Efficient vehicle-mounted ice maker with water cooling and heating functions

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of vehicle-mounted ice machines, in particular to an efficient vehicle-mounted ice machine with water cooling and heating functions. The ice-making machine comprises a water system for storing and controlling water flow and a control system for temperature control, the ice-making machine is provided with a second evaporator, and non-evaporated refrigerants in the ice-making process are used for precooling water in a water storage tank, so that on one hand, the utilization rate of the refrigerants is increased, and impact damage caused by the fact that the non-evaporated refrigerants directly return to a compressor is reduced; on the other hand, after ice-making water is pre-cooled, the ice-making speed can be increased, and the problems that snowflakes exist in bullet ice, the refrigerating speed is low and ice blocks are small are solved; according to the ice maker, the third water pump and the water outlet are arranged, low-temperature water in the water storage tank can be directly pumped out, and direct drinking cold water can be output while ice is made; the second condenser is arranged, the first electric valve is arranged to achieve opening and closing of the second condenser, heat energy recovery is achieved, and energy conservation and environment protection are achieved; the heat exchanger is arranged, so that the ice making efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle-mounted ice maker technology, specifically to a high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with both cold water and heating functions. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous strengthening of the motherland, the rise of electric vehicles, and the improvement of people's living and consumption levels, low carbon, energy saving, and environmental protection have become the development trend of vehicle electrical appliances. Existing vehicle ice makers have limited functions and cannot keep up with the changes in family lifestyles, making it difficult to meet the new needs. Current vehicle-mounted bullet ice makers basically only have ice-making functions, and the ice-making process is relatively slow. The ice produced is prone to having snowflakes inside and is not transparent. If the water in the ice-making water tank is made to flow, the snowflakes inside the ice can be reduced and the ice can be made transparent. However, this will further prolong the ice-making time because the water in the storage tank is at a higher temperature, and the ice produced is very likely to be small particles. On the other hand, the waste heat of the condenser is directly dissipated into the air, which wastes energy and affects the ecological environment and climate.

[0003] Meanwhile, in order to improve the cooling speed and make the ice blocks the same size, the existing ice-making system cannot completely evaporate the refrigerant in the ice evaporator. The excess liquid stored in the compressor can easily cause liquid slugging damage to the compressor and problems such as low return gas pressure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art by providing a reasonably designed, high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with both cold water and heating functions, which can solve the aforementioned deficiencies.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: It includes a water system for storing and controlling water flow and a control system for temperature control. The water system includes a water storage tank for supplying water for ice making and capable of directly discharging drinking water, and an ice-making water box for ice making. The control system includes a DC compressor, a first evaporator, and a second evaporator. The first evaporator is connected to the ice-making water box for ice making, and the second evaporator is connected to the water storage tank for cooling drinking water. A gas-liquid separator is connected to the front of the DC compressor inlet. The exhaust end of the DC compressor is connected to a first tee via a second pipe, and the rear end of the first tee is connected to the first evaporator via two pipes. One of the pipelines is the ninth pipeline, which is directly connected to the first evaporator and is equipped with a solenoid valve. The other pipeline is equipped with the first condenser, a dryer filter, and a throttling device in sequence, and then connected to the second electric valve. The second electric valve has two outlets. One outlet is connected to the front end of the second evaporator through the tenth pipeline, and the other outlet is connected to the first evaporator through the eighth pipeline. The rear end of the first evaporator is connected to the third electric valve, which also has two outlets. One outlet is connected to the front end of the second evaporator, and the other outlet is connected to the second three-way valve through the eleventh pipeline. The other two ports of the second three-way valve are connected to the outlet end of the second evaporator and the gas-liquid separator, respectively.

[0006] Preferably, the pipeline connecting the first tee and the first condenser includes a third pipeline, and a first electric valve is connected to the rear of the third pipeline. The first electric valve has two outlets. One outlet is connected to a second condenser for heat recovery. The ice maker is equipped with a heating container. The second condenser is located outside the heating container. The rear end of the second condenser is connected to the first condenser through a fifth pipeline. The other outlet is directly connected to the first condenser through a fourth pipeline. The rear end of the first condenser is connected to a dryer filter through a sixth pipeline, and then connected to a throttling device. The throttling device is connected to the second electric valve through a seventh pipeline.

[0007] Preferably, the control system includes a heat exchanger, with a pipeline connecting the dryer filter and the throttling device to the hot end of the heat exchanger. One port of the second tee is connected to the cold end inlet of the heat exchanger via the twelfth pipe, and the cold end outlet is connected to the gas-liquid separator via the first pipe.

[0008] Preferably, the outlet end of the second evaporator is connected to a thirteenth pipe, the thirteenth pipe is connected to a one-way valve, the rear end of the one-way valve is connected to a second three-way valve, and the one-way valve is positioned towards the end away from the second evaporator.

[0009] Preferably, in the water system, a first water pump for pumping drinking water is connected to one end of the water storage tank, a multi-point water level switch for controlling the water inlet is installed inside the water storage tank and connected to the water inlet pipe, a second evaporator is located outside the water storage tank, an ice-making water box is located above the water storage tank, a second water pump for pumping water into the ice-making water box is connected to the side of the water storage tank, and a third water pump for pumping out the internal drinking water is also provided on the water storage tank, and the third water pump is connected to a water outlet.

[0010] The beneficial effects of the present invention after adopting the above structure are: This application incorporates a second evaporator in the system, which uses the refrigerant that has not evaporated during the ice-making process to pre-cool the water in the storage tank. This improves the utilization rate of the refrigerant and reduces the impact damage caused by unevaporated refrigerant returning directly to the compressor. Furthermore, the pre-cooling of the water used for ice making increases the ice-making speed, thus solving the problems of snowflakes inside bullet ice, slow cooling speed, and small ice blocks.

[0011] This application includes a third water pump and outlet, which can directly extract low-temperature water from the water storage tank, and output cold drinking water while making ice.

[0012] This application includes a second condenser and a first electric valve to control its opening and closing. When open, the waste heat generated by the compressor can be discharged, achieving heat recovery and energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0013] In this application, a heat exchanger is provided so that the relatively low-temperature refrigerant before entering the compression device can exchange heat with the high-temperature refrigerant before the throttling device, thereby improving the ice-making efficiency of the refrigerant. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flow diagram of the ice-making and cooling water and heat recovery processes of this invention. Figure 3 This is a flow path diagram of the de-icing process of the present invention; Figure 4 This is the flow path diagram of the present invention when only the cooling water and heat recovery are turned on; Figure 5 This is the flow path diagram of the present invention when only the cooling water is turned on; Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the water system in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the heating structure for heat recovery in this invention; Figure 8 This is the control flowchart of the present invention.

[0015] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. DC compressor; 2. Solenoid valve; 3. First electric valve; 4. Second condenser; 5. First condenser; 6. Dryer filter; 7. Heat exchanger; 8. Throttling device; 9. Second electric valve; 10. First evaporator; 11. Third electric valve; 12. Second evaporator; 13. Check valve; 14. Gas-liquid separator; 15. First tee; 16. Third pipeline; 17. Ninth pipeline; 18. Fourth pipeline; 19. First pipeline; 20. Fifth pipeline; 21, Sixth pipeline; 22, Seventh pipeline; 23, Eighth pipeline; 24, Tenth pipeline; 25, Eleventh pipeline; 26, Second pipeline; 27, Thirteenth pipeline; 28, Second tee; 29, Twelfth pipeline; 30, Water storage tank; 31, First water pump; 32, Second water pump; 33, Third water pump; 34, Water outlet; 35, Multi-point water level switch; 36, Temperature sensing device; 37, Ice-making water box; 38, Heating container. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] See Figure 1 , 6As shown in Figure 7, it includes a water system for storing and controlling water flow, and a control system for temperature control. The water system includes a water storage tank 30 for supplying water for ice making and also provides drinking water directly, and an ice-making water box 37. The control system includes a DC compressor 1, a first evaporator 10, and a second evaporator 12. The control system is controlled by a microcontroller that drives the actuators. The first evaporator 10 is connected to the ice-making water box 37 for ice making, and the second evaporator 12 is connected to the water storage tank 30 for cooling drinking water, pre-lowering the temperature of the ice-making water, and can also directly output low-temperature cold water. A gas-liquid separator 14 is connected to the front of the DC compressor 1 inlet to prevent liquid slugging and protect the compressor. The exhaust end of the DC compressor 1 is connected to a first tee 15 via a second pipe 26. The rear end of the first tee 15 is connected to the first evaporator 12 via two pipes. The device 10 has one of nine pipes 17 directly connected to the first evaporator 10, which is equipped with a solenoid valve 2. The other pipe has a first condenser 5, a dryer filter 6, and a throttling device 8 in sequence, and then connects to a second electric valve 9. The second electric valve 9 has two outlets. One outlet is connected to the front end of the second evaporator 12 through the tenth pipe 24, and the other outlet is connected to the first evaporator 10 through the eighth pipe 23. The rear end of the first evaporator 10 is connected to a third electric valve 11, which also has two outlets. One outlet is connected to the front end of the second evaporator 12, and the other outlet is connected to a second three-way valve 28 through the eleventh pipe 25. The other two ports of the second three-way valve 28 are connected to the outlet end of the second evaporator 12 and the gas-liquid separator 14, respectively. The throttling device 8 is an electronic expansion valve, which realizes throttling and pressure reduction and precisely controls the flow rate of refrigerant. The pipeline connecting the first tee 15 and the first condenser 5 includes a third pipeline 16. A first electric valve 3 is connected downstream of the third pipeline 16. The first electric valve 3 has two outlets; one outlet is connected to a second condenser 4 for heat recovery. The ice maker has a heating container 38, and the second condenser 4 is located outside the heating container 38. The rear end of the second condenser 4 is connected to the first condenser 5 via a fifth pipeline 20, and the other outlet is directly connected to the first condenser 5 via a fourth pipeline 18. Therefore, the switching of the first electric valve 3 controls whether the refrigerant passes through the second condenser 4, achieving its on / off control. A dryer filter 6 is connected downstream of the first condenser 5 via a sixth pipeline 21, which in turn connects to a throttling device 8. The flow device 8 is connected to the second electric valve 9 via the seventh pipe 22. The heating container 38 is a cup-shaped container made of food-grade metal material, such as 304 stainless steel. When in use, water is poured into it, and the water is heated by the second condenser 4 to achieve heat recovery. The second condenser 4 is located before the first condenser 5. Therefore, when the second condenser 4 is turned on, heat energy will be released rapidly and in large quantities in it. Only a small amount of heat energy will be released into the first condenser 5. After the water is heated, hot water can be used directly, or a cup or other container can be placed in the heating container 38 for water insulated heating. Only one of the two output ports of the first electric valve 3, the second electric valve 9, and the third electric valve 11 can be opened at the same time. The control system includes a heat exchanger 7, a dryer filter 6 and a throttling device 8. The pipes between them are connected to the hot end of the heat exchanger 7. One port of the second tee 28 is connected to the cold end inlet of the heat exchanger 7 through the twelfth pipe 29. The cold end outlet is connected to the gas-liquid separator 14 through the first pipe 19. The outlet end of the second evaporator 12 is connected to the thirteenth pipe 27, and the thirteenth pipe 27 is connected to a one-way valve 13. The rear end of the one-way valve 13 is connected to the second three-way valve 28, and the one-way valve 13 is set towards the end away from the second evaporator 12.

[0018] See Figure 6 As shown, in the water system, a first water pump 31 for pumping drinking water is connected to one end of a water storage tank 30. A multi-point water level switch 35 connected to the inlet pipe is installed inside the water storage tank 30 to control the water intake, so that the control program can monitor the water level and control the opening and closing of the first water pump 31 to achieve water intake. The second evaporator 12 is located outside the water storage tank 30, and the ice-making water box 37 is located above the water storage tank 30. A second water pump 32 for pumping water into the ice-making water box 37 is connected to the side of the water storage tank 30. A third water pump 33 for pumping out the internal drinking water is also provided on the water storage tank 30. The third water pump 33 is connected to a water outlet 34 and can output cold water during use. A temperature sensing device 36 is also provided inside the water storage tank 30 to facilitate the main control program to obtain the water temperature and then control the cooling on and off of the drinking water and the power adjustment.

[0019] like Figure 8According to the usage process of this invention, after the ice-making mode is turned on, it is first checked whether the ice tank is full, then water is added, and then ice making and de-icing begin. In the cold water mode, water is added first, and then the cooling water is started. When adding water, the multi-point water level switch 35 is used to check whether the water tank is full. If it is not full, the first water pump 31 is turned on to add water until the tank is full. When the tank is full, the water tank temperature is checked, and then the subsequent process begins. Specific workflow: like Figure 2 The diagram shows the refrigerant status when the ice-making mode is activated and heat recovery is enabled. At this time, solenoid valve 2 is closed, first electric valve 3 is open to the second condenser 4, second electric valve 9 is open to the first evaporator 10, and third electric valve 11 is open to the second evaporator 12. After the refrigerant is sent out from the compressor, it releases heat through the second condenser 4, and then releases the remaining heat through the first condenser 5. It then releases pressure through the dryer filter 6 and the throttling device 8, causing the temperature to drop rapidly. It absorbs a large amount of heat and cools down at the first evaporator 10 to make ice. The remaining incompletely evaporated refrigerant absorbs heat at the second evaporator 12 to cool the water tank 30 and produce cold water. The refrigerant is returned through the one-way valve 13. At the same time, the refrigerant at this point cools down the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant before the throttling device 8 through the heat exchanger 7, thereby reducing the temperature of the refrigerant at the ice-making stage and improving the cooling efficiency. like Figure 3 The diagram shows the working state during the ice melting process after ice making is completed. At this time, the solenoid valve 2 is opened, and the high-temperature refrigerant discharged by the DC compressor 1 is directly fed into the first evaporator 10. Then it is sent back to the compressor through the gas-liquid separator 14. The high temperature emitted by the first evaporator 10 causes the ice on the inner wall of the ice water box 37 to melt quickly, and the ice can be removed. like Figure 4 In the state diagram for simultaneously activating chilled water and heat recovery, solenoid valve 2 is closed, first electric valve 3 connects the third pipe 16 and the fifth pipe 20, second electric valve 9 connects the seventh pipe 22 and the tenth pipe 24, and third electric valve 11 connects the eighth pipe 23 and the thirteenth pipe 27. After the refrigerant is discharged directly from the compressor, it dissipates heat energy through the second condenser 4, the first condenser 5, and the heat exchanger 7, and then returns to the compressor through the second evaporator 12, the heat exchanger 7, and the gas-liquid separator 14, directly and quickly cooling the drinking water in the water storage tank 30. like Figure 5 This is a state diagram where heat recovery is turned off during the cooling water process. At this time, the refrigerant discharged by the DC compressor 1 bypasses the second condenser 4 through the fourth pipeline 18 and is directly sent to the first condenser 5 for heat dissipation. It is also sent to the second evaporator 12 for cooling water through the second electric valve 9, and then sent back.

[0020] The installation, connection, or setting methods of the components not detailed above are all common mechanical methods, and the specific structure, model, and coefficient indicators of all their components are their own technologies. As long as they can achieve their beneficial effects, they can be implemented, so they will not be elaborated further.

[0021] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative or explanatory of the principles of the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention should be included within the protection scope of the invention. Furthermore, the appended claims are intended to cover all variations and modifications falling within the scope and boundaries of the appended claims, or equivalent forms of such scope and boundaries.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions, characterized in that: It includes a water system for storing and controlling water flow and a control system for temperature control. The water system includes a water storage tank (30) for supplying water for ice making and providing drinking water directly, and an ice-making water box (37) for ice making. The control system includes a DC compressor (1), a first evaporator (10), and a second evaporator (12). The first evaporator (10) is connected to the ice-making water box (37) for ice making, and the second evaporator (12) is connected to the water storage tank (30) for cooling drinking water. A gas-liquid separator (14) is connected to the front of the inlet of the DC compressor (1). The exhaust end of the DC compressor (1) is connected to a first tee (15) through a second pipe (26). The rear end of the first tee (15) is connected to the first evaporator (10) through two pipes, one of which is directly connected to the first evaporator (10). Nine pipes (17) are provided with solenoid valves (2); another pipe is provided with a first condenser (5), a dryer filter (6) and a throttling device (8) in sequence, and then connected to a second electric valve (9). The second electric valve (9) has two outlets. One outlet is connected to the front end of the second evaporator (12) through the tenth pipe (24), and the other outlet is connected to the first evaporator (10) through the eighth pipe (23). The rear end of the first evaporator (10) is connected to a third electric valve (11). The third electric valve (11) also has two outlets. One outlet is connected to the front end of the second evaporator (12), and the other outlet is connected to the second tee (28) through the eleventh pipe (25). The other two ports of the second tee (28) are connected to the outlet end of the second evaporator (12) and the gas-liquid separator (14) respectively.

2. The high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline connecting the first tee (15) and the first condenser (5) includes a third pipeline (16). The third pipeline (16) is connected to a first electric valve (3). The first electric valve (3) has two outlets. One outlet is connected to a second condenser (4) for heat recovery. The ice maker is equipped with a heating container (38). The second condenser (4) is located outside the heating container (38). The rear end of the second condenser (4) is connected to the first condenser (5) through a fifth pipeline (20). The other outlet is directly connected to the first condenser (5) through a fourth pipeline (18). The first condenser (5) is connected to a dryer filter (6) through a sixth pipeline (21), and then connected to a throttling device (8). The throttling device (8) is connected to the second electric valve (9) through a seventh pipeline (22).

3. A high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control system is equipped with a heat exchanger (7), a dryer filter (6) and a throttling device (8) connected by a pipeline to the hot end of the heat exchanger (7), one port of the second tee (28) is connected to the cold end inlet of the heat exchanger (7) through the twelfth pipe (29), and the cold end outlet is connected to the gas-liquid separator (14) through the first pipe (19).

4. A high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet end of the second evaporator (12) is connected to the thirteenth pipe (27), and the thirteenth pipe (27) is connected to a one-way valve (13). The rear end of the one-way valve (13) is connected to the second three-way valve (28), and the one-way valve (13) is set towards the end away from the second evaporator (12).

5. A high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the water system, a first water pump (31) for pumping drinking water is connected to one end of the water storage tank (30), a second evaporator (12) is located outside the water storage tank (30), an ice-making water box (37) is located above the water storage tank (30), and a second water pump (32) for pumping water into the ice-making water box (37) is connected to the side of the water storage tank (30).

6. A high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions according to claim 5, characterized in that: The water storage tank (30) is also equipped with a third water pump (33) for pumping out internal drinking water, and the third water pump (33) is connected to a water outlet (34).

7. A high-efficiency vehicle-mounted ice maker with cold water and heating functions according to claim 5, characterized in that: The water storage tank (30) is equipped with a multi-point water level switch (35) connected to the water inlet pipe for controlling the water inlet.

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