Ice Making Machine Blade Lock Detection for Automatic De-Icing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice accumulation inside the inner pipe of ice making machines can cause 'ice lock,' leading to increased rotational load and difficulty in continuous operation, with no prior countermeasures available in existing systems.
Innovation Solution
An ice making system that detects ice lock and performs de-icing operations by switching the refrigerant flow path using a four-way switching valve, controlling the de-icing process based on temperature sensors to prevent re-ice formation, and stopping the pump to avoid ice melting in the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ice making machine operates continuously to maintain productivity, then ice production efficiency is improved, but ice accumulation inside the inner pipe causes ice lock and increases rotational load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic de-icing operations at predetermined intervals during ice making. The control device switches the refrigerant flow path periodically to heat the inner pipe and melt accumulated ice, then returns to normal ice making operation. This periodic intervention prevents ice lock while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a current sensor to detect the rotational load of the blade mechanism in real-time. When the load exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating ice lock, the control device automatically switches to de-icing operation. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable detection and response to ice accumulation conditions.
2Reliability
If de-icing operation is performed to eliminate ice lock, then ice accumulation is removed, but energy is consumed and operation time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs de-icing operations quickly by switching the refrigerant flow path to directly heat the inner pipe. The de-icing process is completed in a short predetermined time period, minimizing the loss of productive operation time while effectively removing ice accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing de-icing at predetermined intervals rather than waiting for complete ice lock, the system performs brief, frequent de-icing operations that prevent severe accumulation. This reduces the total time lost to de-icing compared to dealing with established ice lock conditions.
3Productivity
If temperature control is relaxed to maintain continuous ice making, then productivity is improved, but ice re-formation occurs during de-icing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control device stops the pump before or during the de-icing operation to prevent cold medium from entering the inner pipe. This preliminary action prevents ice re-formation during the heating phase, ensuring that the de-icing operation is effective and the medium is ready for immediate resumption of ice making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation by seamlessly transitioning between ice making and de-icing modes. The control device manages the switching of refrigerant flow paths and pump operation to ensure minimal interruption to the overall ice production process, maintaining the continuity of useful action.
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
Effectively eliminates ice lock by controlled de-icing, ensuring continuous operation and preventing ice re-formation during ice making cycles, thus maintaining system efficiency and reducing operational challenges.
Implementation Method 1
exchanges heat with the medium to be cooled in the cooling chamber to evaporate refrigerant during an ice making operation
Implementation Method 2
a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium to be cooled in the ice making machine
Implementation Method 3
a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a utilization-side heat exchanger in that order
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An ice making system (A) includes: a tank (8) that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine (1) that cools the medium to be cooled and makes ice; a pump (9) that circulates the medium to be cooled between the tank (8) and the ice making machine (1); a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium to be cooled in the ice making machine (1); and a control device (50) that controls operations of the ice making machine (1), the pump (9), and the de-icing mechanism, wherein the ice making machine (1) includes: a cooling chamber (12) in which to cool the medium to be cooled; a blade mechanism (15) that rotates in the cooling chamber (12) to disperse the ice; and a detector (35) that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism (15), and the control device (50) stops the blade mechanism (15) and operates the de-icing mechanism when the detector (35) detects the locked state of the blade mechanism (15) .