EP2623902A2 - Ice-making apparatus - Google Patents
Ice-making apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2623902A2 EP2623902A2 EP11829547.6A EP11829547A EP2623902A2 EP 2623902 A2 EP2623902 A2 EP 2623902A2 EP 11829547 A EP11829547 A EP 11829547A EP 2623902 A2 EP2623902 A2 EP 2623902A2
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- heat exchange
- carrier fluid
- ice slurry
- ice
- scraper
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D7/16—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation
- F28D7/163—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing
- F28D7/1638—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing with particular pattern of flow or the heat exchange medium flowing inside the conduits assemblies, e.g. change of flow direction from one conduit assembly to another one
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/12—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
- F25C1/14—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes
- F25C1/145—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies
- F25C1/147—Producing ice by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs to form thin sheets which are removed by scraping or wedging, e.g. in the form of flakes from the inner walls of cooled bodies by using augers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/14—Apparatus for shaping or finishing ice pieces, e.g. ice presses
- F25C5/142—Apparatus for shaping or finishing ice pieces, e.g. ice presses extrusion of ice crystals
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/026—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
- F28F9/0265—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits by using guiding means or impingement means inside the header box
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D7/10—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically
- F28D7/106—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically consisting of two coaxial conduits or modules of two coaxial conduits
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2250/00—Arrangements for modifying the flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. flow guiding means; Particular flow patterns
- F28F2250/08—Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to an ice generator capable of making ice slurry by absorbing heat energy when a refrigerant is evaporated.
- the present disclosure relates to an ice slurry generator with increased efficiency and productivity by modifying the structure for heat exchange between a refrigerant and a carrier fluid.
- ice slurry has excellent heat storage, fluidity, ability as a refrigerant, and heat release compared to a conventional refrigerant. Therefore, the ice slurry is expected to take on a greater role in heat storage and cold heat transportation and to be recognized as a core technology for a next-generation heating and cooling system.
- the market demand for ice slurry-based cooling systems has been stagnant for many years. Many researchers and researchers have claimed that the reason for such stagnation is the lack of an economical and reliable ice generator that is scalable and easily maintainable. Accordingly, the first priority in the expansion of the role of the ice slurry is to obtain an economical and reliable ice slurry generator.
- Such an ice generator can be attained through a different version of the common shell and tube heat exchanger-type ice generator.
- the efficacy of the shell and tube model has been partially proven with the vertical shell and tube heat exchanger.
- the maximum capacity of all vertical shell and tube type products developed so far has not been scaled up above approximately 500 kW/unit (based on ice generation capacity).
- ice particles cannot be present at the outset of the ice generator cycle, as this results in inoperability due to clogging.
- For domestic products as the size of an ice generator is increased, the power consumption of the circulation pump is disproportionately increased during ice slurry production.
- a carrier fluid is uniformly introduced into the top of the vertical heat exchanger tubes. Then, a whip rod inside each heat transfer tube is rotated at high speed with an orbital motion. The orbital motion generates a centrifugal force that causes the whip rod to rotate in contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer tube. Thus, the ice layer is scraped from the inner surface and flows down to be collected at a lower area of the heat transfer tube due to gravity.
- a slurry pump sucks the collected ice slurry and discharges the ice slurry to the bottom discharge chamber.
- the flow velocity of the carrier fluid at the inlet chamber is greatly decreased in order to uniformly distribute the carrier fluid. Therefore, if even a small amount of ice particles is externally introduced into the apparatus, the ice particles continue to pile up at an upper area of the inlet chamber and the inlet chamber becomes clogged. Even if an additive to increase fluidity is used, this problem cannot be avoided. If the ice generator is connected to a heat storage tank in order to apply it to a direct transportation system, a high concentration of ice particles is unavoidably introduced into the inlet chamber. Thus, the inlet chamber is often clogged and operation becomes very difficult.
- ice generator guide plates slanted toward the outlet are provided in a counter-flow discharge chamber.
- additional pumping head ranging from about 0.2 bar to about 0.8 bar (depending on a size of the ice generator) is needed in order to discharge the ice slurry from the ice generator.
- the necessary additional pumping head is proportional to the capacity of the ice generator. Compared to the basic pumping head for uniform distribution, power consumption is greatly increased by the additional pumping head. If ice slurry containing a high concentration of ice particles is introduced into the ice generator, the ice particles and the water separate at the inlet, and the ice generator may become partially clogged. Therefore, ice generator components with better discharge and clogging prevention capabilities are necessary.
- ice generators of the single tube scraper-type, the disc-type, the vacuum-type, and the fluidized bed-type have been developed in Europe and North America.
- these apparatuses are not priced competitively, are not suitable for a thermal storage system due to their small capacity, and are used only for a specific purpose due to high cost.
- the single tube scraper-type apparatus of a small capacity has high reliability and excellent circulation capability, it is limited in usage to cooling marine products, due to limited capacity and lack of competitive prices.
- the multilayer disc and brush-type ice generating method recently developed in Canada allows for a capacity of about 500 kW/unit. However, there is not yet a way to efficiently collect the generated ice slurry from this method.
- a super-cooled water-type ice generating method has been developed primarily in Japan.
- the great technical advances in this method have been commercialized widely in an ice storage system.
- the efficacy of the system is limited by clogging (caused by phase separation) and agglomeration (caused by re-crystallization and the bridging phenomenon).
- the ice generator needs a highly efficient filter for removing fine impurities/particulates from the water, a preheating device to prevent the unwanted introduction of ice particles, and an indirect cooling evaporator (it is impossible to directly exchange heat with a refrigerant). Therefore, the operation becomes overcomplicated. Accordingly, despite its technical superiority, usage of the super-cooled water-type ice generator is not expanding.
- ice generators have high potential for effective use in heat pump systems, but in order for them to be widely used, they need to be economically feasible, scalable and free of clogging problems incurred during circulation.
- a scalable ice generator with improved efficiency and productivity due to modifications in the structure of the heat exchange between a refrigerant and a carrier fluid.
- an ice generator that prevents an overload of components by minimizing logging and agglomeration of the ice slurry within the apparatus and enables efficient circulation of the ice slurry.
- an ice generator that includes: a heat exchanger configured to absorb heat energy while a refrigerant is evaporated; multiple horizontal heat exchange passages provided within the heat exchanger and configured for heat exchange between a carrier fluid and the refrigerant; inlet and discharge chambers that are connected to the heat exchange passages; screw-like scrapers within the heat exchange passages that transport the carrier fluid from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber via rotation; and a driving unit that rotates the scrapers.
- At least one scraper should be extended from the heat exchange passages into either the inlet chamber or the discharge chamber.
- the ice generator also includes stirring units with radial paddles that are installed in both the discharge and inlet chambers. They prevent clogging caused by phase separation of the carrier fluid during rotation.
- the gap between the edge of the scraper blade and the inner surfaces of the heat exchange passages should be between 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm.
- one face of a scraper blade is flat, while the other face is convex.
- the ice generator includes supporting members for the heat exchange passages, and the supporting members are made of plastic.
- the discharge chamber includes a discharge opening to expel the carrier fluid to the outside; flat guide plates inclined within the heat exchange passages guide the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening.
- a scraper may penetrate the guide plates.
- the inlet chamber may include one or more inlet openings. If there are multiple inlet openings, they are arranged symmetrically in a radial direction with respect to the inlet chamber.
- the scrapers are extended into the inlet chamber or the discharge chamber so as to smoothly stir the carrier fluid; such extensions make it possible to prevent clogging or agglomeration caused by phase separation of the solid-liquid carrier fluid.
- the extension of scrapers into the inlet chamber can prevent stagnation caused by a difference in the flow velocity of the carrier fluid and/or a difference in the distance from the inlet opening to each heat exchange passage.
- a scraper maintains its precisely fitted position within its respective heat exchange passage regardless of whether the ice generator is on or off. This prevents abrasion of the inner sides of the heat exchange passage. Because the scraper does not shift from its position at the center of the heat exchange passage, the heat exchange passage can be positioned at any angle regardless of gravitational direction.
- the ice generator is aligned horizontally, so that the refrigerant outside of the heat exchange passages can be maintained in a nucleate boiling condition.
- a horizontal driving unit is more accessible to maintenance workers than vertical types.
- a horizontal heat exchange passage can be made to be longer than a vertical type can be made tall, so that it is more feasible to scale the generator up, although the scale is also dependant on the strength of the driving unit.
- the stirring units that guide the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening aid the overall prevention of clogging or agglomeration.
- the scraper does not shift from the center of the inside of the heat exchange passage during operation, rotational vibration of the scraper can be minimized. Even if excessive power is applied to the scraper, as it is when the generator senses potential clogging in the heat exchange passage, the heat exchange passage is supported by an external member(s) that suppresses rotational vibration. This is possible because the external member(s) is/are made of flexible plastic material that absorbs high frequency vibration, so that the transfer of the vibration to other components is minimized.
- Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of an ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
- Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along a line I-I in Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing a modified part of the ice generator depicted in Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line II-II in Fig. 3 ;
- Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of another ice generator in accordance with another illustrative embodiment
- Fig. 6 is a cross sectional taken along a line III-III in Fig. 5 ;
- Fig. 7 is a measured graph showing variations in power of a scraper during the operation of a conventional ice generator
- Fig. 8 is a measured graph showing variations in power of a scraper during the operation of an ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.
- FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
- Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along a line I-I in Fig. 1 .
- the ice generator includes a heat exchanger 100, heat exchange passages 110, an inlet chamber 120, a discharge chamber 130, scrapers 200, and a driving unit 170.
- the heat exchanger 100 is primarily used to absorb heat energy from the ice slurry while the refrigerant is evaporated within the inner space of the heat exchanger 100.
- the heat exchange passage 110 is aligned horizontally within the heat exchanger 100, and the carrier fluid interacts with the refrigerant while passing through the heat exchange passages 110.
- the heat exchange passages should be made of a surface processed copper tube that is ideal for accelerating nucleate boiling, but other materials could be used.
- the inlet chamber 120 is connected to the heat exchange passage 110 on one side of the heat exchanger 100, so as to introduce the carrier fluid into the heat exchange passage 110.
- the discharge chamber 130 is connected to the heat exchange passage 110 and is provided on the opposite side of the inlet chamber 120 on the heat exchanger 100. The carrier fluid exits through to the discharge chamber 130 from the heat exchange passage 110.
- the inlet chamber 120 includes an inlet opening 125; the carrier fluid is introduced into the inlet chamber through the inlet opening 125.
- the discharge chamber 130 includes a discharge opening 135 for discharging the carrier fluid, by which heat is completely exchanged with the outside via the ice slurry. Details will be described with reference to Fig. 2 or Fig. 5 .
- the scraper 200 in Fig. 2 includes a rod member 210 and a blade 220.
- the rod member 210 should be slightly longer than the heat exchange passage 110 so as to be extended a certain length into the inlet chamber 120 or the discharge chamber 130, but it is not limited thereto.
- the rod member 210 may have the same length as the heat exchange passage 110 or the rod member 210 may be extended into one of the inlet chamber 120 or the discharge chamber 130.
- the blade 220 wraps in a screw-like fashion around the outside of the rod member 210. Relative to the direction of rotation of the scraper 200, the front face of the blade 220 forms a convex surface and the back face forms a flat surface.
- the scraper 200 is inserted into the heat exchange passage 110. As the scraper 200 is rotated, the carrier fluid introduced from the inlet chamber 120 into the heat exchange passage 110 is transported toward the discharge chamber 130 inside the heat exchange passage 110 by the spiraled blade 220. The carrier fluid is transported while in contact with the heat exchange passage 110, so that heat exchange is performed. In other words, the scraper 200 both transport the carrier fluid toward the discharge chamber 130 and removes any solidified medium on the inner surface of the heat exchange passage 110, thus increasing the efficiency of heat transfer.
- the driving unit 170 is connected to, but not limited to, a commonly used motor; a gear is connected to the motor to provide a rotational driving force to the scraper 200. Any motor can be used if it can output the power required to operate the ice generator and provide a driving force capable of rotating the scraper 200.
- the scraper 200 can prevent clogging or agglomeration caused by phase separation of the carrier fluid.
- the scraper 200 enables the carrier fluid to smoothly flow through the inlet chamber 120 or the discharge chamber 130.
- the flow velocity of the carrier fluid is decreased due to an increased cross sectional area.
- the carrier fluid may have become stagnant because the flow velocity was different at each part of the carrier fluid, and/or because the distance between the inlet opening 125 and each heat exchange passage 110 was not uniform, but the scrapers 200 prevent such stagnation because they are extended into the inlet chamber 120.
- the width of the blade 220 should be determined so as to maintain a gap between the edge of the blade 220 of the scraper 200 and the inner surface of the heat exchange passage 110 within a range of 0.1 mm to 0.40 mm.
- the driving unit 170 is operated so as to rotate the scraper 200 at speeds between 200 rpm and 450 rpm.
- the sharp edge of the blade 220 can further reduce any potential dry-out points on the inner surface of the heat exchange passage 110 during rotation.
- the edges of the blades 220 of the scrapers 200 for each respective heat exchange passage 110 should have a thickness of, but not limited to, approximately 0.1 mm.
- the carrier fluid When the ice generator is operating, the carrier fluid forms a thin liquid film that is continuously formed and destroyed by the contact between the edge of the blade 220 and the inner walls of the heat exchange passages. This film acts as a lubricant for the blades, and speeds up the entire heat transfer process.
- the convex shape of the front face of the blade 220 compresses the carrier fluid while the flat back face, in comparison with the convex front face, decompresses the carrier fluid. This creates a partial vortex, which relieves supercooling and accelerates the phase separation of the carrier fluid.
- the level of supercooling of the carrier fluid can be controlled in order to generate soft ice slurry.
- the ice generator may become overloaded if the gap between a blade 220 and the respective heat exchange passage 110 is increased. This is because the widened gap causes the level of supercooling to increase as well; as a result hardened ice may form on the inner surface of heat exchange passages, and the scraper 200 may be unable (due to the overload of the carrier fluid) to remove the hardened ice. Thus it is necessary that the gap remains at the same width at all times in order to ensure uninterrupted operation.
- the scraper 200 in a given heat exchange passage 110 should be rotated in the opposite direction to a scraper 200 in an adjacent heat exchange passage 110.
- Fig. 7 is a measured graph showing variations in power consumption of a conventional ice generator
- Fig. 8 is a measured graph showing variations in power consumption of an ice generator that is in accordance with the illustrative embodiment.
- initial overloading of the ice generator that is in accordance with the illustrative embodiment is relatively low compared to the conventional ice generator.
- any deviation between the stop position of the scraper 200 and an operation position can be reduced. And because any deviation is minimized, the heat exchange passages 110 and thus the entire ice generator can be positioned horizontally so as to be perpendicular with the direction of gravity.
- the ice generator in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can be aligned to be horizontal.
- the carrier fluid is transported from the inlet chamber 120 to the discharge chamber 130 as the scraper 200 is rotated, and, thus, the heat exchange passage 110 is aligned to be in parallel with the direction of the surface of the earth.
- the discharge chamber 130, the inlet chamber 120, and the driving unit 170 are provided at a side surface of the heat exchanger 100, so that a large quantity of the carrier fluid can flow through and the influence of gravity can be minimized.
- the refrigerant outside the heat exchange passage 110 can be maintained in a nucleate boiling condition. This can increase the efficiency of heat transfer. Furthermore, since the driving unit 170 is also positioned horizontally, it is easily accessible for maintenance work, compared to a case where the driving unit 170 is positioned vertically. Furthermore, the horizontal heat exchange passage 110 can be made longer than the vertical type can be made taller, so that the ice generator is more scalable.
- Fig. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing a modified version of the part of the ice generator depicted in Fig. 1
- Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line II-II in Fig. 3 .
- the ice generator further includes a stirring unit 400.
- the stirring unit 400 is provided in the discharge chamber 130 and includes radial paddles.
- the stirring unit 400 is formed in a shape substantially similar to, but not limited to, a propeller.
- the stirring unit 400 stirs the carrier fluid discharged from the heat exchange passage 110 so as to suppress clogging caused by the phase separation of the carrier fluid.
- the carrier fluid discharged from the heat exchange passage 110 is prone to causes agglomeration or clogging within the heat exchange passage 110 in the form of ice slurry, but the stirring unit 400 works to circulate and guide the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening 135. Thus, it is possible to suppress clogging or agglomeration.
- Fig. 5 is another cross sectional view of ice generator in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along a line III-III in Fig. 5 .
- the ice generator includes the heat exchanger 100, the heat exchange passage 110, the inlet chamber 120, the discharge chamber 130, the scraper 200, the driving unit 170, a supporting member 115, and a guide plate 300.
- the heat exchanger 100 the heat exchange passage 110
- the inlet chamber 120 the discharge chamber 130
- the scraper 200 the driving unit 170
- a supporting member 115 the scraper 200
- the driving unit 170 the driving unit 170
- a supporting member 115 a supporting member 115
- guide plate 300 for the sake of convenient explanation, explanations of similar or same components as illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 will be omitted.
- the flat guide plate 300 is provided in the discharge chamber 130.
- the guide plate 300 is inclined toward a certain direction at a predetermined angle with respect to the heat exchange passage 110 so as to best guide the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening 135.
- the carrier fluid becomes increasingly laden with ice particles as it passes through the heat exchange passage 110 toward the discharge chamber 130. Because of the increasing level of ice particles, the circulation of the carrier fluid is relatively slow. Yet the carrier fluid still flows smoothly because of the flow path provided by the guide plate 300 and the extension of the scraper 200 into either the discharge chamber 130 or the inlet chamber 120.
- the number of the heat exchange passages 110 may be increased to about 200 or more.
- the heat exchange passages 110 may be divided into several groups and a passage space may be formed between the groups to allow for the smooth flow of the carrier fluid.
- the discharge opening 135 is in the upper portion of the discharge chamber 130, so that the carrier fluid can be easily discharged through the discharge opening 135 by means of buoyancy.
- Multiple inlet openings 125 may be formed in the inlet chamber 120. Similarly, multiple discharge openings 135 can be formed.
- the inlet openings 125 are arranged symmetrically in a radial direction in the inlet chamber 120 in order to better control the flow of the carrier fluid when introduced into the inlet chamber 120. Accordingly, by optimizing the arrangement of the inlet openings 125, it is possible to minimize variations in flow velocity caused by the varied positions of the heat exchange passages 110 within the inlet chamber 120.
- the carrier fluid is directly introduced into the inlet chamber 120 without passing through a separate distribution device, and becomes homogeneous as a result of the stirring action of the scraper 200 within the inlet chamber 120.
- a bypass tube 119 separate from the heat exchange passages 110, may be further provided to connect the discharge chamber 130 to the inlet chamber 120.
- the bypass tube 119 is used to move the carrier fluid in the inlet chamber 120 to the discharge chamber 130 when the amount of the carrier fluid introduced into the inlet chamber 120 is increased too quickly or if the carrier fluid does not flow smoothly in some of the heat exchange passages 110. If necessary, the bypass tube 119 may include a valve (not illustrated) for opening.
- the supporting member 115 supports the heat exchange passages 110.
- Multiple members 115 may be arranged at intervals of 500-900 mm depending on a length of the heat exchange passages 110 so as to prevent the heat exchange passage 110 from drooping, as well as to suppress vibration of the heat exchange passages 110 during operation of the ice generator.
- the supporting members 115 are positioned in contact with the heat exchange passages 110 in order to prevent damage or decoupling of vibration between the heat exchange passage and other components.
- the supporting member 115 is made of plastic in order to protect the heat exchange passage 110.
- the blade 220 of the scraper 200 there is a small gap between the edge of the blade 220 of the scraper 200 and the inner surface of the heat exchange passage 110.
- the blade 220 has the curved front surface described previously.
- the heat exchange passage 110 is supported by an external member that suppresses rotational vibration caused by the scraper 200.
- the external member is made of a flexible plastic material that absorbs high frequency vibration.
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- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
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- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
- Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
- The present disclosure relates to an ice generator capable of making ice slurry by absorbing heat energy when a refrigerant is evaporated. To be specific, the present disclosure relates to an ice slurry generator with increased efficiency and productivity by modifying the structure for heat exchange between a refrigerant and a carrier fluid.
- Generally, ice slurry has excellent heat storage, fluidity, ability as a refrigerant, and heat release compared to a conventional refrigerant. Therefore, the ice slurry is expected to take on a greater role in heat storage and cold heat transportation and to be recognized as a core technology for a next-generation heating and cooling system. However, the market demand for ice slurry-based cooling systems has been stagnant for many years. Many scholars and researchers have claimed that the reason for such stagnation is the lack of an economical and reliable ice generator that is scalable and easily maintainable. Accordingly, the first priority in the expansion of the role of the ice slurry is to obtain an economical and reliable ice slurry generator.
- Such an ice generator can be attained through a different version of the common shell and tube heat exchanger-type ice generator. The efficacy of the shell and tube model has been partially proven with the vertical shell and tube heat exchanger. However, the maximum capacity of all vertical shell and tube type products developed so far has not been scaled up above approximately 500 kW/unit (based on ice generation capacity). Furthermore, in all models so far, ice particles cannot be present at the outset of the ice generator cycle, as this results in inoperability due to clogging. Thus, it is difficult to apply the ice generator to a direct transportation system. For domestic products, as the size of an ice generator is increased, the power consumption of the circulation pump is disproportionately increased during ice slurry production.
- In accordance with a whip rod heat exchanger described in
U.S. Patent No. 5,768,894 , a carrier fluid is uniformly introduced into the top of the vertical heat exchanger tubes. Then, a whip rod inside each heat transfer tube is rotated at high speed with an orbital motion. The orbital motion generates a centrifugal force that causes the whip rod to rotate in contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer tube. Thus, the ice layer is scraped from the inner surface and flows down to be collected at a lower area of the heat transfer tube due to gravity. A slurry pump sucks the collected ice slurry and discharges the ice slurry to the bottom discharge chamber. However, the flow velocity of the carrier fluid at the inlet chamber is greatly decreased in order to uniformly distribute the carrier fluid. Therefore, if even a small amount of ice particles is externally introduced into the apparatus, the ice particles continue to pile up at an upper area of the inlet chamber and the inlet chamber becomes clogged. Even if an additive to increase fluidity is used, this problem cannot be avoided. If the ice generator is connected to a heat storage tank in order to apply it to a direct transportation system, a high concentration of ice particles is unavoidably introduced into the inlet chamber. Thus, the inlet chamber is often clogged and operation becomes very difficult. For this reason, this apparatus cannot be applied to the direct transportation system and thus has been used for a cooling-only ice storage system that uses an ice-bed type heat storage tank. The discharge section of the ice slurry generator is frequently clogged as well. Furthermore, it is difficult to manufacture this apparatus on a large scale as the drive plate, which is a main component for power transfer, cannot be scaled up due to the limitation of its mechanical strength. Therefore, this apparatus is not suitable for a large scale heat source system such as a district cooling system. Furthermore, abrasion of the driving components is quite common, and the cost of maintenance is greatly increased as a result. Korean Patent No.10-0513219 - Meanwhile, ice generators of the single tube scraper-type, the disc-type, the vacuum-type, and the fluidized bed-type have been developed in Europe and North America. However, these apparatuses are not priced competitively, are not suitable for a thermal storage system due to their small capacity, and are used only for a specific purpose due to high cost. Although the single tube scraper-type apparatus of a small capacity has high reliability and excellent circulation capability, it is limited in usage to cooling marine products, due to limited capacity and lack of competitive prices. In addition, it is very difficult to return the ice slurry from vacuum to atmospheric pressure; because of this, the vacuum-type apparatus cannot be commercialized.
- In a fluidized bed-type apparatus, it is difficult to separate the ice particles from the metal or plastic balls that are used in a fluidized bed. Accordingly, the height of the apparatus must be greatly increased, resulting in difficulty in transporting the separated ice particles. Another type of apparatus has been developed that makes the ice slurry on a smooth, lab-scale evaporation plate in order to prevent ice particles from becoming stuck to the plate. However, a long term operation is not viable due to issues of surface contamination. Moreover, actual competitiveness is still questionable due to the complicated conditions required for operation.
- The multilayer disc and brush-type ice generating method recently developed in Canada allows for a capacity of about 500 kW/unit. However, there is not yet a way to efficiently collect the generated ice slurry from this method.
- A super-cooled water-type ice generating method has been developed primarily in Japan. The great technical advances in this method have been commercialized widely in an ice storage system. However, for direct transportation applications, the efficacy of the system is limited by clogging (caused by phase separation) and agglomeration (caused by re-crystallization and the bridging phenomenon). Furthermore, in order to continuously generate super-cooled water, the ice generator needs a highly efficient filter for removing fine impurities/particulates from the water, a preheating device to prevent the unwanted introduction of ice particles, and an indirect cooling evaporator (it is impossible to directly exchange heat with a refrigerant). Therefore, the operation becomes overcomplicated. Accordingly, despite its technical superiority, usage of the super-cooled water-type ice generator is not expanding.
- Recently, there has been one more trial to develop an improved scraper-type ice generating method. An attempt was been made in the U.S., in which the outer surface of the whip rod was coated with a plastic to prevent abrasion of the whip rod. However, the heat transfer tube had a problematic driving system, issues in circulation due to a larger whip rod that blocked the ice particles from flowing downward, and stagnation of the ice slurry in the inlet of the distribution chamber.
- In conclusion, ice generators have high potential for effective use in heat pump systems, but in order for them to be widely used, they need to be economically feasible, scalable and free of clogging problems incurred during circulation.
- In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a scalable ice generator with improved efficiency and productivity due to modifications in the structure of the heat exchange between a refrigerant and a carrier fluid.
- In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an ice generator that prevents an overload of components by minimizing logging and agglomeration of the ice slurry within the apparatus and enables efficient circulation of the ice slurry.
- In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an ice generator that includes: a heat exchanger configured to absorb heat energy while a refrigerant is evaporated; multiple horizontal heat exchange passages provided within the heat exchanger and configured for heat exchange between a carrier fluid and the refrigerant; inlet and discharge chambers that are connected to the heat exchange passages; screw-like scrapers within the heat exchange passages that transport the carrier fluid from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber via rotation; and a driving unit that rotates the scrapers.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, at least one scraper should be extended from the heat exchange passages into either the inlet chamber or the discharge chamber.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the ice generator also includes stirring units with radial paddles that are installed in both the discharge and inlet chambers. They prevent clogging caused by phase separation of the carrier fluid during rotation.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the gap between the edge of the scraper blade and the inner surfaces of the heat exchange passages should be between 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, one face of a scraper blade is flat, while the other face is convex.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the ice generator includes supporting members for the heat exchange passages, and the supporting members are made of plastic.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the discharge chamber includes a discharge opening to expel the carrier fluid to the outside; flat guide plates inclined within the heat exchange passages guide the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a scraper may penetrate the guide plates.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the inlet chamber may include one or more inlet openings. If there are multiple inlet openings, they are arranged symmetrically in a radial direction with respect to the inlet chamber.
- The effect of the Invention can be described as follows. Firstly, the scrapers are extended into the inlet chamber or the discharge chamber so as to smoothly stir the carrier fluid; such extensions make it possible to prevent clogging or agglomeration caused by phase separation of the solid-liquid carrier fluid.
- Secondly, the extension of scrapers into the inlet chamber can prevent stagnation caused by a difference in the flow velocity of the carrier fluid and/or a difference in the distance from the inlet opening to each heat exchange passage.
- Thirdly, it is possible to efficiently remove any solidified medium from the inner surface of the heat exchange passage, despite the relatively slow rotation of the scrapers, by maintaining a gap between the scraper and the inner surface of the heat exchange passage. This makes it possible to perform a continuous operation.
- Fourthly, a scraper maintains its precisely fitted position within its respective heat exchange passage regardless of whether the ice generator is on or off. This prevents abrasion of the inner sides of the heat exchange passage. Because the scraper does not shift from its position at the center of the heat exchange passage, the heat exchange passage can be positioned at any angle regardless of gravitational direction.
- Fifthly, the ice generator is aligned horizontally, so that the refrigerant outside of the heat exchange passages can be maintained in a nucleate boiling condition. Thus, it is possible to increase the efficiency of heat transfer. Moreover, a horizontal driving unit is more accessible to maintenance workers than vertical types. Further, a horizontal heat exchange passage can be made to be longer than a vertical type can be made tall, so that it is more feasible to scale the generator up, although the scale is also dependant on the strength of the driving unit.
- Sixthly, the stirring units that guide the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening aid the overall prevention of clogging or agglomeration.
- Seventhly, because the scraper does not shift from the center of the inside of the heat exchange passage during operation, rotational vibration of the scraper can be minimized. Even if excessive power is applied to the scraper, as it is when the generator senses potential clogging in the heat exchange passage, the heat exchange passage is supported by an external member(s) that suppresses rotational vibration. This is possible because the external member(s) is/are made of flexible plastic material that absorbs high frequency vibration, so that the transfer of the vibration to other components is minimized.
-
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of an ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along a line I-I inFig. 1 ; -
Fig. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing a modified part of the ice generator depicted inFig. 1 ; -
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line II-II inFig. 3 ; -
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of another ice generator in accordance with another illustrative embodiment; -
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional taken along a line III-III inFig. 5 ; -
Fig. 7 is a measured graph showing variations in power of a scraper during the operation of a conventional ice generator; - and [0038]
Fig. 8 is a measured graph showing variations in power of a scraper during the operation of an ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. - Hereinafter, illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrative embodiments.
- An ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to
Figs. 1 and2 .Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of an ice generator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment andFig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along a line I-I inFig. 1 . - As depicted in the drawings, the ice generator includes a
heat exchanger 100,heat exchange passages 110, aninlet chamber 120, adischarge chamber 130,scrapers 200, and adriving unit 170. - The
heat exchanger 100 is primarily used to absorb heat energy from the ice slurry while the refrigerant is evaporated within the inner space of theheat exchanger 100. - The
heat exchange passage 110 is aligned horizontally within theheat exchanger 100, and the carrier fluid interacts with the refrigerant while passing through theheat exchange passages 110. There are multipleheat exchange passages 110 shaped like hollow pipes. Preferably, the heat exchange passages should be made of a surface processed copper tube that is ideal for accelerating nucleate boiling, but other materials could be used. - The
inlet chamber 120 is connected to theheat exchange passage 110 on one side of theheat exchanger 100, so as to introduce the carrier fluid into theheat exchange passage 110. Thedischarge chamber 130 is connected to theheat exchange passage 110 and is provided on the opposite side of theinlet chamber 120 on theheat exchanger 100. The carrier fluid exits through to thedischarge chamber 130 from theheat exchange passage 110. - The
inlet chamber 120 includes aninlet opening 125; the carrier fluid is introduced into the inlet chamber through theinlet opening 125. Thedischarge chamber 130 includes adischarge opening 135 for discharging the carrier fluid, by which heat is completely exchanged with the outside via the ice slurry. Details will be described with reference toFig. 2 orFig. 5 . - The
scraper 200 inFig. 2 includes arod member 210 and ablade 220. Preferably, therod member 210 should be slightly longer than theheat exchange passage 110 so as to be extended a certain length into theinlet chamber 120 or thedischarge chamber 130, but it is not limited thereto. In other words, therod member 210 may have the same length as theheat exchange passage 110 or therod member 210 may be extended into one of theinlet chamber 120 or thedischarge chamber 130. - The
blade 220 wraps in a screw-like fashion around the outside of therod member 210. Relative to the direction of rotation of thescraper 200, the front face of theblade 220 forms a convex surface and the back face forms a flat surface. - The
scraper 200 is inserted into theheat exchange passage 110. As thescraper 200 is rotated, the carrier fluid introduced from theinlet chamber 120 into theheat exchange passage 110 is transported toward thedischarge chamber 130 inside theheat exchange passage 110 by the spiraledblade 220. The carrier fluid is transported while in contact with theheat exchange passage 110, so that heat exchange is performed. In other words, thescraper 200 both transport the carrier fluid toward thedischarge chamber 130 and removes any solidified medium on the inner surface of theheat exchange passage 110, thus increasing the efficiency of heat transfer. - The driving
unit 170 is connected to, but not limited to, a commonly used motor; a gear is connected to the motor to provide a rotational driving force to thescraper 200. Any motor can be used if it can output the power required to operate the ice generator and provide a driving force capable of rotating thescraper 200. - Since one or more of the
scrapers 200 extend into theinlet chamber 120 or thedischarge chamber 130, thescraper 200 can prevent clogging or agglomeration caused by phase separation of the carrier fluid. - Thus, the
scraper 200 enables the carrier fluid to smoothly flow through theinlet chamber 120 or thedischarge chamber 130. - In the ice generator configured as described above, when the carrier fluid is introduced into the
inlet chamber 120 of the ice generator, the flow velocity of the carrier fluid is decreased due to an increased cross sectional area. - Previously, the carrier fluid may have become stagnant because the flow velocity was different at each part of the carrier fluid, and/or because the distance between the
inlet opening 125 and eachheat exchange passage 110 was not uniform, but thescrapers 200 prevent such stagnation because they are extended into theinlet chamber 120. - The width of the
blade 220 should be determined so as to maintain a gap between the edge of theblade 220 of thescraper 200 and the inner surface of theheat exchange passage 110 within a range of 0.1 mm to 0.40 mm. - The driving
unit 170 is operated so as to rotate thescraper 200 at speeds between 200 rpm and 450 rpm. - The sharp edge of the
blade 220 can further reduce any potential dry-out points on the inner surface of theheat exchange passage 110 during rotation. Preferably, the edges of theblades 220 of thescrapers 200 for each respectiveheat exchange passage 110 should have a thickness of, but not limited to, approximately 0.1 mm. - When the ice generator is operating, the carrier fluid forms a thin liquid film that is continuously formed and destroyed by the contact between the edge of the
blade 220 and the inner walls of the heat exchange passages. This film acts as a lubricant for the blades, and speeds up the entire heat transfer process. - The convex shape of the front face of the blade 220 ("front" with respect to the direction of the movement of the carrier fluid during operation) compresses the carrier fluid while the flat back face, in comparison with the convex front face, decompresses the carrier fluid. This creates a partial vortex, which relieves supercooling and accelerates the phase separation of the carrier fluid. Thus, the level of supercooling of the carrier fluid can be controlled in order to generate soft ice slurry.
- The ice generator may become overloaded if the gap between a
blade 220 and the respectiveheat exchange passage 110 is increased. This is because the widened gap causes the level of supercooling to increase as well; as a result hardened ice may form on the inner surface of heat exchange passages, and thescraper 200 may be unable (due to the overload of the carrier fluid) to remove the hardened ice. Thus it is necessary that the gap remains at the same width at all times in order to ensure uninterrupted operation. - Furthermore, in order to prevent agglomeration or clogging within discharge chamber caused by interaction between discharged carrier fluid from adjacent
heat exchange passages 110, thescraper 200 in a givenheat exchange passage 110 should be rotated in the opposite direction to ascraper 200 in an adjacentheat exchange passage 110. - For configuration described above, the power consumption for the ice generator, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, is minimized because the overloading typical of a conventional ice generator does not occur and thus efficiency of heat transfer is increased. This result is shown in
Figs. 7 and8 .Fig. 7 is a measured graph showing variations in power consumption of a conventional ice generator andFig. 8 is a measured graph showing variations in power consumption of an ice generator that is in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. - By looking at the variations in power consumption, it can be deduced that initial overloading of the ice generator that is in accordance with the illustrative embodiment is relatively low compared to the conventional ice generator.
- When the
blade 220 is maintained in the correct shape and position, any deviation between the stop position of thescraper 200 and an operation position can be reduced. And because any deviation is minimized, theheat exchange passages 110 and thus the entire ice generator can be positioned horizontally so as to be perpendicular with the direction of gravity. - Therefore, the ice generator in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can be aligned to be horizontal. In other words, the carrier fluid is transported from the
inlet chamber 120 to thedischarge chamber 130 as thescraper 200 is rotated, and, thus, theheat exchange passage 110 is aligned to be in parallel with the direction of the surface of the earth. Thedischarge chamber 130, theinlet chamber 120, and thedriving unit 170 are provided at a side surface of theheat exchanger 100, so that a large quantity of the carrier fluid can flow through and the influence of gravity can be minimized. - Since the ice generator is aligned horizontally, the refrigerant outside the
heat exchange passage 110 can be maintained in a nucleate boiling condition. This can increase the efficiency of heat transfer. Furthermore, since the drivingunit 170 is also positioned horizontally, it is easily accessible for maintenance work, compared to a case where thedriving unit 170 is positioned vertically. Furthermore, the horizontalheat exchange passage 110 can be made longer than the vertical type can be made taller, so that the ice generator is more scalable. - Although it has been described that the
scrapers 200 of the ice generator in accordance with the illustrative embodiment are extended to either thedischarge chamber 130 or theinlet chamber 120 so as to stir the carrier fluid, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For more detailed explanation thereof,Figs. 3 and4 are provided. -
Fig. 3 is a partial cross sectional view showing a modified version of the part of the ice generator depicted inFig. 1 , andFig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line II-II inFig. 3 . For the sake of convenient explanation, explanations of similar or same components as illustrated inFigs. 1 and2 will be omitted. - As depicted in the drawings, the ice generator further includes a stirring
unit 400. - The stirring
unit 400 is provided in thedischarge chamber 130 and includes radial paddles. The stirringunit 400 is formed in a shape substantially similar to, but not limited to, a propeller. - The stirring
unit 400 stirs the carrier fluid discharged from theheat exchange passage 110 so as to suppress clogging caused by the phase separation of the carrier fluid. - The carrier fluid discharged from the
heat exchange passage 110 is prone to causes agglomeration or clogging within theheat exchange passage 110 in the form of ice slurry, but the stirringunit 400 works to circulate and guide the carrier fluid toward thedischarge opening 135. Thus, it is possible to suppress clogging or agglomeration. - The ice generator in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to
Figs. 5 and6 as follows.Fig. 5 is another cross sectional view of ice generator in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment andFig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along a line III-III inFig. 5 . - As depicted in the drawings, the ice generator includes the
heat exchanger 100, theheat exchange passage 110, theinlet chamber 120, thedischarge chamber 130, thescraper 200, the drivingunit 170, a supportingmember 115, and aguide plate 300. For the sake of convenient explanation, explanations of similar or same components as illustrated with reference toFigs. 1 to 4 will be omitted. - The
flat guide plate 300 is provided in thedischarge chamber 130. Theguide plate 300 is inclined toward a certain direction at a predetermined angle with respect to theheat exchange passage 110 so as to best guide the carrier fluid toward thedischarge opening 135. - The parts of the
scrapers 200 that extend to thedischarge chamber 130 penetrate theguide plate 300. Theguide plate 300 configured as described above separates the carrier fluid remaining outside thescraper 200, i.e. the carrier fluid transformed into ice slurry and congealing on the surface of thescraper 200, from thescraper 200 and guides the separated carrier fluid toward thedischarge opening 135. - The carrier fluid becomes increasingly laden with ice particles as it passes through the
heat exchange passage 110 toward thedischarge chamber 130. Because of the increasing level of ice particles, the circulation of the carrier fluid is relatively slow. Yet the carrier fluid still flows smoothly because of the flow path provided by theguide plate 300 and the extension of thescraper 200 into either thedischarge chamber 130 or theinlet chamber 120. - If the capacity of the ice generator is increased, the number of the
heat exchange passages 110 may be increased to about 200 or more. Theheat exchange passages 110 may be divided into several groups and a passage space may be formed between the groups to allow for the smooth flow of the carrier fluid. - The
discharge opening 135 is in the upper portion of thedischarge chamber 130, so that the carrier fluid can be easily discharged through thedischarge opening 135 by means of buoyancy. -
Multiple inlet openings 125 may be formed in theinlet chamber 120. Similarly,multiple discharge openings 135 can be formed. - In this case, the
inlet openings 125 are arranged symmetrically in a radial direction in theinlet chamber 120 in order to better control the flow of the carrier fluid when introduced into theinlet chamber 120. Accordingly, by optimizing the arrangement of theinlet openings 125, it is possible to minimize variations in flow velocity caused by the varied positions of theheat exchange passages 110 within theinlet chamber 120. - The carrier fluid is directly introduced into the
inlet chamber 120 without passing through a separate distribution device, and becomes homogeneous as a result of the stirring action of thescraper 200 within theinlet chamber 120. - A
bypass tube 119, separate from theheat exchange passages 110, may be further provided to connect thedischarge chamber 130 to theinlet chamber 120. - The
bypass tube 119 is used to move the carrier fluid in theinlet chamber 120 to thedischarge chamber 130 when the amount of the carrier fluid introduced into theinlet chamber 120 is increased too quickly or if the carrier fluid does not flow smoothly in some of theheat exchange passages 110. If necessary, thebypass tube 119 may include a valve (not illustrated) for opening. - The supporting
member 115 supports theheat exchange passages 110.Multiple members 115 may be arranged at intervals of 500-900 mm depending on a length of theheat exchange passages 110 so as to prevent theheat exchange passage 110 from drooping, as well as to suppress vibration of theheat exchange passages 110 during operation of the ice generator. - Preferably, the supporting
members 115 are positioned in contact with theheat exchange passages 110 in order to prevent damage or decoupling of vibration between the heat exchange passage and other components. The supportingmember 115 is made of plastic in order to protect theheat exchange passage 110. - In the ice generator that is in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, there is a small gap between the edge of the
blade 220 of thescraper 200 and the inner surface of theheat exchange passage 110. Moreover, theblade 220 has the curved front surface described previously. Thus, when thescraper 200 is rotated, thescraper 200 pushes the carrier fluid out toward the inner surface of theheat exchange passage 110. This prevents the scraper from shifting from the center of the heat exchange passage during operation. As a result, the rotational vibration of the scraper is minimized. - Even if excessive power is applied to the
scraper 200 due to the ice generator's detection of potential clogging within aheat exchange passage 110, theheat exchange passage 110 is supported by an external member that suppresses rotational vibration caused by thescraper 200. The external member is made of a flexible plastic material that absorbs high frequency vibration. - Although the present disclosure has been explained with reference to the illustrative embodiments described above and the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can be modified and changed in various ways by those with sufficient expertise in this field.
- Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the following claims and their equivalents rather than by the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments.
Claims (10)
- An ice slurry generator comprising:a heat exchanger configured to absorb heat energy while a refrigerant is evaporated;multiple heat exchange passages provided horizontally within the heat exchanger and configured for heat exchange between carrier fluid flowing therethrough and the refrigerant;an inlet chamber that feeds carrier fluid into the heat exchange passages;a discharge chamber to which the carrier fluid is discharged from the heat exchange passages;a scraper that comprises of a rod member formed in a rod shape and a blade protruded in a spiral shape outside the rod member, that is inserted into the heat exchange passages and transports the carrier fluid from the inlet chamber toward the discharge chamber during rotation, and that is extended into the inlet chamber and/or into the discharge chamber; anda driving unit that provides a driving force to the scraper.
- The ice slurry generator of claim 1,
wherein the scraper is extended into at least one of the inlet chamber and the discharge chamber. - The ice slurry generator of claim 1, further comprising:a stirring unit,wherein the stirring unit includes multiple radial paddles in at least one of the discharge chamber and the inlet chamber, suppressing clogging caused by phase separation of the carrier fluid during rotation.
- The ice slurry generator of claim 2,
wherein a gap between an end of the blade and inner surfaces of the heat exchange passages is in a range of from about 0.1 mm to about 0.4 mm. - The ice slurry generator of claim 2,
wherein one side of the blade forms a curve in its cross section view and the other side forms at least one of a single straight line or a plurality of straight lines combined together. - The ice slurry generator of claim 2, further comprising:at least one supporting member that supports the heat exchange passages.
- The ice slurry generator of claim 6,
wherein the supporting member is made of plastic. - The ice slurry generator of claim 2,
wherein the discharge chamber includes:a discharge opening configured to discharge the carrier fluid to the outside;
anda guide plate that is formed in a flat plate shape and inclined with respect to the heat exchange passages and guides the carrier fluid toward the discharge opening. - The ice slurry generator of claim 8,
wherein a part of the scraper penetrates the guide plate. - The ice slurry generator of claim 2,
wherein the inlet chamber includes one or more inlet openings that is connected to the outside and that feeds carrier fluid into the inlet chamber, and if there is multiple inlet openings, the inlet openings are arranged symmetrically or radially with respect to the inlet chamber.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020100094233A KR101350947B1 (en) | 2010-09-29 | 2010-09-29 | Ice making device |
PCT/KR2011/007103 WO2012044041A2 (en) | 2010-09-29 | 2011-09-27 | Ice-making apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2623902A2 true EP2623902A2 (en) | 2013-08-07 |
EP2623902A4 EP2623902A4 (en) | 2016-11-16 |
Family
ID=45893635
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP11829547.6A Withdrawn EP2623902A4 (en) | 2010-09-29 | 2011-09-27 | Ice-making apparatus |
Country Status (7)
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US (1) | US20130160477A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2623902A4 (en) |
JP (2) | JP2013542393A (en) |
KR (1) | KR101350947B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103221765B (en) |
CA (1) | CA2813188A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012044041A2 (en) |
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JP6262121B2 (en) * | 2014-11-11 | 2018-01-17 | アイスマン株式会社 | Artificial snowfall equipment |
KR101864134B1 (en) * | 2016-11-11 | 2018-07-13 | 동명대학교산학협력단 | Agitator for ice making device |
KR101939048B1 (en) * | 2017-01-10 | 2019-01-17 | 주식회사 대일 | Double Tube Type Sea Water Sherbet Ice Generator |
KR101888397B1 (en) * | 2017-01-10 | 2018-09-21 | 주식회사 대일 | Sea Water Sherbet type Ice Generator With Scraper Forming Water Path |
CN108870820B (en) * | 2018-06-29 | 2020-09-11 | 芜湖拓达电子科技有限公司 | Ice block crushing device for fresh-keeping and refrigeration of aquatic products |
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CN113124591B (en) * | 2020-01-15 | 2022-11-04 | 罡圣科技股份有限公司 | Ice making device and ice shaving machine |
CN112146212B (en) * | 2020-10-12 | 2022-01-18 | 大连民族大学 | Ice making device for cold supply system |
CN114294863A (en) * | 2021-12-03 | 2022-04-08 | 高梦影 | Dry evaporator of water chilling unit |
CN114294871A (en) * | 2021-12-29 | 2022-04-08 | 海澜智云科技有限公司 | Advanced control system of ice machine |
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-
2010
- 2010-09-29 KR KR1020100094233A patent/KR101350947B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
2011
- 2011-09-27 CA CA2813188A patent/CA2813188A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-09-27 WO PCT/KR2011/007103 patent/WO2012044041A2/en active Application Filing
- 2011-09-27 US US13/820,747 patent/US20130160477A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-09-27 CN CN201180055041.5A patent/CN103221765B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2011-09-27 EP EP11829547.6A patent/EP2623902A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2011-09-27 JP JP2013531481A patent/JP2013542393A/en not_active Ceased
-
2017
- 2017-08-09 JP JP2017154482A patent/JP2017215138A/en not_active Withdrawn
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KR20120032738A (en) | 2012-04-06 |
WO2012044041A2 (en) | 2012-04-05 |
JP2013542393A (en) | 2013-11-21 |
CN103221765B (en) | 2015-11-25 |
KR101350947B1 (en) | 2014-01-14 |
EP2623902A4 (en) | 2016-11-16 |
JP2017215138A (en) | 2017-12-07 |
CA2813188A1 (en) | 2012-04-05 |
WO2012044041A3 (en) | 2012-06-21 |
US20130160477A1 (en) | 2013-06-27 |
CN103221765A (en) | 2013-07-24 |
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