Refrigerator Ice-Making Airflow Control for Rapid Ice Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers in refrigerators are inefficient in producing a large quantity of ice quickly, as they rely solely on chilled air from the freezer compartment, leading to reduced ice-making capacity and inability to meet high demand, and require a large space for the ice-fullness sensor, limiting the size of the ice-making tray.
Innovation Solution
The method involves continuously supplying chilled air to the ice-making tray, varying its speed according to demand, and using a tray fan installed on the ice-making tray to enhance air distribution and heat exchange, allowing for the production of a large quantity of ice in a short time without the need for a large ice-fullness sensor, and rotating the ice-making tray to discharge ice efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If chilled air from the freezer compartment is used to make ice, then the ice-making process is simple, but the ice-making speed is slow and capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the air supply system into two independent parts: the freezer compartment cooling system and the ice-making tray air supply system. The ice-making tray has its own dedicated fan and air inlet, separating the ice-making function from the general freezer cooling function, thereby enabling independent control and faster ice production without affecting overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated fan is introduced as an intermediary device between the air source and the ice-making tray. This fan actively circulates chilled air directly to the ice-making tray, mediating the heat transfer process and significantly enhancing the ice-making speed compared to passive air circulation
2Quantity of substance
If the ice bank is made large to accommodate more ice, then the ice storage capacity increases, but the space required for the ice-fullness sensor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical rotating ice-fullness sensor with a non-contact infrared sensor. The infrared sensor detects the presence or absence of ice in the ice bank using thermal radiation, eliminating the need for mechanical movement and large sensor rotation space, thus allowing larger ice storage capacity without proportionally increasing sensor space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The infrared sensor serves multiple functions: it detects ice presence, determines ice fullness level, and can potentially monitor ice quality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional sensors or larger sensor systems, allowing the ice bank to be enlarged without corresponding increases in sensor space
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 significantly increases ice-making speed and capacity, allowing for rapid ice production in response to user demand while reducing energy consumption and preventing excessive melting during ice separation, thus improving overall efficiency and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a tray fan 200 which is disposed around the ice-making tray 110 to make ambient air flow along the surface of the ice-making tray 110
Implementation Method 2
supplying chilled air in the compartment to the ice-making tray 110 disposed in the compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a refrigerator including an ice maker for making ice using chilled air is disclosed. The method includes supplying chilled air to a compartment, blowing chilled air in the compartment to an ice-making tray disposed in the compartment regardless of conditions in the compartment, and varying a blowing speed of the chilled air in the compartment to the ice-making tray according to a demand. According to the present invention, a large quantity of ice can be produced within a short time. Ice-making speed and the quantity of ice can be varied according to a user's demand.