Ice-Maker Heat Exchanger System Using Wastewater to Reduce HVAC Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tight spaces like quick serve restaurants (QSRs), ice-making machines generate significant heat that raises ambient temperatures, inefficiently increasing HVAC loads and energy consumption, with existing solutions like ducting and recycling evaporator runoff water posing food safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A system that captures and reuses near-freezing wastewater from the ice-making process to cool exhaust air, input air, and input water, utilizing heat exchangers managed by a controller to optimize efficiency based on seasonality and historical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If ice-making machines are installed in tight spaces, then space utilization is improved, but heat generation raises ambient temperature and increases HVAC energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the hot exhaust air from the ice-making machine and uses it to pre-heat the incoming water before it enters the ice-making process. This converts the harmful heat waste into a useful resource, reducing the energy required to heat water and thereby decreasing overall HVAC energy consumption while maintaining high space utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the exhaust air by directing it through a heat exchanger where it transfers heat to the incoming water. This parameter transformation reduces the thermal load on the ambient space and decreases the energy required for water heating in the ice-making process
2Temperature
If ductwork is installed to extract hot exhaust air, then heat removal is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the exhaust air handling function with the water heating function by integrating a heat exchanger into the existing ice-making machine structure. This combination eliminates the need for separate ductwork systems while effectively removing heat from the exhaust air and utilizing it to pre-heat incoming water
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it cools the exhaust air, pre-heats the incoming water, and recovers energy from the waste heat. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional equipment and simplifies the overall system design
3Loss of substance
If evaporator runoff water is recycled, then water conservation is improved, but food safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the runoff water from the ice-making process and directs it through a heating element or heat exchanger that raises its temperature to a level that eliminates potential contaminants. This extraction and thermal treatment approach conserves water while addressing food safety concerns by destroying harmful microorganisms
4Loss of energy
If heat exchangers are added to cool exhaust air and input water, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling of exhaust air and the pre-heating of incoming water into a single integrated heat exchanger system. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high energy efficiency
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
Reduces ambient heat, decreases HVAC workload, and enhances energy efficiency by reusing ice-making wastewater to cool air and water, minimizing the need for ductwork and improving equipment performance.
Implementation Method 1
A system that captures and reuses near-freezing wastewater from the ice-making process to cool exhaust air, input air, and input water, utilizing heat exchangers
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger is configured to receive the water from the ice maker to cool the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger cools a second fluid which passes the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a system that captures and reuses near-freezing wastewater from the ice-making process to cool exhaust air, input air, and input water
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of capturing and reutilizing wastewater created by the ice making process to remove heat from various inputs/outputs of the ice maker as well as cooling the input water for the icemaker and cooling the coils of the compressor using heat exchangers that utilize recirculated fluid for cooling.