Heat exchanger for ice water maker and ice water maker

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heat exchanger for ice water maker and an ice water maker, which forms the first pipe and the second pipe into spiral bends and nests the first pipe inside the second pipe, in operation, refrigerant of the refrigeration system enters the second passage from the refrigerant inlet and flows out from the refrigerant outlet to reduce the temperature of the first pipe, water flowing through the first passage is cooled rapidly since the water is flowing so that ice is less likely to be formed in the first pipe, thus the heat exchanger has the advantages of high refrigeration efficiency and rapid ice water production; the ice water maker performs refrigeration inside the heat exchanger through the circulation in the refrigeration system and transfers cooling capacity to the water path system to produce ice water for high refrigeration efficiency.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present patent document claims the benefit of priority to Patent Application No. 202610206232.5, filed Feb. 12, 2026, and entitled “HEAT EXCHANGER FOR ICE WATER MAKER AND ICE WATER MAKER,” the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for ice water maker, and also relates to an ice water maker.2. Background Information

[0003] An ice water maker is a common household appliance used for making ice water with a temperature ranging from 4 °C to 10 °C, and in a refrigeration system composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, the evaporator is usually arranged in an ice water tank so that heat exchange is performed between water in the ice water tank and the surface of the evaporator to make ice water. For example, Chinese Utility Model Publication No. CN213396150U discloses a rapid ice water maker in which an evaporation tube is placed in an ice water bucket where water in the ice water bucket is not flowing, the surface temperature of the evaporation tube can reach below −15 °C during refrigeration so that an ice layer is easily formed on the surface of the evaporation tube, and the thermal conductivity of ice is about 2.2 W / (m·K), which is much lower than that of metal, thus resulting in low efficiency of ice water making.

[0004] The present invention is developed in view of the defects in the prior art.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems that during ice water production, an evaporation tube is placed in an ice water bucket, during refrigeration, the surface temperature of the evaporation tube can reach below −15 °C, so an ice layer is easily formed on the surface of the evaporation tube, and the thermal conductivity of ice is about 2.2 W / (m·K), which is much lower than that of metal, thus resulting in low efficiency of ice water making; the technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the technical problems is as follows: a heat exchanger for ice water maker is provided, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a spirally bent first pipe and a spirally bent second pipe, the first pipe is nested inside the second pipe, a first passage for water passing is formed in an inner side wall of the first pipe, a first water port communicated with one end of the first passage is arranged at one end of the first pipe, a second water port communicated with the other end of the first passage is arranged at the other end of the first pipe, a second passage for refrigerant passing is formed between an outer side wall of the first pipe and an inner side wall of the second pipe, a refrigerant inlet communicated with one end of the second passage is arranged at one end of the second pipe, and a refrigerant outlet communicated with the other end of the second passage is arranged at the other end of the second pipe.

[0006] The heat exchanger for ice water maker as mentioned above, which further comprises a spirally bent third pipe, the second pipe is nested inside the third pipe, a third passage for water passing is formed between an outer side wall of the second pipe and an inner side wall of the third pipe, the other end of the first passage is communicated with the third passage at one end of the third pipe, and the second water port is arranged at the other end of the third pipe and communicated with the third passage.

[0007] The heat exchanger for ice water maker as mentioned above, which further comprises a fourth pipe arranged on an inner ring and / or an outer ring of the second pipe, the fourth pipe is in contact with an outer side wall of the second pipe, the other end of the first passage is communicated with one end of the fourth pipe, and the second water port is arranged at the other end of the fourth pipe.

[0008] The heat exchanger for an ice water maker as mentioned above, wherein a connector is arranged between an end portion of the second pipe and the outer side wall of the first pipe, the connector comprises a connector body in sealed butt joint with the second pipe, a through hole for the first pipe to pass through is formed in the connector body, the outer side wall of the first pipe is in sealed butt joint with the through hole, and an interface port being disposed on the connector body.

[0009] An ice water maker is provided in the present invention, which comprises a housing, a water path system, a refrigeration system and the heat exchanger as mentioned above; the refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the heat exchanger are connected by pipes, the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger is connected with the expansion valve, the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger is connected with the compressor; the water path system comprises a water inlet pipe, a check valve, a water outlet switch and a water outlet nozzle, the water inlet pipe is connected with a water source, one end of the check valve is connected with the water inlet pipe, the other end of the check valve is connected with the first water port, and the second water port is connected with the water outlet nozzle through the water outlet switch.

[0010] The ice water maker as described above, wherein the water path system further comprises a circulation pump, one end of the circulation pump is connected between the check valve and the first water port of the heat exchanger through a first tee fitting, and the other end of the circulation pump is connected between the second water port of the heat exchanger and the water outlet switch through a second tee fitting.

[0011] The ice water maker as described above, wherein the water path system further comprises a circulation pump and a circulation water tank, one end of the circulation pump is connected between the check valve and the first water port of the heat exchanger through the first tee fitting, the other end of the circulation pump is connected with the circulation water tank, the circulation water tank is connected with the second water port, and the water outlet nozzle is connected with the circulation water tank through the water outlet switch.

[0012] The ice water maker as described above, a refrigerating chamber is arranged inside the housing, the heat exchanger is arranged inside the refrigerating chamber, and a cover for closing the refrigerating chamber is further arranged on the housing.

[0013] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0014] 1. The heat exchanger of the present invention is provided by forming the first pipe and the second pipe into spiral bends and nesting the first pipe inside the second pipe, and in operation, refrigerant of the refrigeration system enters the second passage from the refrigerant inlet and flows out from the refrigerant outlet so that the temperature of the first pipe is reduced, water flowing through the first passage inside the first pipe is cooled rapidly, and since water inside the first pipe is flowing, ice is hardly formed on the inner side wall of the first pipe, so that the heat exchanger has the advantages of high refrigeration efficiency and rapid ice water production.

[0015] 2. The ice water maker of the present invention performs refrigeration in the heat exchanger through circulation of the refrigeration system and transfers cooling capacity to the water path system to produce ice water, and has an advantage of high refrigeration efficiency.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of the ice water maker according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the ice water maker according to the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a full sectional schematic view of the ice water maker according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a first schematic view of a working principle of the ice water maker according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a second schematic view of the working principle of the ice water maker according to the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a structural schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a marked part A in FIG. 6;

[0023] FIG. 8 is an exploded schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 9 is a structural schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a marked part A in FIG. 9;

[0026] FIG. 11 is an exploded schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 12 is a structural schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 13 is a first exploded schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 14 is a second exploded schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 15 is a top schematic view of the heat exchanger according to embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 16 is a full sectional schematic view of FIG. 15 along a direction C-C;

[0032] FIG. 17 is a full sectional schematic view of FIG. 15 along a direction D-D.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 17, the heat exchanger of the present invention comprises four embodiments, which are described respectively as follows.Embodiment 1 of the Heat Exchanger

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a heat exchanger for an ice water maker according to the present embodiment is provided, wherein the heat exchanger 1 comprises a spirally bent first pipe 11 and a spirally bent second pipe 12, the first pipe 11 is nested inside the second pipe 12. A first passage 101 for water passing is formed in an inner side wall of the first pipe 11, a first water port 1001 communicated with one end of the first passage 101 is arranged at one end of the first pipe 11, a second water port 1002 communicated with the other end of the first passage 101 is arranged at the other end of the first pipe 11; a second passage 102 for refrigerant passing is formed between an outer side wall of the first pipe 11 and an inner side wall of the second pipe 12, a refrigerant inlet 1003 communicated with one end of the second passage 102 is arranged at one end of the second pipe 12, and a refrigerant outlet 1004 communicated with the other end of the second passage 102 is arranged at the other end of the second pipe 12. The heat exchanger of the present invention is formed by forming the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 into spiral bends and nesting the first pipe 11 inside the second pipe 12, and in operation, refrigerant of a refrigeration system enters the second passage 102 through the refrigerant inlet 1003 and flows out from the refrigerant outlet 1004, so that the temperature of the first pipe 11 is reduced, water flowing through the first passage 101 inside the first pipe 11 is cooled rapidly. Since water inside the first pipe 11 is flowing, ice is hardly formed on the inner side wall of the first pipe 11, and the heat exchanger has advantages of high refrigeration efficiency and rapid ice water production.

[0036] In the present embodiment, a connector 17 is arranged between an end portion of the second pipe 12 and the outer side wall of the first pipe 11 to ensure reliable sealing of connection between the end portion of the second pipe 12 and the outer side wall of the first pipe 11. The connector 17 comprises a connector body 171 in sealed butt joint with the second pipe 12, a through hole 172 for the first pipe 11 to pass through being formed on the connector body 171, wherein the outer side wall of the first pipe 11 is in sealed butt joint with the through hole 172, and an interface port 173 disposed on the connector body 171. In actual application, the second pipe 12 may be connected with the connector body 171 by welding, and the outer side wall of the first pipe 11 may be in sealed butt joint with the through hole 172 by welding.Embodiment 2 of the Heat Exchanger

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, since refrigerant of the refrigeration system passes through the second passage 102 between the outer side wall of the first pipe 11 and the inner side wall of the second pipe 12, surface temperatures of both the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 are reduced, to avoid energy waste, on the basis of the heat exchanger in embodiment 1, the heat exchanger 1 according to the present embodiment further comprises a spirally bent third pipe 13, wherein the second pipe 12 is nested inside the third pipe 13, a third passage 103 for water passing is formed between an outer side wall of the second pipe 12 and an inner side wall of the third pipe 13, the other end of the first passage 101 is communicated with the third passage 103 at one end of the third pipe 13, and the second water port 1002 is arranged at the other end of the third pipe 13 and communicated with the third passage 103. In operation, water flows through the first passage 101 and the third passage 103 in sequence and in contact with the inner side wall of the first pipe 11 and the outer side wall of the second pipe 12, so that energy loss is reduced and ice water production efficiency is improved.Embodiment 3 of the Heat Exchanger

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, since refrigerant of the refrigeration system passes through the second passage 102 between the outer side wall of the first pipe 11 and the inner side wall of the second pipe 12, surface temperatures of both the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 are reduced, to avoid energy waste, on the basis of the heat exchanger in embodiment 1, the heat exchanger 1 further comprises a fourth pipe 14 arranged on an inner ring and / or an outer ring of the second pipe 12, wherein the fourth pipe 14 is in contact with the outer side wall of the second pipe 12, the other end of the first passage 101 is communicated with one end of the fourth pipe 14, and the second water port 1002 is arranged at the other end of the fourth pipe 14. In operation, water can flow through the fourth pipe 14 and the first pipe 11 in sequence; since the fourth pipe 14 is in contact with the outer side wall of the second pipe 12, the fourth pipe 14 is cooled to further cool water flowing through the fourth pipe 14, so that energy loss is reduced and ice water production efficiency is improved.

[0039] Each of the 3 embodiments of the heat exchanger is provided with a passage for water passing, the first water port 1001, the second water port 1002, a passage for refrigerant passing, the refrigerant inlet 1003 and the refrigerant outlet 1004. A main purpose is to improve ice water production efficiency.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, an ice water maker of the present invention comprises a housing 4, a water path system 2, a refrigeration system 3 and the heat exchanger 1 as described above. The refrigeration system 3 comprises a compressor 31, a condenser 32 and an expansion valve 33, the compressor 31, the condenser 32, the expansion valve 33 and the heat exchanger 1 are connected by pipes, the refrigerant inlet 1003 of the heat exchanger 1 is connected with the expansion valve 33, the refrigerant outlet 1004 of the heat exchanger 1 is connected with the compressor 31. The water path system 2 comprises a water inlet pipe 21, a check valve 22, a water outlet switch 23 which may be mechanical or a solenoid valve and a water outlet nozzle 24, the water inlet pipe 21 is connected with a water source, one end of the check valve 22 is connected with the water inlet pipe 21, the other end of the check valve 22 is connected with the first water port 1001 of the heat exchanger 1, and the second water port 1002 of the heat exchanger 1 is connected with the water outlet nozzle 24 through the water outlet switch 23. The ice water maker of the present invention performs refrigeration in the heat exchanger 1 through circulation of the refrigeration system 3 and transfers cooling capacity to the water path system 2 to produce ice water, and has an advantage of high refrigeration efficiency.

[0041] In the present embodiment, to improve refrigeration efficiency and further prevent reduction of heat conduction efficiency caused by ice formation due to non-flowing water during refrigeration, as shown in FIG. 4, the water path system further comprises a circulation pump 25, one end of the circulation pump 25 is connected between the check valve 22 and the first water port 1001 of the heat exchanger 1 through a first tee fitting 26, and the other end of the circulation pump 25 is connected between the second water port 1002 of the heat exchanger 1 and the water outlet switch 23 through a second tee fitting 28.

[0042] In the present embodiment, to improve refrigeration efficiency and prevent reduction of heat conduction efficiency caused by ice formation due to non-flowing water during refrigeration, as shown in FIG. 5, the water path further comprises a circulation pump 25 and a circulation water tank 27, one end of the circulation pump 25 is connected between the check valve 22 and the first water port 1001 of the heat exchanger 1 through the first tee fitting 26, the other end of the circulation pump 25 is connected with the circulation water tank 27, the circulation water tank 27 is connected with the second water port 1002 of the heat exchanger 1, and the water outlet nozzle 24 is connected with the circulation water tank 27 through the water outlet switch 23.

[0043] To fully utilize resources, a refrigerating chamber 401 is arranged inside the housing 4, the heat exchanger 1 is arranged inside the refrigerating chamber 401, and articles such as red wine may be placed inside the refrigerating chamber 401 for refrigeration, and a cover 41 for closing the refrigerating chamber 401 is further arranged on the housing 4, and the cover 41 plays a role of heat preservation.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for ice water maker, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a spirally bent first pipe and a spirally bent second pipe, the first pipe is nested inside the second pipe,a first passage for water passing is formed in an inner side wall of the first pipe, a first water port communicated with one end of the first passage is arranged at one end of the first pipe, a second water port communicated with the other end of the first passage is arranged at the other end of the first pipe,a second passage for refrigerant passing is formed between an outer side wall of the first pipe and an inner side wall of the second pipe, a refrigerant inlet communicated with one end of the second passage is arranged at one end of the second pipe, and a refrigerant outlet communicated with the other end of the second passage is arranged at the other end of the second pipe.

2. The heat exchanger for ice water maker according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a spirally bent third pipe, the second pipe is nested inside the third pipe,a third passage for water passing is formed between an outer side wall of the second pipe and an inner side wall of the third pipe, the other end of the first passage is communicated with the third passage at one end of the third pipe, and the second water port is arranged at the other end of the third pipe and communicated with the third passage.

3. The heat exchanger for ice water maker according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a fourth pipe arranged on an inner ring and / or an outer ring of the third pipe, the fourth pipe is in contact with an outer side wall of the third pipe, the other end of the first passage is communicated with one end of the fourth pipe, and the second water port is arranged at the other end of the fourth pipe.

4. The heat exchanger for ice water maker according to claim 2, wherein a second connector is arranged between each end of the third pipe and the outer side wall of the second pipe;the second connector comprises a second connector body in sealed butt joint with the third pipe, a second through hole for the second pipe to pass through being formed in the second connector body, wherein the outer side wall of the second pipe is in sealed butt joint with the second through hole, and a second interface port disposed on the second connector body.

5. The heat exchanger for ice water maker according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a fourth pipe arranged on an inner ring and / or an outer ring of the second pipe, the fourth pipe is in contact with an outer side wall of the second pipe, the other end of the first passage is communicated with one end of the fourth pipe, and the second water port is arranged at the other end of the fourth pipe.

6. The heat exchanger for ice water maker according to claim 1, wherein a connector is arranged between each end of the second pipe and the outer side wall of the first pipe;the connector comprises a connector body in sealed butt joint with the second pipe, a through hole for the first pipe to pass through being formed in the connector body, wherein the outer side wall of the first pipe is in sealed butt joint with the through hole, and an interface port for refrigerant passing disposed on the connector body.

7. An ice water maker, comprising a housing, a water path system, a refrigeration system and the heat exchanger according to claim 1,wherein the refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the heat exchanger are connected by pipes, the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger is connected with the expansion valve, the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger is connected with the compressor;the water path system comprises a water inlet pipe, a check valve, a water outlet switch and a water outlet nozzle, the water inlet pipe is connected with a water source, one end of the check valve is connected with the water inlet pipe, the other end of the check valve is connected with the first water port of the heat exchanger, and the second water port of the heat exchanger is connected with the water outlet nozzle through the water outlet switch.

8. The ice water maker according to claim 7, wherein the water path system further comprises a circulation pump, one end of the circulation pump is connected between the check valve and the first water port through a first tee fitting, and the other end of the circulation pump is connected between the second water port and the water outlet switch through a second tee fitting.

9. The ice water maker according to claim 7, wherein the water path system further comprises a circulation pump and a circulation water tank, one end of the circulation pump is connected between the check valve and the first water port through a first tee fitting, the other end of the circulation pump is connected with the circulation water tank, the circulation water tank is connected with the second water port, and the water outlet nozzle is connected with the circulation water tank through the water outlet switch.

10. The ice water maker according to claim 7, wherein a refrigerating chamber is arranged inside the housing, the heat exchanger is arranged inside the refrigerating chamber, and a cover for closing the refrigerating chamber is further arranged on the housing.

Images