Single-Evaporator Ice and Cold Water Purifier for Stable Ice Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers require two evaporators to produce ice and cold water, leading to increased energy consumption and product costs, and the ice-making amount varies with raw water and surrounding temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A water purifying system that uses a single evaporator to produce cold water in various forms and a predetermined amount of ice by utilizing cold water below a certain temperature, incorporating a circulation pump, water gutter, and ice-making means with a deicing line, allowing for efficient ice formation and energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two evaporators are used to produce ice and cold water, then ice-making capability is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single evaporator is designed to perform multiple functions: it can produce cold water by cooling purified water in the cold water tank, and it can produce ice by freezing water in the ice-making unit. The system switches between these functions using control mechanisms (solenoid valves, circulation pumps) based on user demand, eliminating the need for separate evaporators for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the previously separate cold water production system and ice-making system into a single integrated evaporator unit. The evaporator is thermally coupled to both the cold water tank and the ice-making unit, allowing one component to serve both purposes that previously required two separate evaporators.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two evaporators are used to produce ice and cold water, then ice-making capability is improved, but device complexity and product price increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single evaporator is designed to perform multiple functions: it can produce cold water by cooling purified water in the cold water tank, and it can produce ice by freezing water in the ice-making unit. The system switches between these functions using control mechanisms (solenoid valves, circulation pumps) based on user demand, eliminating the need for separate evaporators for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the previously separate cold water production system and ice-making system into a single integrated evaporator unit. The evaporator is thermally coupled to both the cold water tank and the ice-making unit, allowing one component to serve both purposes that previously required two separate evaporators.
3Productivity
If conventional ice-making process is used, then ice production is achieved, but ice-making amount varies with temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensors and control units that monitor the temperature of purified water and the operating conditions of the evaporator. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the operation of the circulation pump, solenoid valves, and evaporator to maintain stable ice production despite variations in raw water temperature or ambient temperature conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters (such as refrigerant flow rate, circulation rate, and evaporator temperature) based on detected temperature conditions to maintain consistent ice-making performance across varying environmental conditions.
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 effectively produces ice and cold water using a single evaporator, reducing energy consumption and stabilizing ice formation, regardless of temperature changes, while maintaining uniform ice shape and providing rapid cold water supply.
Implementation Method 1
the cold water tank 120 conducts thermal exchange by a refrigerating cycle for cooling the stored water to a low temperature
Implementation Method 2
a circulation pump 30 for circulating water stored in the cold water tank 10
Implementation Method 3
make ice of a predetermined amount by using cold water of less than a predetermined temperature as raw water for ice-making
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are water purifying system and apparatus for simultaneously making ice and cold water using one evaporator, which can make cold water in various forms only by changing the system and make ice of a predetermined amount by using cold water of less than a predetermined temperature as raw water for ice-making, thereby saving energy. The water purifying system and apparatus can rapidly provide cold water by the simple operation of the water gutter of the ice-making unit and the circulation of water contained in the cold water tank to the water gutter by the circulation pump, and provide ice of the predetermined amount by making ice using the cold water without regard to the changes of the temperature of raw water and the surrounding temperature.