Ice Maker Sanitization Control via Periodic UV and Ozone Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sanitization methods for ice-making apparatuses are inflexible and do not adapt to varying working conditions, maintenance needs, or user requirements, leading to over-sized sanitizing devices and potential ozone exposure issues, while existing UV systems have limitations in reaching all areas and require frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A control procedure for sanitizing ice-making apparatuses that allows for customizable activation times and modes of sanitizing device operation, including manual, periodic, and scheduled activation, with ozone and UVC LED sanitizing devices positioned strategically to ensure comprehensive sanitization without continuous ozone release, adaptable to different apparatus layouts and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sanitizing devices are activated continuously to ensure complete disinfection, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but ozone exposure becomes harmful and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic activation of the sanitizing device during the ice-making cycle, specifically during defrosting phases when the evaporator temperature is above freezing. This timing strategy ensures effective sanitization while limiting continuous ozone release, thereby resolving the contradiction between sanitization effectiveness and harmful ozone exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs sanitization in advance during defrosting cycles before the ice-making process resumes. By activating the sanitizing device during these intermission periods, the system ensures disinfection is completed beforehand, maintaining reliability while avoiding continuous operation that would cause harmful ozone accumulation.
2Reliability
If sanitizing devices are activated continuously to ensure complete disinfection, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic activation of the sanitizing device during the ice-making cycle, specifically during defrosting phases when the evaporator temperature is above freezing. This timing strategy ensures effective sanitization while limiting continuous operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between sanitization effectiveness and energy consumption.
3Reliability
If UV lamps are used for sanitization, then germicidal efficacy is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs UVC LEDs as a replacement for traditional mercury vapor UV lamps. UVC LEDs have no mercury, no fragile glass components, and require no ballast or starter circuits. Although they have shorter operational lifetimes than mercury lamps, their simplicity, lack of hazardous materials, and ease of replacement make them a superior choice for reducing device complexity and maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical and chemical components of traditional UV lamp systems (mercury vapor, glass envelopes, ballasts, starters) with solid-state UVC LED technology. This substitution eliminates moving parts, fragile components, and hazardous substances, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining germicidal efficacy.
4Reliability
If sanitizing devices are activated continuously to ensure complete disinfection, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to different working conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the sanitizing device based on real-time evaporator temperature monitoring. The system activates the sanitizing device only when the evaporator temperature is above freezing (during defrosting), and deactivates it during normal ice-making operations. This dynamic adaptation to working conditions maintains sanitization effectiveness while avoiding unnecessary operation that would reduce versatility and increase energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to continuously monitor evaporator conditions and provides feedback control to the sanitizing device. Based on this feedback, the system intelligently determines when sanitization is needed (during defrosting) and when it should be suspended (during ice-making), thereby adapting to different working conditions while maintaining effectiveness.
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 enables more effective and hygienic ice production by reducing bacterial and viral growth, minimizing maintenance needs, and ensuring adaptable sanitization protocols that reduce ozone exposure and optimize sanitizing agent usage, resulting in higher-quality ice with lower biological agent presence.
Implementation Method 1
UVC disinfection uses strong short-wave radiation (250-280 nm) to inactivate microorganisms by destroying their DNA
Implementation Method 2
UVC disinfection uses strong short-wave radiation (250-280 nm) to inactivate microorganisms by destroying their DNA
Implementation Method 3
Being in gaseous form, ozone is able to permeate a circumscribed volume almost in its entirety, having no limits or obstacles
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
A control procedure for the sanitization of an ice-making apparatus (10) by means of a sanitizing device (20) of the ozone type (210) and/or UV lamps (230) and/or UVC LED lamps (220), comprising the following steps: A. activation of the sanitizing device (20) through a user interface (1); B. verification, by a control system (2) connected to the user interface (1), of the presence of alarms (3); C. activation (6) of the sanitizing device (20) through the user interface (1) with automatic stop (7), periodic activation (8) or activation at predetermined instants; with the possibility of manual deactivation at all times. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for making sanitized ice with the above-mentioned procedure.