Horizontal Ice Machine Evaporator Assembly for Uniform Ice Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice making machines are inefficient and result in non-uniformity in ice shape and density, requiring human intervention and leading to thermal losses.
Innovation Solution
An evaporator assembly for a horizontal type ice making machine comprising a plurality of tubes for circulating refrigerant, thermally conductive protrusions, and a non-conductive plate with hemispherical moulds, facilitating efficient and uniform ice formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional manual ice making with moulds is used, then ice can be formed in specific shapes, but the process is time-consuming and results in non-uniformity in ice shape and density
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator assembly is segmented into multiple protrusions, each acting as an independent ice formation unit. Water is distributed to individual protrusions rather than filling entire moulds, enabling simultaneous formation of multiple uniform ice pieces with consistent density and shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automatic water distribution to the protrusions without manual intervention. The evaporator assembly self-regulates the water supply to each protrusion, ensuring uniform ice formation across all units simultaneously, eliminating the time-consuming manual topping-up process.
2Extent of automation
If automatic ice making machines with distributor pipes are used, then human intervention is minimized, but thermal losses increase and ice formation becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator assembly uses thin-walled protrusions that provide efficient thermal conduction from the refrigerant to the water. These thin-walled structures minimize thermal resistance and reduce energy losses while maintaining automated operation, allowing heat to transfer efficiently to freeze water rapidly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes the geometric parameters of the protrusions (size, shape, spacing) and refrigerant flow parameters to maximize heat transfer efficiency. By changing these parameters, the automated system achieves efficient ice formation with minimized thermal losses.
3Extent of automation
If plate forming with evaporator tips is used, then ice can be formed automatically, but the process is slow and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional plate surface with tips to a three-dimensional array of protrusions extending into the water flow path. This dimensional change increases the surface area for heat transfer and allows water to contact multiple protrusions simultaneously, dramatically accelerating automated ice formation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple protrusions are arranged in a nested or clustered configuration, with water flowing through and around them. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of available space and ensures efficient heat transfer from refrigerant in the central cavity to water at multiple contact points simultaneously, improving productivity.
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 enables fast and consistent formation of ice with uniform shape and density, minimizing thermal losses and improving the efficiency of the ice making process.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of tubes for circulating a refrigerant... each of the plurality of moulds along with a corresponding conductive protrusion of the plurality of conductive protrusions, defines an ice forming region
Implementation Method 2
to extract heat from at least some of the tips and thereby cool them to ice forming temperature
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of conductive protrusions, which are thermally coupled to and extending from each of the plurality of tubes
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an evaporator assembly for a horizontal type ice making machine. The evaporator assembly includes a plurality of tubes for circulating a refrigerant; a plurality of conductive protrusions, which are thermally coupled to and extending from each of the plurality of tubes; and a non-conductive plate, which is arranged adjacent to the plurality of tubes. The non-conductive plate is defined with a plurality of moulds, wherein each of the plurality of moulds is defined with a provision to receive one of the plurality of conductive protrusions. Each of the plurality of tubes includes a hemispherical structure, configured to enclose a top portion of the mould. The configuration of the evaporator assembly facilitates fast and efficient formation of ice, and there improves the efficiency of the ice making machine.