Ice Maker Water Feeding Control for Consistent Ice Block Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic ice making machines face issues with inconsistent ice block size due to temperature-dependent makeup water supply, leading to either insufficient or excessive water feeding, which affects ice production capacity and deicing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An automatic ice making machine that adjusts the amount of makeup water based on the temperature of the deicing completion time period or reference temperature reaching time, using a control system to determine the water feeding mode and modify the feeding amount accordingly, ensuring precise water supply to maintain optimal ice production and prevent deicing abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If makeup water is supplied based on a fixed water level range (lower limit to upper limit) detected by a float switch, then the ice making machine can maintain compact size and reduce deicing time, but the amount of makeup water supplied becomes inconsistent due to temperature variations, leading to either insufficient or excessive water feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed water level detection to variable water level detection based on water temperature. The control unit adjusts the upper limit water level according to temperature: setting it higher when makeup water temperature is high (to account for less melting) and lower when makeup water temperature is low (to account for more melting). This resolves the contradiction by allowing consistent ice block production while maintaining the compact tank design and efficient deicing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors water temperature and adjusts the upper limit water level accordingly. Temperature information feeds back to modify the water level setpoint, creating a closed-loop control system that compensates for temperature variations and ensures consistent makeup water supply regardless of seasonal or environmental conditions.
2Volume of stationary object
If the ice making water tank capacity is reduced below the necessary amount for one cycle, then the machine size is compact and deicing time is reduced, but makeup water supply must be precisely controlled to prevent insufficient or excessive water feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the control system by changing the control parameter from fixed water level to temperature-dependent variable water level. Instead of complex flow rate control or timing mechanisms, the system only needs to adjust the upper limit water level based on temperature readings, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining precise control over makeup water supply.
3Quantity of substance
If makeup water temperature is high, then less water is needed to reach upper limit water level, but ice blocks may be melted by warm water and overall water feeding becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses this by dynamically adjusting the upper limit water level parameter based on makeup water temperature. When temperature is high, the upper limit is set higher to compensate for the fact that warm water causes less melting and therefore less water is consumed during deicing. This ensures that sufficient water is always available for the next ice making cycle, maintaining reliability regardless of temperature conditions.
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 solution ensures consistent ice block size production by adjusting water feeding amounts based on temperature, preventing both insufficient and excessive water supply, thus enhancing ice making capacity and reducing deicing faults and unit damage.
Implementation Method 1
an ice making unit (16), in which ice making water is supplied while being cooled by an evaporator (14) to produce ice
Implementation Method 2
in deicing operation, ice blocks are separated from the ice making unit to fall down and release... deicing water is spray supplied to a back face of the ice making unit to promote melting a frozen face with ice blocks
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic ice making machine is provided that is capable of modifying an amount of feeding water depending on a temperature of makeup water. The automatic ice making machine is equipped with a deicing timer 42 to keep time of a deicing completion time period T1 in which deicing operation is completed. In addition, in a control means 24, a deicing water longest supply time period U1 is preset, which is a longest time period to supply deicing water in deicing operation. In a case where the deicing water is low in temperature, so that the deicing progresses slowly and thus the deicing completion time period T1 becomes equal to or greater than the deicing water longest supply time period U1, the control means 24 carries out water feeding in a feeding amount of water at low temperature at the time of water feeding. In contrast, in a case where deicing water is high in temperature, so that the deicing is promoted and thus the deicing completion time period T1 becomes shorter than the deicing water longest supply time period U1, the control means 24 carries out water feeding in a feeding amount of water at high temperature, which is more than the feeding amount of water at low temperature, at the time of water feeding.