Ice-Maker Water Purifier Using One Evaporator for Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers with ice makers suffer from degraded energy efficiency due to the underutilization of evaporator surfaces and the need for separate ice production to cool water, leading to inefficient use of energy.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier with an ice maker that incorporates a circulation cooling system, where water from a cold water tank is directly heat-exchanged with refrigerants flowing in the evaporator, allowing simultaneous ice production and water cooling using a single evaporator, with the non-contact portion of the evaporator used for ice making and the contact portion for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ice is made using only one side surface of the evaporator, then ice making function is achieved, but the rest of the evaporator surfaces cannot be used and energy efficiency is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: one side surface is used for ice making while the other side surface is used for cooling water in the cold water tank. This multi-functionality allows the entire evaporator surface area to be utilized effectively, eliminating the waste of unused surfaces and improving overall energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the ice making function and the water cooling function into a single evaporator component. By integrating both functions into one device, the system eliminates the need for separate cooling mechanisms and maximizes the utilization of the evaporator's heat exchange surface area.
2Temperature
If ice is separately made to cool water in the cold water tank, then water cooling is achieved, but energy efficiency is degraded due to separate ice production
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator simultaneously serves dual purposes: producing ice for ice making and cooling water in the cold water tank. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate ice production operations, reducing energy consumption and improving overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the water cooling function with the ice making function in a single evaporator system. The refrigerant flowing through the evaporator provides cooling to both the ice making process and the cold water tank simultaneously, eliminating redundant energy expenditure.
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 enhances energy efficiency by eliminating the need for separate ice production and optimizing the use of evaporator surfaces, allowing for effective simultaneous ice making and water cooling.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator in which cold refrigerants heat-exchanged with water and making ice flow
Implementation Method 2
water stored in a cold water tank is directly heat exchanged with a refrigerant flowing in the evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier with an ice maker is provided that includes an ice making part having an evaporator and a circulation cooling part that circulates water stored in a cold water tank to the evaporator so that the water stored in the cold water tank is cooled by heat exchange with refrigerant flowing in the evaporator, to simultaneously make ice and cool water using a single evaporator and eliminating the need to make separate ice so as to cool water, thereby enhancing energy efficiency.