Modular Ice Maker Layout With Stable Hot-Gas Defrost Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modular ice production plants face inefficiencies due to pressure fluctuations during defrosting, leading to poor ice quality and increased energy consumption, with liquid returning to the compressor causing damage and refrigerant fluid not being reused.
Innovation Solution
The ice production plant incorporates a solenoid valve and pressure regulating valves to maintain constant pressure and reuse refrigerant fluid, preventing liquid return to the compressor and optimizing defrosting, allowing ice makers to be stacked for space efficiency and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If ice makers are arranged spaced apart for maintenance access, then ease of repair is improved, but installation space is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal spacing to vertical stacking arrangement. Multiple ice makers are arranged in vertical columns with access provided from the front and rear sides, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal footprint while maintaining serviceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice makers are stacked vertically one above another in a nested configuration, with each unit positioned to allow access to its components from the front and rear. This nesting approach maximizes space utilization while preserving maintenance capabilities.
2Productivity
If hot gas defrosting is used, then defrosting effectiveness is improved, but pressure stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid receiver acts as an intermediary component between the condensing unit and the evaporators. During defrosting, it receives and stores the condensed refrigerant fluid that would otherwise return to the compressor, thereby maintaining stable pressure in the refrigeration circuit while enabling effective hot gas defrosting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the state and routing of refrigerant fluid based on operational phase. During defrosting, the liquid receiver captures condensed refrigerant, altering the pressure parameters in the system to maintain stability despite the hot gas injection into evaporators.
3Device complexity
If refrigerant fluid is not reused during defrosting, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the condensed refrigerant fluid during defrosting, the liquid receiver recovers and stores it for reuse. This prevents energy waste by ensuring the refrigerant continues to circulate effectively through the ice makers after defrosting, improving overall system energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid receiver enables the system to serve itself by automatically capturing and storing refrigerant fluid during defrosting cycles. The recovered refrigerant is then available to serve the ice makers in subsequent refrigeration cycles, eliminating the need for external refrigerant supplementation.
4Device complexity
If liquid returns to compressor during defrosting, then system simplicity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid receiver serves as a protective intermediary between the evaporators and the compressor. During defrosting, it intercepts condensed refrigerant fluid that would otherwise return directly to the compressor and cause damage, thereby protecting the compressor while maintaining system operational simplicity.
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 solution enhances ice quality, reduces energy consumption by 5-10%, and increases output by maintaining constant pressure and reusing refrigerant fluid, while minimizing installation space and maintenance access.
Implementation Method 1
The ice production plant incorporates a solenoid valve and pressure regulating valves to maintain constant pressure
Implementation Method 2
a condensing unit for supplying refrigerant fluid
Implementation Method 3
at least two ice makers each having evaporation means for said fluid
Implementation Method 4
In the condensing unit there is a bypass for activating a hot gas defrosting cycle for the evaporation means
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The ice production plant comprises at least one condensing unit (2) for the supply of refrigerant fluid to at least two ice makers (3), each having evaporation means (4) for said fluid, a bypass (5) to subject the evaporation means (4) to a hot gas defrosting cycle, shutoff means (9, 16) for the refrigerant fluid coming from the condensing unit (2) and regulating means (10) for the pressure of the refrigerant fluid, and a receiving device (13) for the refrigerant fluid, positioned downstream of the condensing unit (2) and upstream of the shutoff means (9) and regulation means (10), the receiving device (13) comprising a supplementary tube (14) for conveying the refrigerant fluid in the gaseous and liquid state outgoing from the evaporators (4) of the ice makers (3) during the hot gas defrosting cycle.