Binary-ice production device and method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing a flowable, pumpable cooling mass, such as ice slurry, are not efficient in achieving homogeneous production and multi-purpose usage, particularly for air conditioning and energy systems using latent heat storage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving filling a housing with a flowable base mass and controlling its temperature using a heat exchanger while stirring, interrupting cooling when an ice layer reaches a predetermined thickness and resuming when it drops below, to maintain a consistent cooling mass for various applications like food processing and energy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous cooling is applied to produce cooling mass, then cooling efficiency is improved, but ice layer accumulation on heat exchanger surfaces reduces heat transfer effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic interruption of the cooling process based on ice layer thickness detection. When the ice layer reaches a predetermined thickness threshold, cooling is temporarily stopped to prevent excessive accumulation that would impede heat transfer. Once the ice layer melts below the threshold, cooling resumes. This periodic on-off control maintains optimal heat transfer conditions while sustaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a feedback mechanism where ice layer thickness is continuously monitored and used to control the cooling process. The detection device measures ice layer thickness in real-time, and this information feeds back to the control system which adjusts cooling operation accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures heat transfer effectiveness is maintained while maximizing cooling mass production.
2Productivity
If ice layer thickness is increased to enhance cooling capacity, then cooling efficiency is improved, but flowability and pumpability of cooling mass deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial freezing by controlling ice layer formation only on heat exchanger surfaces rather than freezing the entire cooling mass. The ice layer thickness is limited to a predetermined threshold that provides sufficient cooling capacity through latent heat storage, while the bulk cooling mass remains in a flowable state with appropriate ice crystal distribution, ensuring pumpability and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If cooling process is interrupted frequently to maintain ice layer thickness, then heat transfer effectiveness is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent minimizes production time by implementing a threshold-based control system that allows cooling to proceed continuously as long as ice layer thickness remains below the predetermined limit. Only when the threshold is reached does cooling interrupt occur, and even then, the interruption duration is optimized to allow minimal ice melt before resuming. This approach maintains heat transfer effectiveness while maximizing the continuity of useful cooling action.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the production of a homogeneous, efficiently cooled, and pumpable cooling mass suitable for multiple uses, including air conditioning and energy storage, with improved energy efficiency and scalability.
Implementation Method 1
controlling the temperature of, and in particular cooling, the flowable base mass, or the cooling mass that has already been produced, by bringing it in contact with a heat exchanger device
Implementation Method 2
stirring, in particular continuously stirring, the base mass so as to generate the cooling mass
Implementation Method 3
when a layer, and in particular an ice layer, forms on the heat exchanger device
Data Source
AI summary
A method for continuously producing a flowable, pumpable, cooled mass or cooling mass, in particular for use as foodstuffs and food products and/or for foodstuffs and food products made of a flowable base mass, including the following steps: filling a housing with the flowable base mass; cooling the flowable base mass by bringing it in contact with a heat exchanger device disposed in the housing while stirring the base mass so as to generate the pumpable, cooled mass or cooling mass, wherein, when a layer, and in particular an ice layer, forms on the heat exchanger device, cooling is interrupted as soon as the layer, and in particular the ice layer, reaches a predetermined thickness, and cooling is continued as soon as the layer drops below the predetermined thickness, wherein the base mass and/or the mass is moved radially outwardly along the heat exchanger surfaces during stirring, and a force is transmitted for stirring from outside the housing to the inside, without contact and without apertures through the housing. The invention further relates to an air conditioning method, to a cooling mass production device, to an energy system, and to a use therefor.