Icemaking System Cooling Temperature Control to Prevent Ice Lock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ice lock phenomena occur in icemaking systems when the cooling temperature is too low, leading to inefficiencies and potential overload on the scraping mechanism, as the system struggles to adjust cooling temperatures effectively based on the presence of ice nuclei in the icemaker's cooling chamber.
Innovation Solution
An icemaking system with a circulation circuit, icemaker, cooling mechanism, detector, and adjuster that detects the presence of ice nuclei at the inflow port and adjusts the cooling temperature to prevent ice lock by varying the refrigerant's evaporation temperature, using a compressor of variable capacity or flow rate control valves to optimize icemaking performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cooling temperature is lowered to improve icemaking efficiency, then the icemaking performance is improved, but the scraping mechanism may be caught by ice and receive overload (ice lock)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cooling temperature adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the cooling temperature based on whether ice nucleus is present in the cooling chamber. When ice nucleus is detected, the cooling temperature is raised to prevent ice lock; when no ice nucleus is present, the cooling temperature is lowered to improve icemaking efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the cooling temperature parameter based on the presence of ice nucleus. The cooling temperature is changed from a fixed low value to a variable value that adjusts between two states: a lower temperature for high efficiency (when no ice nucleus) and a higher temperature for preventing ice lock (when ice nucleus is present). This parameter change resolves the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If the cooling temperature is raised to prevent ice lock, then the scraping mechanism reliability is improved, but the icemaking efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the cooling temperature based on real-time detection of ice nucleus presence. Instead of maintaining a constantly high temperature to prevent ice lock, the system only raises the temperature when ice nucleus is detected. This dynamic approach maintains reliability when needed while preserving efficiency during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling temperature parameter is changed from a fixed high value to a variable value that responds to ice nucleus detection. The parameter switches between a lower value (for efficiency) and a higher value (for reliability) based on system conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
3Device complexity
If a fixed cooling temperature is used to simplify control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to different icemaking states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using a detector to monitor the presence of ice nucleus in the cooling chamber and using this information to adjust the cooling temperature via an adjuster. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to different icemaking states (presence or absence of ice nucleus) and automatically adjust operating parameters, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by automatically detecting ice nucleus presence and adjusting its own cooling temperature without external intervention. The detector and adjuster work together to enable the system to self-regulate based on its internal state, providing adaptability while maintaining relatively simple control architecture.
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 efficiently adjusts cooling temperatures to prevent ice lock, enhancing icemaking performance by detecting ice nuclei and adjusting the refrigerant's evaporation temperature, thereby promoting continuous and efficient ice generation without mechanical overload.
Implementation Method 1
configured to cause heat exchange between the solution in the cooling chamber and the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber for icemaking
Implementation Method 2
evaporation temperature of a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a scraping mechanism configured to scrape ice generated on an inner surface of the cooling chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An icemaking system includes a circulation circuit configured to circulate icemaking solution, at least one icemaker provided in the circulation circuit, a cooling mechanism, a first detector and an adjuster. The icemaker includes a cooling chamber and a scraping mechanism. The cooling chamber has an inflow port and an exhaust port of solution, and the cooling chamber allows the solution to flow in the cooling chamber. The scraping mechanism scrapes ice generated on an inner surface of the cooling chamber. The cooling mechanism cools the solution in the cooling chamber. The first detector detects whether the inflow port of the cooling chamber has an ice nucleus. The adjuster adjusts a cooling temperature of the solution in accordance with a detection result of the first detector.