which is detrimental to ice-discharging performance. Therefore, this embodiment designed an experiment, conducting multiple simulations for various ice amounts to measure ice-discharging times.

[0066] The longest time corresponding to different ice quantities is selected as the ice dispensing time. This ensures that ice is dispensed before the countdown ends. This is because early ice dispensing while users are waiting improves the user experience. However, if ice is not dispensed after the countdown ends, the user experience is degraded. Furthermore, the difference in ice dispensing time for different ice quantities is very small, typically only in seconds. Therefore, the longest time can be used to ensure a better user experience.

[0067] As an optional embodiment, in response to an ice-making instruction, the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank is monitored, and waiting for ice-making is displayed on the display panel of the ice maker; when the temperature of the aqueous solution is greater than the preset ice-condensing temperature, waiting for ice-making is continuously displayed; when the temperature of the aqueous solution is less than or equal to the preset ice-condensing temperature, the ice-making time is calculated and displayed, and a countdown is performed based on the ice-making time.

[0068] During the actual ice-making process, the ice-making command can be issued by the user or automatically triggered by the program. After ice-making begins, the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank is monitored. If the aqueous solution temperature is less than or equal to the preset ice-making temperature, ice-making will begin. The ice-making time is calculated according to the above steps S101 to S104, and a countdown begins.

[0069] The preset freezing temperature may be due to the operating principle of the ice maker. For example, the filtered water solution in a household ice maker generally has no significant difference, and the freezing temperature is equivalent to that of pure water. The ice maker's compressor operates continuously, and when the water solution reaches a certain temperature, it begins to freeze. This temperature is the preset freezing temperature. Detecting the difference between the water solution temperature and the preset freezing temperature can further determine the start time of ice making, thereby improving the accuracy of the final displayed ice-discharging time.

[0070] During the first ice-making process, the temperature of the water solution in the cold liquid tank continuously decreases until it reaches the preset freezing temperature required for ice formation. Therefore, the initial ice-making process takes a long time. Finally, when the temperature of the water solution in the cold liquid tank drops to the preset freezing temperature, the ice-making time is shortened. For example, for common drinking water or mineral water, when the water solution temperature in the cold liquid tank reaches 2 degrees Celsius, the ice-making time is shortened from 45 minutes to 8 minutes, which is equivalent to the preset freezing temperature of 2 degrees Celsius. This improves subsequent ice-making efficiency, enhances the user experience, and avoids user anxiety while waiting.

[0071] In fact, you can avoid user anxiety by displaying other content, including cooling, water collection, or ice making, which can further optimize the user experience.

[0072] As an optional embodiment, the method also includes: estimating the number of ice cubes in the ice bin based on historical ice making data and ice output data; displaying the number of ice cubes on a display panel; and automatically triggering an ice making instruction to make ice when the number of ice cubes is less than a preset threshold.

[0073] Since the ice-making time and single ice-making quantity are fixed, the ice-making time countdown, combined with historical ice-making data, can estimate the ice level in the ice bin, for example, low, medium, high, and full. The corresponding ice level is directly displayed on the panel. When the ice level falls below the preset threshold, the ice-making command is automatically triggered to start making ice, realizing automatic and continuous ice-making function, meeting the user's needs for automatic and continuous ice-making and further optimizing the user experience.

[0074] As an optional embodiment, detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and the ambient temperature of the ice-making module includes: detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution by a first temperature sensor arranged in the cold liquid tank, and detecting the ambient temperature by a second temperature sensor arranged on the outer wall of the ice-making module; and detecting the solute concentration by a corresponding solute detection sensor according to the solute type of the aqueous solution.

[0075] To detect the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, a temperature sensor can be used. The temperature sensor can be a thermistor, a platinum resistance, or a digital temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can directly insert the probe into the cold liquid tank to ensure full contact with the aqueous solution and accurately detect the temperature of the aqueous solution.

[0076] For ionic solutes, conductivity detection can be performed using a conductivity sensor or ion-selective electrode. For organic solutes, refractive index detection can be performed using an optical sensor, refractometer, or density sensor. For redox solutes, the original potential detection method can be used, using a redox potential sensor.

[0077] The solute detection sensor can be arranged together with the temperature sensor of the cold liquid tank, and the detection is performed by inserting the probe into the aqueous solution, which has a higher accuracy.

[0078] It should be noted that this embodiment also provides an optional implementation, which is described in detail below. Figure 2 Schematic diagram of an ice making machine structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the structure of the ice maker of this embodiment mainly includes: a making ice box, a cold liquid tank, and a storage ice box. The storage ice box is also an ice bin.

[0079] The ice making bin houses an ice mold, which is connected to a compressor and condenser to produce ice. A 1.2L cold liquid tank is connected to the making bin via a water pipe, providing cold water. The making bin, which holds over 400g of bullet ice, is located above the storage bin. The prepared bullet ice, or bullet-sized ice cubes, are transferred to the storage bin, which has a tilted bottom. A screw pulls the bullet ice upwards to the ice outlet for dispensing.

[0080] The ice-making countdown method of the ice maker is as follows: first, the temperature sensor will accurately test the temperature of the cold liquid tank. The cold water in the cold liquid tank is pumped into the ice-making mold through a water pump. Ice will only condense in the ice-making mold when the temperature of the cold liquid tank reaches the preset ice-condensing temperature. The preset ice-condensing temperature proposed in this embodiment is set to be quantitative, the rated power is set to be quantitative, the ambient temperature is set to be quantitative by default within a period of time, the quality of the purified water can be set to be quantitative by default, and the water temperature is a variable. The longer the operation time, the lower the water temperature is, and the time required is also shorter.

[0081] According to the first formula , the theoretical ice-making time can be calculated, where t is the theoretical ice-making time, Q is the total heat required for ice formation, and P is the heat dissipation power. is the loss coefficient, m is the mass of the aqueous solution, c is the specific heat capacity, is the initial temperature difference between the aqueous solution and the environment, L is the latent heat of solidification, k is the heat transfer coefficient, and A is the surface area of ​​the container.

[0082] During the calculation, since the liquid for making ice can be water, or different aqueous solutions such as sugar water, beverages, etc., even water has different levels of impurities, the solidification parameters of the liquid used for making ice will change, mainly affecting L, the latent heat of solidification, and k, the heat transfer coefficient. It also has a certain impact on m, the mass of the aqueous solution, and c, the specific heat capacity.

[0083] Therefore, before the first formula is calculated, the second formula can be used , calculate the freezing point depression of the liquid used to make ice relative to pure water , where is the freezing point depression value, is the freezing point depression constant of water, n is the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, and i is the van't Hoff factor.

[0084] A model is established using thermodynamic software, and the physical properties of water and environmental conditions are input to simulate the freezing process. The temperature field and actual phase change time inside the ice-making module are output and compared with the theoretical ice-making time calculated by the first formula. After correction, the final and accurate ice-making time for this group of ice is obtained.

[0085] It can also be verified by experimentally measuring the time required to make ice at different cold liquid tank temperatures and different ambient temperatures.

[0086] In addition, the time it takes for ice cubes to be discharged from the ice bin to the ice outlet is recorded: when the user presses the ice-taking button, the control system makes the screw work to uniformly transport the ice cubes to the ice outlet for discharge. The longest time from the actual pressing of the ice-taking button to the discharge of ice is recorded.

[0087] According to the ice making time and ice discharging time, the ice discharging time can be accurately calculated and displayed. For users, the ice discharging time can be more intuitively felt. The improved accuracy of the ice discharging time can greatly enhance the user experience.

[0088] Since ice making requires the water solution in the cold liquid tank to reach a certain low temperature to improve ice quality, this means that if the water solution in the cold liquid tank cannot reach a low temperature, it must be cooled first. This period of time is uncontrollable by the user. To further improve the user experience, when the cold liquid tank water temperature is higher than the preset ice condensation temperature, the ice discharge countdown for that group can be set to be greater than the minimum ice discharge time; when the water temperature is lower than a certain set value, the ice discharge countdown for that group can be set to be less than the ice discharge time for that group, thereby performing a countdown for ice discharge of a group.

[0089] The ice making time of this group of ice cubes plus the time for ice cubes to travel from the ice bin to the ice outlet can be used to get the time required for each group of ice outlet countdown. When the water temperature in the cold liquid tank is lower than a certain temperature setting value, ice condensation will appear in the ice making mold, and the ice outlet countdown will display the longest time required for this group of ice outlet.

[0090] This embodiment provides a method for counting down the time for a group of ice to be produced by an ice-making machine, so that the user can see the time required for a group of ice to be produced each time he or she takes ice. The user can estimate the number of ice cubes in the ice bin based on the time, reducing the user's anxiety. When there is no ice cubes in the ice bin, the screen will display the ice countdown, so the user can take ice at the first time, reducing the user's waiting time and improving the user experience.

[0091] This embodiment uses a temperature sensor and the ice-making device to determine the ice-making time for a group of ice, and uses the ice-removing device to determine the time required for the ice-removing operation. The combined time is used to determine the countdown time for the ice-removing operation. If ice-making is occurring but the ice bin is empty, the user has no idea how long they need to wait before the ice is removed. The ice-removing countdown solves this problem.

[0092] When ice is being made and there is ice in the ice bin, but you don't know how much ice is left, you can use the countdown timer to roughly know how much ice has been produced. This allows you to estimate the ice bin's capacity. Ice making times vary depending on ambient temperature, and the countdown timer accurately displays how much time remains before ice is produced.

[0093] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device for determining the freezing time of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, based on the above-mentioned method for determining the ice making time of an ice maker provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for determining the ice making time of an ice maker, which is applied to the controller of the ice maker, and the device includes:

[0094] a detection module 31 for detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and environmental parameters of the ice-making module, wherein the environmental parameters include the ambient temperature and the ambient contact area; the aqueous solution is used to make ice in the ice-making module;

[0095] A determination module 32 is used to determine the solidification parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration, wherein the solidification parameters include latent heat of solidification, heat transfer coefficient, mass, and specific heat capacity;

[0096] A calculation module 33 is configured to calculate a theoretical ice-making time using the temperature of the aqueous solution, environmental parameters, and freezing parameters according to a first formula;

[0097] Correction module 34 is used to obtain a corresponding correction value based on the water solution temperature and environmental parameters, and correct the theoretical ice making time to obtain the ice-out time, wherein the correction value is calculated based on the difference between the corresponding theoretical ice making time and the actual ice making time under different water solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

[0098] The device for determining the freezing time of the ice-making machine provided in the embodiment of the present invention determines the freezing parameters of the aqueous solution and the parameters affecting freezing based on the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, and then calculates the theoretical freezing time based on the first formula using the aqueous solution temperature, ambient temperature, and freezing parameters; then obtains the corresponding correction amount based on the aqueous solution temperature and ambient parameters, corrects the theoretical freezing time to obtain the freezing time, and thus accurately calculates the freezing time for display and user viewing, thereby improving user experience.

[0099] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor of a computer, is used to cause the computer to perform the method of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0100] The embodiments of the present invention further provide a computer program product, including a computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor of a computer, is used to cause the computer to execute the method of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0101] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device comprising: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The memory stores a computer program executable by the at least one processor, wherein the computer program, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the electronic device to perform the method of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] refer to Figure 4 , a structural block diagram of an electronic device that can serve as a server or client of an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, which is an example of a hardware device that can be applied to various aspects of the present invention. The electronic device is intended to represent various forms of digital electronic computer devices, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframe computers and other suitable computers. The electronic device can also represent various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital processing, cellular phones, smart phones, wearable devices and other similar computing devices. The components shown in this embodiment, their connections and relationships, and their functions are merely examples and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention described and / or required in this embodiment.

[0103] like Figure 4 As shown, the electronic device includes a computing unit 401, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a computer program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 402 or a computer program loaded from a storage unit 408 into a random access memory (RAM) 403. RAM 403 can also store various programs and data required for the operation of the electronic device. The computing unit 401, ROM 402, and RAM 403 are connected to each other via a bus 404. An input / output (I / O) interface 405 is also connected to the bus 404.

[0104] Multiple components in the electronic device are connected to the I / O interface 405, including an input unit 406, an output unit 407, a storage unit 408, and a communication unit 409. The input unit 406 can be any type of device capable of inputting information into the electronic device. The input unit 406 can receive input digital or character information and generate key signal inputs related to user settings and / or function control of the electronic device. The output unit 407 can be any type of device capable of presenting information and can include, but is not limited to, a display, a speaker, a video / audio output terminal, a vibrator, and / or a printer. The storage unit 408 can include, but is not limited to, a magnetic disk and an optical disk. The communication unit 409 allows the electronic device to exchange information / data with other devices via a computer network such as the Internet and / or various telecommunication networks and can include, but is not limited to, a modem, a network card, an infrared communication device, and / or a wireless communication transceiver, such as a Bluetooth device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, a cellular communication device, and / or the like.

[0105] Computing unit 401 can be any general-purpose and / or specialized processing component with processing and computing capabilities. Some examples of computing unit 401 include, but are not limited to, a CPU, a graphics processing unit (GPU), various specialized artificial intelligence (AI) computing units, various computing units running machine learning model algorithms, a digital signal processor (DSP), and any suitable processor, controller, microcontroller, etc. Computing unit 401 performs the various methods and processes described above. For example, in some embodiments, the method embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program tangibly embodied in a machine-readable medium, such as storage unit 408. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program may be loaded and / or installed onto the electronic device via ROM 402 and / or communication unit 409. In some embodiments, computing unit 401 may be configured to perform the above-described methods by any other suitable means (e.g., via firmware).

[0106] The computer programs for implementing the methods of the embodiments of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These computer programs may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device, so that when the computer program is executed by the processor or controller, the functions / operations specified in the flow chart and / or block diagram are implemented. The computer program may be executed entirely on the machine, partially on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0107] In the context of the present invention, a machine-readable medium may be a tangible medium that may contain or store a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The machine-readable medium may be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable signal medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or infrared system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of machine-readable storage media may include an electrical connection based on one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0108] It should be noted that the term "including" and its variations used in the embodiments of the present invention are open inclusions, that is, "including but not limited to". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one other embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments". The modifications of "one" and "multiple" mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art should understand that unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, they should be understood as "one or more".

[0109] The various steps described in the method implementation methods provided by the embodiments of the present invention may be performed in different orders and / or in parallel. In addition, the method implementation methods may include additional steps and / or omit the steps shown. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited in this respect.

[0110] The term "embodiment" in this specification refers to specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment that can be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily mean the same embodiment, nor does it mean that it is mutually exclusive with other embodiments and is independent or optional. The various embodiments in this specification are described in a related manner, and the same or similar parts between the various embodiments are referenced to each other. In particular, for the device, equipment, and system embodiments, since they are basically similar to the method embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts refer to the partial description of the method embodiment.

[0111] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to make various modifications and improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining the freezing time of an ice maker, characterized in that: include: detecting a temperature of a water solution in a cold liquid tank, a solute concentration in the water solution, and environmental parameters of an ice-making module, wherein the environmental parameters include an ambient temperature and an ambient contact area, and the water solution is used to make ice in the ice-making module; Determining the solidification parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration, wherein the solidification parameters include latent heat of solidification, heat transfer coefficient, mass, and specific heat capacity; Calculating theoretical ice-making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the environmental parameters, and the freezing parameters; A corresponding correction amount is obtained according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and the theoretical ice-making time is corrected to obtain the ice-making time, wherein the correction amount is calculated based on the difference between the corresponding theoretical ice-making time and the actual ice-making time under different aqueous solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Determining the coagulation parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration includes: The freezing point depression of the aqueous solution relative to pure water is calculated using the solute concentration through a second formula; wherein the second formula is as follows: Where, is the freezing point depression value, is the freezing point depression constant of water, n is the solute concentration of the aqueous solution, and i is the van't Hoff factor; When the freezing point depression value is not zero, the freezing parameter is determined according to the freezing point depression value.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that Calculating theoretical ice making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the ambient temperature, and the freezing parameters includes: The theoretical ice making time is calculated according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the ambient temperature, and the freezing parameters using a first formula, which is as follows: Where, t is the theoretical ice making time, Q is the total heat required for ice formation, and P is the heat dissipation power. is the loss coefficient, m is the mass of the aqueous solution, c is the specific heat capacity, is the initial temperature difference between the aqueous solution and the environment, L is the latent heat of solidification, k is the heat transfer coefficient, A is the surface area of ​​the container, T1 is the temperature of the aqueous solution, and T2 is the ambient temperature.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein Before correcting the theoretical ice-making time by obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, the method further includes: According to different aqueous solution temperatures and environmental parameters, the corresponding theoretical ice-making time is calculated by the first formula; For a fixed set of aqueous solution temperature and environmental parameters, a thermodynamic model of the ice maker created based on thermodynamic simulation software outputs the corresponding actual phase change time using the physical properties of the aqueous solution and environmental conditions; Determine the average difference between the actual phase change time and the theoretical ice making time by performing multiple repeated tests and taking the average value; When the average difference is verified and the accuracy reaches a preset accuracy, the average difference is recorded and stored as the correction amount corresponding to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameter.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameter, and correcting the theoretical ice-making time to obtain the ice-making time, including: Obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters; Correcting the theoretical ice-making time according to the correction amount to obtain the ice-making time; After obtaining a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameter and correcting the theoretical ice-making time to obtain the ice-making time, the method further includes: The ice-making time is calculated according to the ice-making time and in combination with the ice-making module and the ice-discharging time of the ice-discharging outlet.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that Before calculating the ice-making time based on the corrected theoretical ice-making time and combining the ice-making time of the ice-making module and the ice-discharging time of the ice-discharging outlet, the method further includes: According to the capacity of the ice bin, set multiple different ice cube quantities when the ice bin is actually used; Through multiple tests, the average time it takes for ice cubes to be discharged from the ice bin to the ice outlet is detected when the target amount of ice cubes in the ice bin is reached, wherein the target amount of ice cubes is one of the multiple different amounts of ice cubes; The longest time among the average ice-out times corresponding to a plurality of different ice cube quantities is used as the ice-out time.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: In response to an ice-making instruction, monitoring the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank and displaying a waiting time for ice making on a display panel of the ice maker; When the temperature of the aqueous solution is greater than the preset ice-making temperature, the display of "waiting for ice making" is continuously displayed; When the temperature of the aqueous solution is less than or equal to the preset ice-making temperature, the ice-making time is calculated and displayed, and a countdown is performed based on the ice-making time.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: Estimate the amount of ice in the ice bin based on historical ice making and ice output data; Displaying the number of ice cubes on the display panel; When the number of ice cubes is less than a preset threshold, the ice-making instruction is automatically triggered to make ice.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that Detect the water solution temperature in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the water solution, and the ambient temperature of the ice making module, including: detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution by a first temperature sensor disposed on the cold liquid tank, and detecting the ambient temperature by a second temperature sensor disposed on the outer wall of the ice making module; According to the solute type of the aqueous solution, the solute concentration is detected by a corresponding solute detection sensor.

10. A device for determining the freezing time of an ice maker, characterized in that: include: a detection module for detecting the temperature of the aqueous solution in the cold liquid tank, the solute concentration in the aqueous solution, and environmental parameters of the ice-making module, wherein the environmental parameters include the ambient temperature and the ambient contact area, and the aqueous solution is used to make ice in the ice-making module; a determination module, configured to determine the solidification parameters of the aqueous solution according to the solute concentration, wherein the solidification parameters include latent heat of solidification, heat transfer coefficient, mass, and specific heat capacity; A calculation module, configured to calculate a theoretical ice-making time according to the temperature of the aqueous solution, the environmental parameters, and the freezing parameters; The correction module is used to obtain a corresponding correction amount according to the temperature of the aqueous solution and the environmental parameters, and correct the theoretical ice-making time to obtain the ice-making time, wherein the correction amount is calculated based on the difference between the corresponding theoretical ice-making time and the actual ice-making time under different aqueous solution temperatures and environmental parameters.

11. An electronic device for an ice maker, comprising: A processor and a memory storing a program, wherein the program comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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