Icemaker Ice-Detaching Time Control for Harsh Temperature Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In icemakers, harsh environmental conditions, such as low ambient or water supply temperatures, can lead to incomplete ice detachment from the cold plate, causing operational failures and inefficiencies, as existing methods fail to adapt the ice-detaching temperature and time effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically adjusts the ice-detaching time period based on ambient temperature and required ice-making time, using sensors to determine optimal ice-detaching times and controlling the ice-making water pump operations to ensure complete ice separation without affecting subsequent ice-making cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ice-detaching temperature is increased to separate ice from the cold plate, then ice detachment efficiency is improved, but the ice-making operation of the next cycle is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the ice-detaching time period based on ambient temperature conditions. The control unit varies the ice-detaching time period within a predetermined range according to the detected ambient temperature, allowing the system to adapt to different environmental conditions while maintaining reliable operation across varying temperatures
2Reliability
If the ice-detaching time period is extended to ensure complete ice separation, then ice detachment completeness is improved, but the overall ice-making cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the ice-detaching time period based on ambient temperature detection. By varying the time period within a predetermined range according to temperature conditions, the system ensures complete ice separation when needed while minimizing cycle time under favorable conditions, thus balancing completeness with efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the ice-detaching process by adjusting the time period based on temperature. The control unit modifies the ice-detaching time period parameter according to the detected ambient temperature, optimizing the balance between complete ice separation and cycle time efficiency
3Reliability
If the ice-detaching temperature is kept low to maintain next cycle ice-making conditions, then ice-making preparation is improved, but ice detachment completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic time period adjustment rather than fixed temperature control. By varying the ice-detaching time period based on ambient temperature, the system can achieve complete ice separation in harsh conditions while still preparing the cold plate appropriately for the next cycle, avoiding the trade-off between detachment completeness and next cycle readiness
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 ensures complete ice detachment under various conditions, preventing icemaker failures and optimizing efficiency by adjusting ice-detaching times and pump operations in response to temperature changes, thus maintaining icemaker functionality and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the cold plate may become cold by the refrigeration cycle and the water flowing on the cold plate may turn into ice
Implementation Method 2
a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from a compressor by a hot gas valve may enter the cold plate to simultaneously increase a temperature of the cold plate
Implementation Method 3
an ice-making water pump may operate to supply the water to a cold plate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method of controlling an ice-detaching temperature of an icemaker, including a first step of performing an ice-making operation in an ice-making unit, and counting a required ice-making time period from a starting point in time of the ice-making operation to an end point in time of the ice-making operation; a second step of acquiring the counted required ice-making time period, and acquiring an ambient temperature from an external temperature sensor; a third step of determining a variable ice-detaching time period, depending on the acquired ambient temperature and the acquired required ice-making time period; and a fourth step of using the determined ice-detaching time period to perform an ice-detaching operation. Ice of a cold plate is completely separated from the cold plate during an ice-detaching operation under conventional temperature conditions and even under harsh environments, preventing icemaker failure and increasing ice-making capacity.