Ice making system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice lock phenomena occur in ice making refrigeration apparatuses, where ice accumulates and adheres to internal parts, causing operational difficulties and no effective countermeasures have been implemented to address this issue.
Innovation Solution
An ice making system with a de-icing mechanism that includes a control device to detect ice lock, stop the blade mechanism, and switch the refrigerant flow path using a four-way switching valve to perform de-icing operations, while monitoring temperatures to prevent ice melting in the tank and ensure effective de-icing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ice making machine operates continuously to maintain productivity, then ice production is sustained, but ice accumulates and adheres to internal parts causing ice lock
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic de-icing operations at predetermined time intervals regardless of whether ice lock is detected. This periodic maintenance action prevents ice accumulation from reaching problematic levels, allowing continuous productivity while maintaining blade mechanism reliability through regular clearing cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The detector monitors the blade mechanism for locked states and provides feedback to the control device. When ice lock is detected, the control device immediately activates the de-icing mechanism, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains reliability by responding to actual ice accumulation conditions while preserving continuous operation capability
2Reliability
If the de-icing mechanism operates to melt ice and eliminate ice lock, then blade mechanism reliability is restored, but energy is consumed and operation time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The de-icing mechanism operates at partial capacity by controlling refrigerant flow duration and intensity. Rather than applying maximum heating continuously, the system uses controlled refrigerant expansion and throttling to provide sufficient de-icing action only when needed, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining blade mechanism reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between normal ice-making mode and de-icing mode. During de-icing, the refrigerant flow path is reconfigured and expansion valve openings are adjusted to create conditions favorable for ice melting, then parameters are restored for normal operation, minimizing energy consumption by limiting de-icing to necessary intervals
3Productivity
If the pump continues to circulate medium during de-icing operation, then productivity is maintained, but ice in the tank melts due to temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operation is extracted and separated from continuous operation. During de-icing operations, the pump is temporarily stopped to isolate the tank medium from the temperature changes occurring in the ice making machine. This allows de-icing to proceed without transferring heat to the tank, preserving ice quality while maintaining overall system productivity through rapid pump restart after de-icing
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 system effectively detects and mitigates ice lock by performing de-icing operations, preventing damage to the blade mechanism and maintaining ice quality, ensuring continuous operation and preventing ice reformation.
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
the four-way switching valve being configured to switch the ice making operation to the de-icing operation by switching a flow path of the refrigerant, discharged from the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
An ice making system includes: a tank that stores a medium to be cooled; an ice making machine that cools the medium and makes ice; a pump that circulates the medium between the tank and the ice making machine; a de-icing mechanism that performs a de-icing operation of heating and melting the medium in the ice making machine; and a control device that controls operations of the ice making machine, the pump, and the de-icing mechanism. The ice making machine includes: a cooling chamber in which the medium is cooled; a blade mechanism that rotates in the cooling chamber and disperses the ice; a detector that detects a locked state of the blade mechanism; and a first temperature sensor that is disposed at a discharge port of the cooling chamber and detects a temperature of the medium discharged from the cooling chamber.