Ice making module and electrical device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making methods either result in irregularly shaped small ice blocks due to mechanical crushing, which is noisy and consumes mechanical energy, or require multiple ice making modules, increasing cost and space usage.
Innovation Solution
An ice making module that includes an ice making assembly, an ice discharge channel with a freezing region, and a cold source to freeze multiple small ice pieces into a larger, regularly shaped ice piece by controlling cooling capacity through a refrigerant circulation system and ice breaking structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical crushing is used to make small ice blocks from large ice blocks, then small ice blocks can be obtained, but the blades are prone to getting stuck, the noise is loud, and the small ice blocks are irregular in shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical crushing system with a thermal field system. Instead of using blades to mechanically crush ice blocks, the invention uses a cold source to create a freezing region that transforms water into ice blocks through phase change. This substitution eliminates blade wear, reduces noise, and produces regularly shaped ice blocks by controlling the thermal field distribution in the freezing region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water to ice to form ice blocks. The cold source lowers the temperature in the freezing region below the freezing point of water, causing water to undergo phase transition and form ice blocks with regular shapes determined by the freezing region's geometry, eliminating the need for mechanical crushing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ice making modules are configured to produce ice blocks with different shapes, then various shaped ice blocks can be obtained, but the cost increases and a large amount of space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a controllable cold source that can dynamically adjust its cooling capacity and positioning. The cold source can be moved to different locations or its cooling intensity can be varied to create freezing regions with different shapes and sizes, allowing a single ice making module to produce various shaped ice blocks without requiring multiple fixed modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making module is designed with a universal cold source that can perform multiple functions by adjusting its operation parameters. The same cold source can create different freezing region configurations to produce various types of ice blocks, making the module multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate dedicated modules for each ice block shape.
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 allows for efficient production of regularly shaped ice pieces with reduced mechanical energy consumption and noise, while minimizing apparatus wear and cost, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The cold source is configured to supply cooling capacity to the freezing region, to allow the plurality of ice pieces with the first specification passing through the freezing region to be frozen to form an ice piece with a second specification
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant circulation system includes a compressor, a condenser, a throttling member, and a first evaporator
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present application provide an ice making module and an electrical device. The ice making module comprises: an ice making assembly, which is used for manufacturing and outputting a plurality of pieces of ice having a first specification; an ice outlet channel, one end of the ice outlet channel being in communication with the ice making assembly, and said channel being used for receiving the pieces of ice having the first specification; a freezing area, which is provided in the ice outlet channel; and a cooling source, which is used for providing cooling capacity to the freezing area, so that the plurality of pieces of ice having the first specification passing through the freezing area are frozen to form pieces of ice having a second specification, the volume of the pieces of ice having the first specification being smaller than that of the pieces of ice having the second specification.