Refrigeration system

Abstract

To provide an ice slurry manufacturing device capable of appropriately controlling a flow of brine.SOLUTION: A refrigeration system includes: a slurry tank storing brine; and an ice manufacturing part placed inside the slurry tank and soaked in the brine. The ice manufacturing part has: an ice manufacturing plate which circulates coolant supplied by a freezer inside and has an ice manufacturing surface generating brine ice at least on the one surface; a scratching part separating ice generated on the ice manufacturing surface from the ice manufacturing surface by rotating or rotating reciprocally relative to the ice manufacturing surface; and a flow control part controlling the flow of brine that is configured of a curved surface and a flat surface along a part of an outer periphery of a rotary circle of the scratching part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration system for producing an ice slurry for freezing, for example, food, pharmaceuticals, animal and plant cells, and other frozen products. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, fresh foods such as seafood and meat are commonly frozen as frozen products, and these frozen products are then stored or transported. Ice slurry is used to freeze the frozen products, which are immersed in the ice slurry and instantly frozen to maintain the freshness of the food. Patent Document 1, listed below, also discloses an ice slurry production device. The ice slurry production device includes a freezing tank for storing brine and an ice slurry production unit disposed within the freezing tank. The ice slurry production unit includes a disk unit having a plate surface that circulates refrigerant supplied from a freezer and produces brine ice, a nozzle unit that imparts a brine flow to the plate surface, and a sweeper unit that displaces relative to the plate surface to separate the ice produced on the plate surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-108702 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to produce ice slurry with a uniform ice concentration, an ice slurry production device must create a brine flow that allows the produced flake ice to be mixed and dispersed in the freezing tank. In the ice slurry production device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a spray nozzle unit is provided to impart a brine flow so that the ice produced by the ice slurry production unit can be circulated in the freezing tank. However, the flow from the nozzle unit is delivered by an aqueous solution pump, which consumes electrical energy and may prevent the brine flow from being optimally formed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration system that can appropriately control the flow of brine in an ice slurry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a refrigeration system comprising: a slurry tank for storing brine; and an ice-making unit disposed inside the slurry tank and capable of being immersed in the brine; wherein the ice-making unit has an ice-making plate having an ice-making surface on at least one side thereof that circulates refrigerant supplied from a refrigerator therein and produces brine ice; a rotating unit that rotates or reciprocates relative to the ice-making surface; and a flow control unit that controls the flow of brine and is composed of curved and flat surfaces that follow a portion of the outer periphery of the rotation circle of the rotating unit. (2) Another invention for solving the above problem is a refrigeration system as described in claim 1, wherein the rotating unit includes a brine flow generating unit that generates a flow of the brine, and a scraping unit that separates ice formed on the ice making surface from the ice making surface. (3) Another invention for solving the above problem is a refrigeration system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flow control section is composed of curved surfaces and flat surfaces along an arc whose central angle of the rotation circle of the rotating section is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 270°. (4) Another invention for solving the above problem is a refrigeration system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flow control section is composed of curved surfaces and flat surfaces along an arc having a central angle of approximately 180° of the rotation circle of the rotating section. (5) Another invention for solving the above problem is the refrigeration system according to claim 4, wherein the rotating parts are arranged both above and below the ice making plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigeration system that can appropriately control the flow of brine in an ice slurry. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a first embodiment of a refrigeration system of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the refrigeration system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of the arrangement of a refrigerator, an ice slurry producing unit, and the like. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of the arrangement of a refrigerator, an ice slurry producing unit, and the like. [Figure 5] FIG. 1(a) is a plan view schematically showing a first embodiment of refrigerant piping in a disk portion, and FIG. 1(b) is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of refrigerant piping in a disk portion. [Figure 6] (a) is a side view showing the principle by which the blade of the first embodiment separates ice from the disk portion, (b) is a side view showing the principle by which the blade of the second embodiment separates ice from the disk portion, and (c) is a side view showing the principle by which the blade of the third embodiment separates ice from the disk portion. [Figure 7] (a) is a schematic diagram of a case without a casing, (b) is a case where a casing is placed to cover the circumference of the fin's rotation circle with a central angle of 270°, and (c) is a schematic diagram of a case where a casing is placed to cover the circumference of the fin's rotation circle with a central angle of 180°. [Figure 8] (a) shows the results of a brine flow simulation for the case without a casing, (b) shows the case where a casing is placed to cover the circumference of the fin's rotation circle with a central angle of 270°, and (c) shows the case where a casing is placed to cover the circumference of the fin's rotation circle with a central angle of 180°. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a refrigeration system to which this embodiment is applied. The refrigeration system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured by combining an ice slurry ice maker 10 as an ice production unit, a control panel 11, a slurry tank 12, a housing 13, a heat insulating cover 13a, a refrigerator 14, and the like.

[0010] The ice slurry ice maker 10 produces flake-shaped (also called thin, flake, small lump, or granular) ice (flake ice) by precipitating ice from an aqueous solution of, for example, table salt (salt water that becomes brine). While the term "brine" originally refers to salt water, in this embodiment it refers to the secondary refrigerant used in the indirect freezing method. Any brine with a high specific heat capacity, good conductivity, low viscosity, and a low freezing temperature is acceptable. A calcium chloride aqueous solution, an ethylene glycol aqueous solution, or alcohol is used as the brine.

[0011] Control panel 11 controls ice slurry ice maker 10, refrigerator 14, and other pumps (not shown). Control panel 11 produces ice slurry at an appropriate temperature and viscosity. Control panel 11 includes an electronic circuit with a CPU and a display that accepts input of various setting conditions from the user. The display accepts input of setting conditions such as whether the refrigerator is on or off, the set temperature of the ice slurry, whether the motor that operates ice slurry ice maker 10 is on or off, and the motor rotation speed.

[0012] The slurry tank 12 is a tank for storing brine. The slurry tank 12 is approximately 70 cm wide (longitudinal direction), 40 cm deep, and 30 cm high, with a capacity of approximately 70 to 90 L. A portion of the ice slurry ice maker 10 is disposed inside the slurry tank 12. That is, the ice slurry production section 15 (see FIG. 2) of the ice slurry ice maker 10 is immersed in a predetermined amount of brine stored in the slurry tank 12. The flake ice produced by the ice slurry ice maker 10 is dispersed within the slurry tank 12 by rotating fins and blades (described below). As a result, the originally liquid brine mixes with the flake ice to form ice slurry. Approximately half of the tank's width is the ice-making area, and the other half is the freezing area. A coarse-mesh stainless steel net is installed at the boundary between the two areas to prevent the ice slurry from impeding its flow. The slurry tank 12 may be made of resin. The outer surface and the outside of the bottom of the slurry tank 12 are covered with foam insulation material to a thickness of 7 to 10 cm, thereby providing a heat insulating structure.

[0013] The housing 13 is a housing that covers the entire refrigeration system and has an insulated structure to prevent cold from escaping from the inside. The insulated lid 13a is an insulated lid that can be opened and closed using a hinge structure. With the insulated lid 13a open, the user can immerse the object to be frozen in the ice slurry in the slurry tank 12 and rapidly freeze it. While the ice slurry is being produced, the insulating effect of the closed insulated lid 13a prevents the cold from the ice slurry from diffusing to the outside.

[0014] Refrigerator 14 is a supply source for supplying a primary refrigerant. The primary refrigerant is supplied to ice slurry preparation section 15 of ice slurry ice maker 10 via a refrigerant inlet pipe (not shown) and returns to refrigerator 14 via a refrigerant outlet pipe (not shown). Refrigerator 14 is located below slurry tank 12 so that refrigeration system 1 is compact as a whole. Refrigerators 14 face the floor of slurry tank 12, but may be in contact with each other or have a small gap between them. However, refrigerators 14 may also be arranged horizontally outside slurry tank 12. For example, a Hitachi KS-T8MH refrigerator may be used as refrigerator 14. In this case, the refrigerant is R448A. A refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and a refrigerant outlet pipe 18b (not shown) are connected to the refrigerator 14 and the ice slurry producing section 15 (see FIG. 2).

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic internal structure of refrigeration system 1. Salt water brine is stored in slurry tank 12 to form a liquid level Ws. Ice slurry ice maker 10, located in the ice making area within slurry tank 12, supplies ice slurry brine to freezing work area Wa. Freezing work area Wa is a space where the items to be frozen can be frozen, and corresponds to approximately half of the entire area of ​​slurry tank 12. For example, an operator places the items to be frozen in metal basket 45 and quickly freezes them by immersing basket 45 in the ice slurry in freezing work area Wa of slurry tank 12.

[0016] Ice slurry ice maker 10, located within slurry tank 12, comprises ice slurry production section 15, frame section 17, refrigerant inlet pipe 18a, refrigerant outlet pipe 18b (not shown), etc. Ice slurry production section 15 comprises cooling section 21 (see FIG. 5), rotation drive section 22 as a drive section, and rotation transmission shaft 23. Cooling section 21 comprises fins 24 as a brine flow generating section that generates a brine flow, blades 25 as scraping sections that separate ice, disk section 26 as an ice making plate, refrigerant piping 28, and casing 30 as a flow control section. Fins 24 and blades 25 together form a rotating section that rotates or reciprocates with respect to the ice making surface. Note that the "rotating section" recited in claim 1 may also comprise only fins 24 or only blades 25.

[0017] The frame portion 17 is formed, for example, by connecting rod-shaped parts to form a framework. Materials that can be used for the frame portion 17 include ordinary angle bars, round pipes, square pipes, and extruded materials. In FIG. 1, the parts of the frame portion 17 are depicted as strips to avoid cluttering the drawing. It is desirable to select the material for the frame portion 17 taking into consideration the required strength and structure. From the viewpoints of mechanical strength and corrosion resistance to saltwater, the frame portion 17 is preferably made of stainless steel. The components of the frame portion 17 can be joined by welding or screw fastening (including bolt fastening). The frame portion 17 can be made of metal or synthetic resin. As the metal, various common materials such as steel, stainless steel, and aluminum can be used. Furthermore, when using metal such as steel, various common surface treatments can be performed to prevent rust. Frame portion 17 fixes rotation drive unit 22, disk unit 26, and other components of ice slurry production unit 15. Frame portion 17 supports ice slurry production unit 15 so that rotation drive unit 22 is always positioned above the brine liquid level Ws.

[0018] Ice slurry producing unit 15 produces flake ice from brine on surface 26a (ice-making surface) of disk unit 26. Blade 25, which serves as a scraping unit, scrapes (sweeps) the produced flake ice and disperses it within slurry tank 12, producing ice slurry. Fins 24, which serve as a brine flow producing unit, produce a flow of brine containing ice slurry by rotating or rotating back and forth. Disk portion 26 is formed from a metal plate having a rectangular (here, square) plate surface (ice-making surface) and a predetermined thickness, and is fixed to frame portion 17. Here, disk portion 26 is not limited to a rectangular shape, but may also be circular. Examples of materials for disk portion 26 include copper, stainless steel, steel that has been surface-treated to provide anti-rust effects, aluminum, and duralumin. From the perspective of preventing electrolytic corrosion due to the potential difference between metals, disk portion 26 is preferably attached to frame 17 via an insulating member such as resin.

[0019] The size (dimensions) of disk portion 26 can be, for example, about 30 cm square. In this embodiment, the upper ice-making surface (surface 26a) and the lower ice-making surface (surface 26b) of disk portion 26 are machined to be substantially flat and parallel to each other. Furthermore, a plurality of holes are formed inside disk portion 26, aligned parallel to each other at substantially equal intervals, so as to penetrate the interior of disk portion 26. Adjacent internal through-holes of the disk portion 26 are connected by U-shaped connecting pipes, forming a refrigerant pipe (refrigerant passage) 28 inside the disk portion 26. The disk portion 26, which serves as an ice-making plate, is preferably manufactured by aluminum casting of copper pipes (refrigerant passages). To prevent electrolytic corrosion due to the potential difference between metals, the copper pipes (refrigerant passages) are preferably protected from contact with brine by painting, applying resin, or using a cover. Because the copper pipes (refrigerant passages) are electrically connected to the refrigerator 14, they are preferably attached to the housing 13 (electrically connected to the frame 17) of the refrigerator 14 via an insulating material such as resin. Alternatively, the refrigerant pipes 28 may be formed inside the disk portion 26 by casting a copper pipe bent into a zigzag or incense-like shape using aluminum, without providing an internal through-hole in the disk portion 26. The disk section 26 is cooled by the primary refrigerant delivered from the refrigerator 14 circulating through the refrigerant pipes 28. For example, the evaporation temperature of the primary refrigerant R448A is about -45°C, and the surface temperature of the disk section 26 is -35°C to -25°C. The blades 25 scrape off ice that has grown on the surface 26a of the disk section 26 and disperse it into the brine stored in the slurry tank 12. By repeating this process, the ice concentration gradually increases and an ice slurry is formed in the slurry tank 12.

[0020] The fins 24 have the function of generating a brine flow by rotating or reciprocating in rotation. The fins 24 are plate-like members extending perpendicular to the surface 26a of the disk portion 26, and may be one or more. Blade 25 is a member that scrapes off ice formed on disk portion 26, which is an ice making plate, by rotating. Blade 25 is attached to the end of fin 24, a vertically extending plate-like member, on the disk portion side. Therefore, the ice scraped off by blade 25 is mixed with brine by the rotation of fin 24, and an ice slurry-like brine flow is generated. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide blades 25 on all fins 24. For example, the fins 24 may be formed from four blades that form a cross shape in a plan view, and the blades 25 may be arranged so as to connect to only two blades of these fins 24.

[0021] The fins 24 are connected to a rotation drive unit 22 via a rotation transmission shaft 23. A motor (fin drive motor) is incorporated in this rotation drive unit 22. As will be described later, the rotation drive unit 22 is capable of continuously rotating the fins 24 in the brine stored in the slurry tank 12 (the liquid surface is shown imaginarily by a dashed line in FIG. 2). Here, the rotational drive unit 22 can be a geared motor that is an integral combination of a motor and a speed reducer (gear). The rotational drive unit 22 is located above the brine level Ws and is disposed so as to extend outside the brine. The rotational drive unit 22 is not limited to a unit that rotates the fins 24 in one direction, but may also be a unit that rotates the fins 24 back and forth (a unit that rotates the fins back and forth in forward and reverse directions).

[0022] The casing 30 is composed of curved and flat surfaces that surround a portion of the circumference of the fins 24. The casing 30 collects the flake ice scraped by the blades 25 from the surface of the disk portion 26, preventing it from immediately scattering outside the circumference of the fins 24, and delivers the slurry ice to the freezing operation area Wa of the slurry tank 12. Furthermore, the casing 30 also prevents ice growing on the side of the disk portion 26 from entering the rotation area of ​​the fins 24. Without the casing 30, it is difficult to achieve a uniform ice concentration within the slurry tank because the ice slurry brine is more viscous than a liquid. For this reason, conventionally, a brine flow has been created within the slurry tank by pumping the brine with a pump and spraying it from a nozzle located elsewhere within the slurry tank. The casing 30 of this embodiment eliminates the need for a pump and the electrical energy required to operate the pump, allowing for energy-saving generation of a flow within the casing.

[0023] The height of the wall formed by the casing 30 is preferably about the same as the height of the fins 24, but it may be higher or lower. The casing 30 may be made of metal or resin. The shape of the casing 30 that is effective for forming a brine flow will be described later.

[0024] 3 and 4 are side views of the refrigerator 14 and the ice slurry production unit 15 as viewed from viewpoint III in FIG. 2. Because these are side views from the freezing area side, only the thickness of the casing 30 is shown outside the fins 24. A refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and a refrigerant outlet pipe 18b are connected to the refrigerator 14 and the disk unit 26 of the ice slurry production unit 15. The fins 24 function to rotate (agitate) the brine near the upper or lower surface of the disk unit 26. A blade 25 may be provided between the fin 24 and the disk unit 26. The blade 25 is a metal blade that faces the surface of the ice making plate with a gap of approximately 0.3 mm between them. By rotating, it scrapes off ice formed on the surface 26a of the disk unit 26. It is desirable that the blade 25 basically has two blades on one side, and the fin 24 has four blades on one side. For example, blades 25 of various materials and shapes can be used. Several application examples of the blade 25 will be described later using FIG. 6.

[0025] While Fig. 3 shows a configuration in which fins 24 are arranged only on the upper surface 26a of the disk portion 26, as shown in Fig. 4, fins 24 may also be arranged on the lower surface 26b, so that flake ice can be produced on both the upper and lower sides. When fins 24 are arranged on both sides in this way, the refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b must not interfere with the rotation of the fins 24. For example, the refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b may be arranged so as not to interfere with the rotation of the fins 24, and may be connected to the refrigerant piping 28 from the side of the disk portion 26.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 4, blades 25 are attached to the fins 24. The blades 25 are arranged to face the surfaces 26a, 26b of the disk portion 26. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blades 25 are arranged to contact the surfaces 26a, 26b of the disk portion 26 with an appropriately weak pressure (low surface pressure). The blades 25 have a function (sweeping function) of sweeping away ice exposed on the surfaces 26a, 26b of the disk portion 26 and separating it from the disk portion 26, as will be described later.

[0027] Blade 25 may be made of any of a variety of buffs commonly used for polishing. For example, blade 25 may be made of urethane or other synthetic resins, metal, or wool. Examples of blade 25 materials include sponges, foams, brushes, scrubbing brushes, resin mesh, and nonwoven fabrics made from the various materials described above. Blade 25 may also be made of a material with a certain degree of flexibility. Blade 25 may be made of metal. Even if blade 25 is made of metal, there is a gap between blade 25 and disk portion 26, preventing contact between blade 25 and disk portion 26. This configuration prevents corrosion of the aluminum ice-making plate due to the potential difference.

[0028] Each blade 25 is attached to a rod-shaped spoke provided on the fin 24. Four fins 24 are arranged at 90-degree intervals on each of surfaces 26a and 26b of the disk portion 26. The fins 24 are integrally joined to the rotation transmission shaft 23, which is a round rod.

[0029] The rotation transmission shaft 23 passes through the disk portion 26 in the thickness direction, avoiding the refrigerant pipes 28 (see FIG. 2), and is capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions around its axis. The rotation transmission shaft 23 is capable of rotational displacement together with the blades 25 relative to the stationary disk portion 26.

[0030] 3 and 4, the refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b extend from the refrigerator 14 through a hole in the bottom of the slurry tank 12 and are connected to the disk unit 26, but the configuration is not limited to this. The refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b may be configured to pass outside the slurry tank 12, enter at the brine level Ws, and be connected to the disk unit 26. With this configuration, there is no need to worry about the brine leaking from the hole in the bottom of the slurry tank 12.

[0031] 5(a) is a plan view schematically showing a first embodiment of the refrigerant piping 28 of the disk portion 26. FIG. 5(b) is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of the refrigerant piping 28 of the disk portion 26. 5(a), the refrigerant pipe 28 is formed in a serpentine shape by alternately combining straight and curved portions. Furthermore, one end of the refrigerant pipe 28 is connected to the refrigerant inlet pipe 18a, and the other end is connected to the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b. The refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator 14 flows inside the refrigerant pipe 28 (pipe).

[0032] The outer circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipe 28 is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the hole in the disk portion 26 so as to allow heat transfer. A copper pipe, which generally has high thermal conductivity, can be used as the material for the refrigerant pipe 28. As the refrigerant flows through the inside of the refrigerant pipe 28, heat is removed from the disk portion 26, thereby cooling the disk portion 26. It is also possible to use materials other than copper (for example, stainless steel, aluminum, duralumin, etc.) for the refrigerant pipes 28. It is also possible to form a coating with excellent thermal conductivity on the outer circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipes 28 (or the inner circumferential surface of the hole in the disk portion 26).

[0033] Furthermore, the refrigerant pipes 28 are not limited to being formed by inserting pipes as physical tubular components into the holes in the disc portion 26. For example, it is possible to omit the tubular components and directly use holes drilled inside the disc portion 26 as refrigerant pipes (refrigerant flow paths). In this case, the refrigerant flows while contacting the inner circumferential surface of the hole in the disc portion 26. Furthermore, when tubular components are omitted as described above, it is possible to form a serpentine-shaped refrigerant flow path by connecting a folded U-shaped pipe to the disc portion 26 and liquid-tightly connecting the internal space of the U-shaped pipe with the internal space of the hole in the disc portion 26.

[0034] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a serpentine hole having a straight portion and a folded portion inside the disk portion 26. In this case, it is possible to use a casting core for forming the refrigerant flow path and form the disk portion 26 with the serpentine hole by casting.

[0035] 5(a), in a plan view of the disk portion 26, the end portion 28b of the refrigerant pipe 28, which is connected to the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b, extends in a direction perpendicular to the other straight portions. The end portion 28b of the refrigerant pipe 28, which is connected to the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b, is positioned so as to overlap the other portions in the thickness direction of the disk portion 26.

[0036] Although not shown in the drawings, the refrigerant pipe 28 may be formed in a shape that repeats more meanderings, for example, two, three, or more layers in the thickness direction of the disk portion 26. By doing so, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing inside the disk portion 26 can be increased. This allows the disk portion 26 to be cooled more effectively.

[0037] Furthermore, without being limited to these, for example, the ends 28a, 28b of the refrigerant pipe 28, which are connected to the refrigerant inlet pipe 18a and the refrigerant outlet pipe 18b, may be formed to extend in a direction parallel to other straight portions when the disk portion 26 is viewed in a plan view as shown in Figure 5(b). This makes it easier to process the refrigerant pipe 28 and drill holes in the disk portion 26. It also makes it easier to make the disk portion 26 thinner.

[0038] Next, Figure 6(a) shows a schematic diagram of the blade 25 separating ice from the disk portion 26. The blade 25 attached to the fin 24 moves horizontally (rotationally) from left to right in the figure as indicated by arrow C. In the example of Figure 6(a), the blade 25 contacts the upper surface 26a of the disk portion 26 with a moderately weak pressure (low surface pressure). The blade 25 is made of a flexible material and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

[0039] 6(a), blade 25 moves while in contact with surface 26a of disk portion 26, generating friction and deforming its cross-sectional shape into a parallelogram. Blade 24 strikes ice (not shown) formed on surface 26a of disk portion 26, applying an external force to the ice and sweeping it off surface 26a of disk portion 26. Furthermore, if fins 24 are also arranged on the opposite surface (lower surface 26b) of disk portion 26, blade 25 will sweep off ice according to the same principle.

[0040] 6(a), in order to explain the principle of sweeping by the blade 25, the cross-sectional shape of the blade 25 and the cross-sectional shape of the fin 24 are both rectangular. However, this is not limiting and shapes other than rectangular are also possible.

[0041] As a further modification, it is possible to transmit power to the blade 25 (not shown) from the side (side of the end) of the disk portion 26 without drilling a hole in the disk portion 26 through which the rotation transmission shaft 35 passes. In this case, for example, it is conceivable to use a parallel crank mechanism, with links (arms) of the parallel crank mechanism reciprocating with each other while sandwiching the disk portion 26. By employing such a mechanism, the disk portion 26 can be sandwiched between the fins 24, and the mechanism can operate like a car windshield wiper to sweep away ice.

[0042] In addition, a predetermined gap (for example, 1 mm or less to several mm), preferably a gap of about 0.3 mm, may be provided between the blade 25 and the surfaces 26a and 26b of the disk portion 26, so that ice that has grown larger than the gap can be swept away.

[0043] The blades 25 can be fixed to the fins 24 by various common methods, such as adhesive, screw fastening (bolt fastening), riveting, clamping, and the like.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 6(b), the blade 25 can also be made of a metal plate. Furthermore, other materials than a metal plate, such as a synthetic resin plate, can also be used. When using such a rigid body, it is possible to provide a gap H between the metal plate and the disk portion 26, as shown in FIG. 6(b). This can prevent wear on the metal plate or the disk portion 26.

[0045] Furthermore, by moving the metal plate or the like across a gap H, turbulent flow can be generated, for example, in front of and behind the metal plate or the like, as shown by the multiple arrows D in Figure 6(b). Although not shown, it is also possible to generate turbulent flow in the gap H between the metal plate or the like and the disk portion 26. This turbulent flow can be used to separate ice from the disk portion 26, even if the metal plate or the like and the disk portion 26 are not in contact with each other.

[0046] Here, the blades 25 such as metal plates can be fixed to the fins 24 in a variety of common ways, such as by screwing (bolting), riveting, clamping, or welding.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the blade 25 may be made of a metal member with a claw at its tip end projecting in the direction of travel C. When such a claw-shaped rigid member scrapes off the ice, the ice tends to disperse vertically away from the disk portion 26, facilitating the mixing of the ice with the brine. It is desirable to maintain the gap H between the metal blade 25 and the disk portion 26 at approximately 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. It is also desirable that the gap H be adjustable as needed. The gap H can be adjusted not only by replacing the blade 25, but also by using a structure that allows the fixed position of the blade 25 to be controlled vertically.

[0048] In the explanation of Figures 6(a) to (c), the blade 25 separating the ice from the disk portion 26 is sometimes described as "sweeping" and sometimes as "scraping," but both mean that the scraping portion separates the ice from the ice-making surface.

[0049] Next, a method for preventing ice from adhering to the side of the disk portion 26 will be described. In this case, the ice adhering to surfaces 26a and 26b of disk portion 26 is separated from disk portion 26 by blade 25. However, for ice adhering to portions that are not in contact with blade 25, such as the side surface of disk portion 26, the brine flow hits the ice, but no further external force acts on it.

[0050] Therefore, if the ice adhering to disk portion 26 grows and becomes large and takes on an unexpected shape or size, the grown ice may press against surrounding equipment (e.g., refrigerant pipes 28, etc.) and place an excessive load on the surrounding equipment. Also, the grown ice may reach surfaces 26a and 26b of disk portion 26 and interfere with fins 24 and blades 25, hindering their operation.

[0051] Taking these points into consideration, it is possible to partially provide an ice adhesion prevention portion 46 on the disk portion 26, as shown in Figures 5(a) and (b). In the example of Figures 5(a) and (b), the ice adhesion prevention portion 46 is formed so as to cover the curved portion of the refrigerant pipe 28 that protrudes from the disk portion 26.

[0052] The ice adhesion prevention portion 46 can be formed, for example, from a synthetic resin or the like having a lower thermal conductivity than the metal that is the material of the disk portion 26. Also, the surface of the ice adhesion prevention portion 46 can be molded into a smooth shape without sharp corners, making it difficult for ice to adhere. In the examples of Figures 5(a) and (b), the ice adhesion prevention portion 46 is shown only as an outline by a two-dot chain line. It is being done.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the casing 30 is provided, even if ice grows on the side of the disk portion 26, the ice will not reach the inside of the casing 30. Therefore, the casing 30 can prevent the grown ice from interfering with the operation of the fins 24.

[0054] To confirm how the brine flow changes depending on the presence or absence and shape of a casing, which acts as a flow control section, flow simulations were conducted under several conditions. Figure 7 illustrates the calculation conditions. Figure 7(a) shows the case without a casing. The slurry tank is a rectangular parallelepiped with a width of 800 mm, a depth of 400 mm, and a height of 400 mm. The fins are assumed to be four blades that form a cross in plan view, and rotate around the intersection of the cross. The diameter of the rotation circle is assumed to be 350 mm, and the fin height is assumed to be 200 mm. The center of rotation of the fins is located 200 mm in the width direction and 200 mm in the depth direction from the edge of the slurry tank. Approximately half of the slurry tank is the ice-making area, and the other half is the freezing area. The conditions in Figure 7(b) differ from those in Figure 7(a) only in that a casing is installed. In the condition of Figure 7(b), the casing as a flow control part is composed of curved and flat surfaces that follow an arc with a central angle of approximately 270° of the rotation circle of the fins as the brine flow generating part. The height of the casing is set slightly higher than the height of the cylinder formed by the rotation surfaces of the fins as the brine flow generating part. The flat surfaces of the casing extend in the tangent direction of the end of the curved surfaces by the distance of the radius of the rotation circle of the fins 24. In other words, the flat surfaces of the casing extend at right angles to the separation line that separates the ice-making area and the freezing work area. The condition of Figure 7(c) differs from Figure 7(b) only in that the curved surfaces of the casing are such that the center of the rotation circle of the fins follows an arc of approximately 180°.

[0055] Other calculation conditions included creating mesh data from the above 3D data using Pointwise, a mesh generation software made by Vinas Corporation, and then performing calculations using OpenFOAM (open source), a CFD software based on the finite volume method. The turbulence model was the k-ω SST model, and the fluid was assumed to be a saturated saltwater slurry with a specific gravity of 1.2 and a viscosity ten times that of water. A 3D steady-state calculation was also performed, with the fin rotation using the MRF (multiple reference frame) method and the blade rotation speed set to 30 rpm.

[0056] Figures 8(a), (b), and (c) show the results of brine flow simulations performed under the conditions shown in Figures 7(a), (b), and (c), respectively. The flow velocity distribution in Figure 8 is the flow velocity distribution at the center cross section in the height direction of the fin. The above simulation results show that without the casing 30, the flow of brine from the ice-making area to the freezing work area is slow. Therefore, without the casing 30, it is difficult to achieve a uniform ice slurry. It has been shown that when the casing 30 is installed, the flow of brine from the ice-making area to the freezing work area is faster than when the casing 30 is not installed. Comparing the condition where the central angle of the fin rotation circle is 270° (Figure 8(b)) with the condition where it is 180° (Figure 8(c)), the flow rate of brine from the ice-making area to the freezing work area is faster with the casing with a central angle of 180°. The reason why the brine flow velocity was faster in Figure 8(c) than in Figure 8(b) is thought to be as follows: In Figure 8(b), the flow of brine flowing into the casing and the flow flowing out of the casing collide, making it difficult for a fast outflowing flow to form. On the other hand, in Figure 8(c), the inlet where the brine flows in and the outlet where it flows out are far apart, making it easier for a fast outflowing flow to form.

[0057] In the above simulation, ice was made only on the upper surface 26a of the disk portion 26, which is the ice making plate, but in reality, ice may be made on both the upper surface 26a and the lower surface 26b of the disk portion 26. The casing is positioned to ensure a height approximately equal to the height of the fins 24 on the upper and lower surfaces (if blades are present, the total height of the fins and blades) so that the flow of brine caused by the rotation of the fins 24 on both surfaces can be controlled.

[0058] The above reason why the brine flow rate is faster in Figure 8(c) than in Figure 8(b) is thought to apply not only when ice is made only on the upper surface 26a of the disk portion 26, but also when ice is made on both the upper surface 26a and the lower surface 26b of the disk portion 26.

[0059] From the above results, it was found that the casing that covers the central angle of 180° of the rotation circle of the fin 24 most promotes the flow of brine. In fact, in the results of tests using an actual machine (both for single-sided and double-sided ice making), it was confirmed that the flow velocity was fastest when the casing covered the central angle of 180°, just like in the above simulation.

[0060] Furthermore, the fins 24 are not limited to those that rotate in one direction, but may be those that rotate back and forth (those that rotate back and forth in forward and reverse directions). In the case where the fins 24 have a rotary drive unit that rotates back and forth, the casing 30 may be formed as a wall in which flat surfaces are connected to both sides of a curved surface that follows an arc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1... Refrigeration system, 10... Ice slurry ice maker, 11... Control panel, 12... Slurry tank, 13... Housing, 13a... Insulated lid, 14... Refrigerator, 15... Ice slurry production section, 17... Frame section, 18a... Refrigerant inlet pipe, 18b... Refrigerant outlet pipe, 21... Cooling section, 22... Rotation drive section, 23... Rotation transmission shaft, 24... Fin, 25... Blade, 26... Disk section, 26a, 26b... Surface of disk section (ice-making surface), 28... Refrigerant piping, 30... Casing, 45... Cage, 46... Ice adhesion prevention section, Wa... Freezing work area, Ws... Brine liquid level

Claims

1. a slurry tank for storing brine; an ice making unit disposed inside the slurry tank and capable of being immersed in brine; Equipped with The ice making unit includes an ice making plate having an ice making surface that circulates a refrigerant supplied from a refrigerator and produces brine ice on at least one side thereof; A rotating part that rotates or reciprocates with respect to the ice making surface; A flow control section configured as a wall including a curved surface along a part of the outer periphery of the rotation circle of the rotating section; A refrigeration system having

2. The rotating part is a brine flow generating unit that generates the brine flow; A scraping unit that separates ice formed on the ice making surface from the ice making surface; The refrigeration system of claim 1 , comprising:

3. 3. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, wherein the flow control section is constituted by curved surfaces and flat surfaces along an arc having a central angle of a rotation circle of the rotating section that is greater than 0° and not greater than 270°.

4. 3. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, wherein the flow control section is configured as a wall including a curved surface along an arc having a central angle of approximately 180° of a rotation circle of the rotating section.

5. The refrigeration system of claim 4 , wherein the rotating portion is disposed both above and below the ice making plate.

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