Ice-Making Water Tank Discharge for Clean Standby Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice making machines face inefficiencies and impurity-related issues due to standing water in the tank after deicing operations, leading to bacterial growth, impurity deposition, and prolonged water discharge times, which hinder immediate ice production.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the ice-making machine performs a water-discharge operation after detecting a full ice storage state, using a water discharge valve to release ice-making water from the tank, and terminating the discharge when a preset water level is reached, ensuring efficient and clean ice production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ice making machine stands by with ice-making water remaining in the ice-making water tank after deicing operation, then the machine is ready for next operation, but impurity deposition and bacterial growth occur in the standing water
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharge operation is performed in advance before the standby state, eliminating impurity-containing water before it can deposit or breed bacteria. The control unit automatically discharges water when the ice storage chamber is full, preventing harmful accumulation during the standby period.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the water discharge operation is performed after deicing operation completion, then impurity deposition is prevented, but the discharge time becomes prolonged due to large water volume
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discharging all water in the tank, the system discharges only the necessary portion (from ice-making water level to overflow water level) that contains the accumulated impurities. This partial discharge action achieves the cleaning objective while significantly reducing discharge time.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically manages the water discharge process, replacing manual timing and judgment. The system uses sensors and control logic to determine when and how much water to discharge, optimizing the balance between impurity removal and time efficiency.
3Productivity
If the water discharge operation is performed before ice-making operation, then immediate ice production is enabled, but the discharge time extends and reduces overall productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharge operation is performed in advance when the ice storage chamber becomes full, rather than waiting until the tank is completely full. This timing allows the system to discharge only the necessary amount of water, minimizing discharge time while still enabling immediate subsequent ice-making operations.
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 prevents bacterial growth and impurity deposition, allows for immediate ice-making operation initiation, and minimizes water discharge time by accurately predicting the remaining water volume, thereby enhancing ice-making performance.
Implementation Method 1
water level detection means provided at the ice-making water tank detects a prescribed water level of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank after discharge of the ice-making water to outside is started
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating an ice making machine efficiently provides clean ice blocks. A special water-discharge operation which is performed when an ice storage switch (TS) provided at an ice storage chamber (16) storing ice blocks (M) separated in a deicing operation detects that the ice storage chamber (16) is full of ice discharges the ice-making water from the ice-making water tank (20) via water discharge means (44) by releasing a water discharge valve (DV) provided at the water discharge means (44). Then, the special water-discharge operation is terminated by closing the water discharge valve (DV) when a preset duration time (T) passes after a float switch (FS) provided at the ice-making water tank (20) detects an ice-making completion water level (LWL) of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank (20) after discharge of the ice-making water to outside is started.