Flat Evaporator Freeze Surface for Faster Ice Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice-making apparatus evaporator assemblies are costly due to the need for extensive copper components and nickel plating, difficult to clean, and have inefficient ice release due to raised geometrical features on the freeze surface, leading to prolonged harvest times and potential bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
A flat, stainless steel freeze surface with a thermally coupled copper freeze template that defines ice formation zones using interconnected strips, eliminating the need for nickel plating and facilitating easier cleaning and faster ice release by gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If raised geometrical features are used on the freeze surface to define ice cube shapes, then ice cube formation is improved, but ice release time increases and cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The freeze surface is segmented into multiple freeze zones separated by divider walls, with each zone having its own refrigerant circuit connection. This allows independent control and harvesting of ice cubes from different zones, reducing overall harvest time while maintaining proper ice cube shape definition through the segmented structure
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using raised geometrical features that cause ice to cling, the invention uses a flat freeze surface where ice cubes are defined by the absence of material (dividers creating pockets). This inversion of the approach eliminates the clinging problem while still defining cube shapes, allowing faster release
2Reliability
If extensive copper components and nickel plating are used in the evaporator assembly, then food equipment sanitation requirements are met, but assembly cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the copper components from the evaporator assembly and replaces them with stainless steel. The copper refrigerant circuit is replaced with a stainless steel refrigerant circuit that has equivalent thermal performance, eliminating the need for nickel plating while maintaining sanitation compliance and reducing assembly cost
Solution Approach 2:
The material composition parameter is changed from copper/nickel plating to stainless steel. This parameter change maintains the sanitary properties and thermal performance while eliminating the complex plating process and reducing cost
3Shape
If dividers are used on the freeze surface to separate ice growth, then ice cube separation is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The freeze surface is segmented into multiple freeze zones by divider walls, providing physical separation for ice cube formation. The segmented design allows for effective cleaning access points between zones while maintaining proper ice cube separation during the freezing process
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual parts are used to create the evaporator assembly, then functional requirements are met, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple separate components into an integrated evaporator assembly with a unified stainless steel construction. The freeze surface, refrigerant circuit, and structural elements are combined into a single integrated unit, reducing the number of parts from 48-75 to a much smaller number while maintaining all necessary functions
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
The solution reduces assembly costs, improves cleaning efficiency, and accelerates ice harvest times by allowing all ice pieces to release simultaneously and break apart easily, while preventing bacterial growth through sealed food zones.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant absorbs heat and vaporizes as the refrigerant passes therethrough
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant absorbs heat and vaporizes as the refrigerant passes therethrough
Implementation Method 3
The high-pressure, substantially hot gaseous refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 540 defrosts the freeze portion to facilitate the release of ice from the freeze portion
Implementation Method 4
A flat, stainless steel freeze surface with a thermally coupled copper freeze template
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus having a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface, a refrigerant circuit, and a freeze template. The freeze template is thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and is formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions. Interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed. During a freeze cycle, expanded refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, and water is run over the freeze surface. During a harvest cycle, compressed refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, wherein heat transfers from the refrigerant circuit to the freeze surface until the freeze surface is warmed to a temperature sufficient to allow ice formed on the freeze surface to fall from the freeze surface by a force of gravity.