Ice Maker Drain Valve Layout for Automatic Sump Purging
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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 to flow uniformly across the freeze plate, incorporating a weir and surface tension curves to ensure even distribution and automatic drainage, preventing stagnation and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is continuously circulated through the reservoir during ice making, then ice making efficiency is improved, but water stagnation and contamination occur when ice making stops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic water circulation by activating the pump during ice making cycles to maintain productivity, then periodically draining and refilling the reservoir to prevent stagnation. The controller manages alternating cycles of water circulation and reservoir emptying, ensuring ice making efficiency during operation while preventing contamination during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically discards stagnant water from the reservoir through the drain valve when ice making stops, and recovers fresh water by refilling the reservoir. This periodic discarding and recovering mechanism eliminates contaminated water that would otherwise lead to scale formation and bacterial growth, while maintaining a ready supply of fresh water for the next ice making cycle.
2Extent of automation
If a pump is used to discharge water from the reservoir, then water removal is automated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a float valve mechanism that automatically activates when water reaches a certain level in the reservoir, triggering the pump to drain water without requiring external control. This self-service approach provides automatic water level management and discharge functionality while minimizing the need for complex control systems and external monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve provides continuous feedback on water level in the reservoir, automatically signaling the pump to activate when water reaches the overflow level and deactivating when the level drops. This feedback mechanism enables automatic water discharge and refilling cycles, maintaining the reservoir at optimal levels without complex control logic.
3Speed
If water flows rapidly through the distributor, then circulation efficiency is improved, but uniform distribution across the freeze plate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is divided into multiple nozzles arranged in a grid pattern across the freeze plate surface. Each nozzle delivers water at a controlled rate, segmenting the total water flow into numerous smaller streams. This segmentation maintains adequate circulation speed while ensuring uniform water distribution across the entire freeze plate surface, preventing both stagnation and uneven ice formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributor nozzles are positioned and sized to provide locally optimized water flow characteristics at different locations on the freeze plate. The distribution pattern and nozzle characteristics are tailored to ensure each region receives appropriate water flow for uniform freezing, balancing overall circulation efficiency with local uniformity requirements.
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 enhances ice making uniformity, energy efficiency, and maintenance accessibility by ensuring continuous water circulation and automatic drainage, reducing the risk of scale formation and bacterial growth.
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.
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.