Nugget Ice Maker Heat Exchanger With Air-Cooling Subchannels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice maker systems face challenges in efficiently cooling water to form ice nuggets, as liquid cooling systems are difficult to assemble and maintain, and air-cooled systems require significant energy for heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
An air-cooled nugget ice maker apparatus with a heat exchange body and fin portion that directs air across the ice making chamber, minimizing energy usage by utilizing air as a heat exchange medium and enhancing heat dissipation through a fin structure with subchannels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a liquid cooling system is used to draw heat from the mold body, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity and ease of repair deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from a complex liquid cooling system and implements it using a simpler air cooling mechanism with a heat exchange body positioned in the air path, eliminating the need for liquid coolant circulation systems while maintaining effective heat removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical liquid cooling system with a thermal conduction-based air cooling system, where a heat exchange body conducts heat from the mold body to surrounding air, substituting complex fluid mechanics with simpler thermal conduction and convection
2Ease of operation
If air is used as a heat exchange medium, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchange body as an intermediary component between the mold body and the air, which efficiently transfers heat from the water to the air, enhancing the heat exchange effectiveness of air cooling without requiring additional energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the heat exchange body parameters (surface area, material thermal conductivity, positioning) to maximize heat transfer efficiency, thereby reducing the total air volume and energy required for effective cooling
3Loss of energy
If a fin portion with subchannels is added to the heat exchange body, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a fin portion with subchannels to the heat exchange body, extending the heat transfer surface into a third dimension, which dramatically increases the effective heat dissipation area without significantly increasing the overall device footprint or complexity
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 solution effectively reduces energy consumption while maintaining efficient ice production, providing a reliable and easy-to-maintain air-cooled system for ice makers.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchange body may be disposed in thermal engagement with the chamber
Implementation Method 2
air-cooled system... directs air across the ice making chamber... utilizing air as a heat exchange medium
Implementation Method 3
enhancing heat dissipation through a fin structure with subchannels
Data Source
AI summary
An ice maker apparatus is provided that may include a casing, an extruder die, an auger, a heat exchange body, and a fin portion. The casing may define a chamber about a central axis and extend along the central axis between a top portion and a bottom portion. The extruder die may be mounted to the casing at the top portion of the casing. The auger may be disposed within the chamber. The heat exchange body may be disposed in thermal engagement with the chamber. The heat exchange body may include a base wall extending along a portion of the casing and a sidewall extending outward from the base wall. The heat exchange body may also define an air duct across the base wall and sidewall. The fin portion may include a fin extending outward from the base wall. The fin may define a plurality of subchannels.