Chambered Air Cooling Loop for Direct Contact Ice Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators consume excessive energy to both form and store ice due to the use of cooled air, which leads to energy inefficiency and ice melting in the storage compartment when direct contact ice making methods are employed, as there is no cooled air available to maintain the storage compartment below freezing.
Innovation Solution
A direct contact ice making system with an airflow chamber and fan assembly that recirculates cooled air from the ice making compartment to the storage compartment, utilizing a cooling loop in contact with the ice mold and ambient air cooling within the airflow chamber to maintain the storage compartment temperature efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooled air is used to freeze water in the ice mold and maintain the storage compartment temperature, then ice can be formed and stored, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cooling function into two separate paths: (1) direct contact cooling of water in the ice mold using cold air, and (2) separate cooling of the storage compartment using a dedicated evaporator. This segmentation allows each cooling path to be optimized independently, reducing total energy consumption compared to cooling a single large space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different cooling methods to different locations: direct contact cooling with cold air for the ice mold area, and evaporative cooling for the storage compartment. This local differentiation of cooling quality ensures efficient ice formation while maintaining storage temperatures without the excessive energy cost of uniformly cooling the entire space.
2Use of energy by moving object
If direct contact cooling with coolant is used to form ice, then energy consumption for ice formation is reduced, but the storage compartment temperature cannot be maintained below freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent functions: the coolant loop handles ice formation in the mold with high efficiency direct contact cooling, while a separate evaporator unit handles storage compartment temperature maintenance. This allows the storage compartment to be cooled without interfering with the energy-efficient ice making process.
Solution Approach 2:
An evaporator acts as an intermediary cooling device that provides the necessary cold air to the storage compartment without directly interfering with the ice mold cooling process. The evaporator mediates between the coolant system and the storage space, enabling independent control of ice formation and storage temperatures.
3Reliability
If a large volume of air is cooled to both freeze ice and maintain storage compartment temperature, then both functions are achieved, but the system becomes energy costly
Solution Approach 1:
The air cooling system is segmented into two separate streams: one stream cools air for ice formation in the mold, and another stream uses the evaporator to cool air for the storage compartment. This segmentation prevents the need to cool a single large volume of air for both purposes, significantly reducing the total energy required.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator serves multiple functions: it cools the storage compartment air and also provides a cold air source that can be directed to the ice mold area when needed. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve dual cooling purposes with a single device, improving energy efficiency.
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 reduces energy consumption by minimizing the amount of cold air needed while preventing ice from melting, as cooled air is continuously circulated and re-cooled within the storage compartment, maintaining the temperature without additional energy expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
The ice mold is placed in direct contact with a portion of the coolant loop so that the coolant moving through the loop absorbs the heat from the water in the mold to form ice cubes
Implementation Method 2
The airflow chamber is positioned on the cooling loop away from the ice maker, and includes a plurality of offset protrusions creating a channel for air to pass through to cool the air
Implementation Method 3
a fan assembly attached to the airflow chamber such that the fan assembly directs cooled air to the ice storage container
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating liquid coolant. The ice making system includes a coolant loop and an air flow chamber on a portion of the loop. The air flow chamber includes channels formed by offset protrusions, which direct air back and forth over the portion of the cooling loop to cool ambient air within the ice making system. The cooled air is then directed by a fan and supply duct to an ice storage container to prevent ice cubes in the container from melting. Once the air has warmed in the container, it is directed by a return duct to the beginning of the air flow chamber to begin the process over once again, thus creating a recirculation of air within a refrigerator system to cool an ice storage container.