Ice Maker Passive Drain Valve Design for Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers face issues with water stagnation and contamination due to inadequate water circulation and disposal, leading to scale formation and bacterial growth, especially when not in use.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker incorporates a distributor system with a unique water flow configuration that directs water uniformly across the freeze plate, incorporating a sloping bottom wall and a weir to ensure even distribution and passive draining, along with a gravity-driven drainage system that maintains the standard height of the appliance without reducing the freeze plate size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is circulated through the reservoir during ice making, then ice making efficiency is improved, but water stagnation and contamination occur when ice is not being made
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker implements periodic discharge cycles where water is removed from the reservoir at intervals during ice making operation. This periodic action prevents water stagnation and contamination while maintaining continuous ice production, resolving the contradiction between productivity and water quality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If discharge pumps are used to remove water from the reservoir, then water contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the weight of the ice maker itself to automatically discharge water from the reservoir. By positioning the reservoir and utilizing gravity, the ice maker performs the discharge function without requiring external pumps or complex mechanical discharge mechanisms, thus preventing contamination while maintaining simplicity.
3Length of stationary object
If the appliance height is reduced to accommodate drainage system, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but freeze plate size must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is designed to utilize the horizontal space and existing structural dimensions of the ice maker rather than requiring additional vertical space. By arranging drainage components in the horizontal plane and utilizing the width and depth dimensions, the system maintains standard appliance height while accommodating effective drainage without compromising freeze plate size.
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 making uniformity, energy efficiency, and reduces the risk of contamination by ensuring continuous water circulation and effective drainage, maintaining the appliance's size and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The downstream end portion of the bottom wall defines a downwardly curving surface tension curve. The downwardly curving surface tension curve is configured so that surface tension causes the water imparted through the distributor to adhere to the curve and be directed downward by the curve toward the top end portion of the freeze plate.
Implementation Method 2
The bottom wall comprises a ramp surface, immediately upstream of the weir, sloping upward in the generally forward direction. The distributor is configured to direct the water imparted therethrough to flow in a generally forward direction from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion.
Implementation Method 3
The weir extends upward from the bottom wall at a location spaced apart between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion. The weir is configured so that the water flows across the weir as it flows along the bottom wall from the upstream end portion to the downstream end portion.
Data Source
AI summary
A commercial ice maker purges water from a sump via a passive drain valve instead of an active drain pump. The ice maker uses a large freeze plate, but still can accommodate the passive drain valve within a standard enclosure footprint. A bottom wall of the ice maker has a drain passaging groove formed in an upper surface. The drain valve is supported above the bottom wall and drain tube is at least partially received in the drain passaging groove. The drain valve can include a valve body that has a valve seat and a movable valve member that opens and closes a valve passage through the valve seat. The valve member radially overlaps the valve seat along a longitudinal axis when the valve member is closed.