Ice making device and refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making devices lack the ability to variably control the output of the liquid supplier during the ice making process, leading to increased pressure on the ice as it grows, which can retard ice growth and delay the ice making process.
Innovation Solution
The ice making device includes a tray with an ice making cell and a liquid supplier with a sub liquid supplier that supplies water to the ice making cell. A controller adjusts the output of the pump to reduce pressure on the ice, maintaining a constant distance between the ice and the liquid supplier, and reducing the output based on time or temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the liquid supplier maintains constant output during ice making, then the water supply is sufficient for ice growth, but the pressure on the ice increases as ice grows closer to the supply pipe, retarding further ice growth
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid supplier's output is dynamically adjusted during the ice making process. The controller reduces the pump output as the ice making process progresses, which decreases the water supply pressure as the ice grows closer to the supply pipe, preventing the pressure from retarding ice growth while still ensuring sufficient water supply throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating parameters of the liquid supplier (pump output) are changed during the ice making process. By varying the pump output from higher initial values to lower final values, the system adapts the water supply characteristics to match the changing conditions of ice growth, maintaining optimal pressure levels throughout the process.
2Stress or pressure
If the liquid supplier increases output to maintain constant distance between ice and supply pipe, then pressure on ice is reduced, but ice making speed decreases due to excessive water supply
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid supplier operates in periodic cycles with varying output levels. The controller adjusts the pump output in stages or at specific time intervals during the ice making process, providing higher water supply rates initially when ice is smaller and lower rates later when ice is closer to the supply pipe, thereby maintaining appropriate pressure without excessively slowing the overall ice making speed.
3Device complexity
If the pump output is not variably controlled, then the device complexity is low, but the ice making process is delayed due to pressure buildup on growing ice
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from sensors that detect ice growth position or process stage to automatically adjust the pump output. This feedback mechanism enables variable control of the liquid supplier based on real-time conditions, reducing pressure on growing ice and preventing delays in the ice making process while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated 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
This solution increases ice making speed by reducing pressure on the ice and maintaining the shape of the ice in the form of the ice making cell, while also preventing delays in the ice making process.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to pump liquid
Implementation Method 2
the water supplied to the ice making cell may be cooled by an evaporator
Implementation Method 3
an ice making cell for generating ice
Implementation Method 4
high-temperature gas is supplied to the evaporator to heat the ice making cell
Implementation Method 5
As the ice making cell is heated, ice is separated from the ice making cell
Data Source
AI summary
An icemaker according to the present embodiment may comprise a tray which is provided in an ice-making chamber, and which has ice-making cells for making ice. The icemaker may further comprise: a water supply unit for supplying water to the ice-making cells during ice-making; and a controller for controlling the water supply unit.