Ice Maker Refrigerant Preheating Unit for Low-Temperature Ice Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face challenges in efficiently removing ice in low-temperature environments, leading to user dissatisfaction and potential malfunctions, especially when using eco-friendly new refrigerants like R-600a.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker incorporates a refrigerant preheating unit with a bypass flow path that allows the refrigerant to be re-suctioned into the compressor before passing through the condenser, ensuring the refrigerant reaches the necessary temperature for efficient ice removal without increasing system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a separate hot gas refrigerant flow path is formed to bypass the condenser for ice removal, then ice removal efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases and miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow path is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as the cold-water refrigerant flow path during normal operation and as the ice-removing hot gas refrigerant flow path when needed. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated flow paths, reducing system complexity while maintaining ice removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cold-water refrigerant flow path and the ice-making refrigerant flow path into a unified system where the same refrigerant circulation serves both purposes. By combining these functions into a single integrated flow path rather than maintaining separate paths, the system achieves miniaturization while preserving effective ice removal capability
2Device complexity
If the refrigerant passes through the condenser before ice removal, then system complexity is reduced and miniaturization is enabled, but ice removal efficiency decreases in low-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the refrigerant by controlling it to pass through the ice-making evaporator before being used for ice removal. This preliminary action ensures the refrigerant reaches the necessary temperature for effective ice removal even in low-temperature environments, while still utilizing the condenser path to maintain system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the refrigerant by controlling its flow path timing - allowing it to be heated in the ice-making evaporator first, then redirecting it for ice removal. This parameter change enables the refrigerant to achieve sufficient temperature for effective ice removal while maintaining the simplified condenser-based system architecture
3Productivity
If an electric heater is used for rapid ice removal in low-temperature environments, then ice removal speed is improved, but the ice-making evaporator experiences rapid thermal changes reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the refrigerant itself to perform the heating function for ice removal, eliminating the need for external electric heaters. The refrigerant circulates through the evaporator and provides the necessary heat for ice removal, allowing rapid ice removal without subjecting the evaporator to rapid thermal changes from external heating sources
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant acts as an intermediary medium that transfers heat from the compressor discharge to the evaporator for ice removal. Instead of using direct electric heating that causes thermal shock, the refrigerant mediates the heat transfer process, enabling rapid ice removal while protecting the evaporator from rapid thermal changes
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 configuration ensures rapid and stable ice removal even in low-temperature environments and with eco-friendly refrigerants, preventing over-icing and maintaining ice maker durability while allowing for miniaturization and reduced manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor for compressing a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a condenser for condensing a refrigerant discharged from a discharge end of the compressor
Implementation Method 3
an expansion unit for expanding a refrigerant condensed in the condenser
Implementation Method 4
an ice-making evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant expanded in the expansion unit to make ice
Implementation Method 5
evaporating a refrigerant expanded in the expansion unit to make ice
Implementation Method 6
a refrigerant preheating unit for causing a refrigerant discharged from the compressor to be re-suctioned into the compressor before passing through the condenser
Data Source
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AI summary
An ice maker (100) having a refrigerant preheating unit and a control method thereof are disclosed. The ice maker (100) having a refrigerant preheating unit according to one aspect of the present invention and a control method thereof may include: a compressor (110) for compressing a refrigerant; a condenser (120) for condensing a refrigerant discharged from a discharge end of the compressor; an expansion unit (130) for expanding a refrigerant condensed in the condenser; an ice-making evaporator (142) for evaporating a refrigerant expanded in the expansion unit to make ice; a refrigerant flow path unit (150) for guiding a refrigerant discharged from the compressor to a suction end of the compressor through the condenser, the expansion unit (130) and the ice-making evaporator (142); an ice-removing refrigerant flow path unit (160) for guiding a refrigerant discharged from the compressor (120) to the ice-making evaporator (142); a refrigerant preheating unit (180) for causing a refrigerant discharged from the compressor (120) to be re-suctioned into the compressor (110) before passing through the condenser; and a control unit (190) for controlling the refrigerant preheating unit.