Ice Maker Cooling Temperature Control to Prevent Ice Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice makers often experience 'ice lock' issues due to rapid ice generation on the inner surfaces of cooling chambers, leading to inefficiencies and potential mechanical overload, particularly when the solution temperature reaches the freezing point without proper control over cooling temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The icemaking system employs detectors to identify the presence of ice nuclei within the cooling chamber, allowing for adjustments in cooling temperature to prevent ice lock by decreasing the evaporation temperature when ice is present, thereby optimizing icemaking performance and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cooling temperature is lowered to increase icemaking efficiency, then icemaking performance is improved, but ice lock occurs causing mechanical overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cooling temperature adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the cooling temperature based on whether ice nucleus is present in the cooling chamber. When ice nucleus is detected, the cooling temperature is set to a first value that prevents ice lock; when no ice nucleus is present, the temperature is raised to a second value to enhance icemaking efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the cooling temperature parameter based on the presence of ice nucleus. The control unit changes the cooling temperature between two different values (first value when ice nucleus is present, second value when absent) to optimize both icemaking efficiency and prevent ice lock. This parameter adjustment strategy directly addresses the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If the cooling temperature is raised to prevent ice lock, then reliability is improved, but icemaking efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic temperature adjustment based on ice nucleus detection. Rather than maintaining a constantly high temperature to prevent ice lock, the system only raises the temperature to a second value when ice nucleus is absent and icemaking efficiency would otherwise be compromised. When ice nucleus is present, the temperature is maintained at a lower first value to maximize efficiency. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the cooling temperature parameter between two specific values based on the detection result. When ice nucleus is detected, the temperature is set to a lower first value for efficiency; when no ice nucleus is detected, the temperature is raised to a second value to prevent ice lock. This conditional parameter change strategy optimizes both reliability and productivity.
3Device complexity
If a fixed cooling temperature is used to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but icemaking performance cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic control system that adjusts cooling temperature based on ice nucleus detection. The control unit receives detection results from the detector and automatically changes the cooling temperature between two values. This dynamic control mechanism adds minimal complexity while significantly improving icemaking performance by preventing ice lock and optimizing efficiency, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and 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
This approach enables efficient icemaking by preventing ice lock and ensuring continuous operation by dynamically adjusting the cooling temperature based on the presence of ice nuclei, enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the icemaking process.
Implementation Method 1
configured to cause heat exchange between the solution in the cooling chamber and the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber for icemaking
Implementation Method 2
a refrigerant inflow end of the condenser is connected to a discharge side of the compressor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An icemaking system includes a circulation circuit (70) configured to circulate icemaking solution, an icemaker (1) including a cooling chamber (12) having an inflow port (16) and an exhaust port (17) of solution and allowing the solution to flow therein, and a scraping mechanism (15) configured to scrape ice generated on an inner surface of the cooling chamber (12), the icemaker (1) provided in the circulation circuit (70), a cooling mechanism (60) configured to cool the solution in the cooling chamber (12), a first detector configured to detect whether or not the inflow port (16) of the cooling chamber (12) has ice nucleus, and an adjuster configured to adjust cooling temperature of the solution in accordance with a detection result of the first detector.