Ice Maker Tray Movement to Release Supercooling for Transparent Ice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators lack an effective method to control supercooling during the ice-making process, leading to opaque ice due to the rapid phase change of water, which is not suitable for food and beverage applications and poses challenges in consumer acceptance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with a first and second tray configuration, a driver, and a temperature sensor, where the controller moves the second tray to control the ice-making process, releasing supercooling by rotating the tray without the need for nucleation agents, ensuring transparent ice production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is frozen rapidly in the freezer, then ice making speed is improved, but supercooling occurs causing opaque ice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the tray movable rather than fixed. The tray can be automatically positioned at different locations within the freezing chamber based on real-time temperature monitoring. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between rapid freezing (when temperature conditions are favorable) and controlled freezing (when supercooling risk is detected), thereby resolving the contradiction between ice making speed and ice transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through temperature sensors that continuously monitor the freezing process. When supercooling is detected (temperature drops below freezing point without phase change), the system receives feedback and automatically adjusts the tray position to a warmer location to prevent further supercooling. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain ice transparency while preserving efficient ice making speed.
2Manufacturing precision
If a nucleation agent is added to reduce supercooling, then ice transparency is improved, but the ice contains additives making it unsuitable for food and beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the need for nucleation agents entirely. Instead of adding chemical substances to induce nucleation, the system extracts the supercooling problem through physical control methods - specifically, by monitoring temperature and dynamically adjusting tray position. This eliminates additive contamination while maintaining ice transparency, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service principles by using the water's own thermal properties and the freezing chamber's temperature gradient to control the freezing process. Through intelligent temperature monitoring and automatic tray positioning, the system enables the water to freeze naturally without external chemical intervention, producing clean ice suitable for food and beverage applications while maintaining transparency.
3Reliability
If the tray is moved dynamically based on temperature, then supercooling control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automatic tray positioning controlled by a microprocessor that responds to temperature sensor feedback. The system autonomously monitors freezing conditions and adjusts tray position without requiring manual intervention or complex mechanical mechanisms. This automation achieves reliable supercooling control while keeping the device complexity manageable through the use of simple sensors and basic actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical supercooling control mechanisms with an intelligent control system based on temperature sensing and automated decision-making. Instead of using intricate mechanical devices to physically prevent supercooling, the system uses electronic temperature monitoring and controlled tray movement to achieve the same effect, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity through substitution of mechanical complexity with intelligent control.
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
The system effectively releases supercooling, producing transparent ice by continuously measuring temperature and rotating the tray, maintaining ice transparency and safety for consumption, without the use of additives or additional devices, and transferring the effect across connected cells.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell
Implementation Method 2
When it is determined that the water in the ice making cell is in a supercooled state based on the temperature measured by the tray temperature sensor, the controller may operate the driver to move the second tray
Implementation Method 3
a first tray configured to form a portion of an ice making cell, a second tray configured to form another portion of the ice making cell
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator according the present disclosure includes a first tray configured to form a portion of an ice making cell, a second tray configured to form another portion of the ice making cell and capable of moving relative to the first tray, a driver configured to move the second tray, a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of water or ice in the ice making cell, and a controller configured to control the driver, in which when it is determined that the water in the ice making cell is in a supercooled state based on the temperature measured by the tray temperature sensor, the controller may operate the driver to move the second tray.