Ice Maker with Warming-Fluid Circuit for Energy-Efficient Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice-making systems are inefficient in energy usage and ice production rates, particularly during the transition between ice-making and ice-harvesting modes, as they rely on direct heat transfer from hot discharge gas to melt ice, which wastes energy and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a vapor-compression circuit with a warming-fluid circuit that uses a separate warming fluid, isolated from the working fluid, to melt ice during the harvesting mode, utilizing heat generated during the ice-making mode to pre-heat the warming fluid, which is then used to melt ice, thereby optimizing energy usage and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If direct heat transfer from hot discharge gas is used to melt ice during harvesting mode, then ice harvesting function is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats the warming fluid during ice-making mode using the hot discharge gas, so that when harvesting mode begins, the fluid is already at optimal temperature for efficient ice melting. This preliminary preparation eliminates energy waste by ensuring the warming fluid is ready to immediately and efficiently transfer heat during harvesting.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate warming fluid circulates through a dedicated warming-fluid circuit that acts as an intermediary between the hot discharge gas and the ice mold. This mediator fluid absorbs heat during ice-making and delivers it during harvesting, enabling efficient energy transfer without direct contact between the working fluid and the ice, thus improving energy efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If the system uses a separate warming fluid circuit isolated from the working fluid circuit, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separate warming fluid circuit serves multiple functions: it acts as a heat transfer medium during ice-making mode and as a heating medium during harvesting mode. This multi-functionality justifies the additional complexity by providing energy efficiency benefits and enabling continuous compressor operation across both modes without requiring system reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The warming fluid circulates continuously through the warming-fluid circuit, absorbing heat during ice-making and delivering it during harvesting without interruption. This continuous circulation eliminates idle time and maintains compressor operation, improving overall system efficiency despite the added complexity of the separate circuit.
3Use of energy by moving object
If heat is utilized during both ice-making and harvesting modes, then energy efficiency is enhanced, but system design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of the warming fluid circuit based on mode: during ice-making, the fluid absorbs heat at high temperature from the discharge gas; during harvesting, the same fluid delivers heat at optimized temperature to the ice mold. These parameter changes enable efficient energy utilization in both modes while managing design complexity through controlled variability.
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 approach enhances energy efficiency and ice production rates by utilizing the heat generated during ice-making for ice harvesting, reducing energy waste and maintaining continuous compressor operation across modes, while also being more efficient than prior methods that rely on direct heat transfer from hot discharge gas.
Implementation Method 1
the vapor-compression system freezes water in a grid plate (i.e., an ice mold) formed on an evaporator of the vapor-compression system
Implementation Method 2
the vapor-compression system melts a small amount of the ice in the ice tray so that the ice cubes can be easily ejected from the ice tray
Implementation Method 3
A fluid-heating heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the compressor such that hot working fluid discharged from the compressor is received in the fluid-heating heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
An ice-maker system may be operable in an ice-making mode and in an ice-harvesting mode and may include a working-fluid circuit and an ice mold. The working-fluid circuit may include a compressor, an expansion device, and an ice-making heat exchanger. The expansion device is disposed downstream of the compressor. The ice-making heat exchanger is disposed between the expansion device and the compressor along the working-fluid circuit. The ice mold includes a plurality of pockets configured to receive water from a water-supply conduit when the system is operating in the ice-making mode. The ice mold may be in a heat-transfer relationship with the ice-making heat exchanger. The ice mold may define a channel that receives a warming fluid from a warming-fluid-supply conduit when the system is operating in the ice-harvesting mode. The warming fluid is fluidly isolated from working fluid circulating through the working-fluid circuit.