Ice Tray Fluid Exchange for Rapid Freeze and Fracture-Free Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice piece formation and harvesting in refrigeration appliances are energy-intensive due to inefficient thermally slow processes and mechanical approaches that often result in ice fractures or high energy usage for releasing ice pieces from trays.
Innovation Solution
An ice piece release system utilizing a chilled compartment, a warm section, and a primary reservoir assembly with a heat-exchanging fluid having a freezing point below water, which facilitates efficient ice formation and release by thermal communication and controlled fluid flow to break adhesion between ice pieces and the tray, reducing energy consumption and minimizing fractures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If convective cooling processes are used for ice formation, then ice pieces can be formed in trays, but the process is slow and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the refrigeration system and the ice tray. This heat exchanger uses a fluid circulation system to directly remove heat from the ice water, replacing inefficient convective cooling with a dedicated thermal exchange pathway, thereby reducing energy loss and improving ice formation speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic fluid circulation system where a coolant fluid is pumped through channels in the ice tray or heat exchanger. This fluid-based thermal transport mechanism replaces passive convective cooling with active hydraulic heat removal, significantly improving the rate of heat extraction and reducing energy consumption
2Ease of operation
If mechanical approaches are used to release ice pieces from trays, then ice pieces can be removed, but ice piece quality suffers from fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters at the ice-tray interface by introducing a heating element or warm fluid circulation system. By locally increasing temperature at the interface, the adhesion between ice and tray is reduced through thermal expansion and weakened bonding, allowing ice pieces to be released without mechanical force that would cause fractures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical release mechanisms (such as twisting or prying) with a thermal release system. Instead of applying mechanical stress to detach ice pieces, the system uses controlled heating to reduce adhesion forces, thereby eliminating the need for forceful mechanical action that would compromise ice piece integrity
3Manufacturing precision
If resistive heating elements are used to release ice pieces, then clean fractureless surfaces are achieved, but energy usage is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heating only at the specific interface regions where ice contacts the tray, rather than heating the entire tray or using high-power resistive elements. This localized thermal application uses minimal energy to achieve the same adhesion-reduction effect, maintaining ice piece quality while significantly reducing overall energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic or intermittent heating cycles rather than continuous high-power heating. The heating element operates in short pulses or cycles, providing just enough thermal energy at the interface to facilitate ice release, thereby reducing total energy consumption while maintaining effective ice piece detachment with clean surfaces
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 conserves thermal energy, reduces overall energy usage by improving ice release and formation efficiency, eliminating the need for resistive heating and minimizing compressor operation, while maintaining ice quality.
Implementation Method 1
a primary reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section and fluid communication with the cavity of the tray
Implementation Method 2
The fluid resides in one or more of the cavity and the at least one chamber. The primary reservoir assembly is adapted to move heat-exchanging fluid in the at least one chamber into the cavity
Implementation Method 3
a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C.; a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment
Implementation Method 4
a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment, the tray having a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles
Data Source
AI summary
An ice piece release system that includes a chilled compartment set at a temperature below 0° C., a warm section at a temperature above 0° C., and a tray in thermal communication with the chilled compartment. The tray includes a plurality of ice piece-forming receptacles and a cavity in thermal communication with the receptacles. The ice piece release system also includes a primary reservoir assembly in thermal communication with the warm section and fluid communication with the cavity of the tray. The ice piece release system further includes a heat-exchanging fluid having a freezing point below that of water, and the fluid resides in the primary reservoir assembly and the cavity of the tray. The primary reservoir assembly is further adapted to move at least a portion of the heat-exchanging fluid in the reservoir assembly into the cavity.