JP6965464B2 - Flowing liquid film type tube ice maker - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a vertical flowing liquid film tube ice maker.

Conventionally, a tube ice maker is equipped with a full-liquid evaporator having a built-in heat transfer tube and filling the shell side with a refrigerant. By boiling the refrigerant at a low temperature, the water flowing in the heat transfer tube is cooled, and ice is generated on the inner wall of the heat transfer tube. When the thickness of the ice has increased to some extent, the ice on the inner wall of the heat transfer tube is melted by injecting hot gas as a refrigerant into the shell, the ice is dropped to the bottom by its own weight, and the ice is crushed at regular intervals to produce tube ice. do. Patent Document 1 discloses an ice maker including a full-liquid heat exchanger.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 06-147707

An ice machine equipped with a full-liquid evaporator requires a large amount of refrigerant to fill the casing with the refrigerant liquid, and the head of the refrigerant liquid creates a pressure distribution in the depth direction, so that the depth is about 2 m. In the full-liquid evaporator, the evaporation temperature at the bottom is about 1 ° C. higher than that at the top, so there is a problem that the ice thickness becomes uneven. Further, since the heat transfer on the refrigerant side is the nucleate boiling heat transfer, the heat transfer coefficient is low and it takes time to make ice. Furthermore, when hot gas is injected into the shell side to raise the temperature of the refrigerant during deicing, a large amount of heat is required to raise the temperature of a large amount of refrigerant liquid that is overcooled at a low temperature to above the melting point of ice. At the same time, since convection heat is transferred to the refrigerant liquid that has been heated and stirred by the hot gas, the heat transfer rate with the ice formed inside the heat transfer tube is low, and there is a problem that it takes time to deice. be.

One embodiment aims to propose an ice maker that reduces the amount of refrigerant and enables high efficiency of ice making and deicing.

(1) The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to the embodiment is
Casing and
A plurality of heat transfer tubes extending in the vertical direction inside the casing,
A header provided in the area of the internal space of the casing where the upper end of the heat transfer tube is arranged and for storing the refrigerant, and
With
The heat transfer tube is configured to receive the supply of the refrigerant from the header so that a liquid film of the refrigerant is formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube.
Here, "extending along the vertical direction" includes extending with an inclination within an angle at which the liquid film on the surface of the heat transfer tube is secured.

In the ice making process, the refrigerant liquid forms a flowing liquid film on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube and evaporates by heat exchange with the ice making water inside the heat transfer tube. Since the liquid film is a thin film and does not stay, heat exchange is efficiently performed with low resistance to evaporation. In this way, since the refrigerant liquid film and the ice-making water flowing down the inside of the heat transfer tube exchange heat, the amount of refrigerant can be significantly reduced as compared with the full-liquid type. Further, since the refrigerant liquid film flows down along the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, a uniform liquid film can be formed as compared with a method of spraying the refrigerant liquid onto the outer surface of the heat transfer tube by using a spray or the like. Further, since the heat transfer is carried out by a thin film, a high heat transfer coefficient can be obtained even with a low heat flux, and the ice making time can be significantly shortened as compared with the full liquid type. Further, since the refrigerant flows down along the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, the evaporation temperature becomes constant in the vertical direction, and the ice thickness does not become uneven in the vertical direction. Further, in the deicing step, since the amount of the refrigerant liquid held in the casing is small, the refrigerant liquid can reach a saturation temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of ice in a short time by injecting the hot gas for deicing, and the hot gas can be generated. Since it condenses and flows down along the vertical direction of the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, there is no retention of the condensate, and the heat of condensation of the hot gas is efficiently transferred to the ice side, so that the deicing time can be shortened. Therefore, the ice making capacity can be improved and the amount of the refrigerant liquid stored in the casing is small, so that the refrigerant liquid in the casing can be prevented from returning to the compressor as mist.

(2) In one embodiment, in the configuration of (1) above,
A tube plate to which the upper end of the heat transfer tube is fixed and
An upper ice-making water storage section formed above the tube plate,
With
The header is formed below the tube plate.
According to the configuration of (2) above, the upper ice-making water storage section is arranged above the tube plate and the refrigerant storage header is arranged below the tube plate, so that the ice-making water inside the heat transfer tube is arranged. The configuration for supplying the refrigerant and forming the refrigerant liquid film on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube can be made compact.

(3) In one embodiment, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above,
The inlet of the refrigerant is provided at the lower part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space.
A refrigerant circulation path for returning the refrigerant liquid stored in the lower part of the internal space to the header is provided.
According to the configuration of (3) above, since the refrigerant inlet is provided at the lower part of the casing, the refrigerant liquid supplied into the casing does not break the refrigerant liquid film formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube. The heat transfer rate of the inner surface of the heat transfer tube with the ice making water can be maintained high.

(4) In one embodiment, in any of the configurations (1) to (3) above,
The outlet of the refrigerant is provided at the upper part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space.
According to the configuration (4) above, since the refrigerant outlet is located at the upper part of the casing and at a position away from the refrigerant liquid accumulated in the lower part of the internal space, only the refrigerant gas can be discharged from the refrigerant outlet. As a result, it is possible to prevent the liquid from returning to the compressor constituting the refrigerator.

(5) In one embodiment, in any of the configurations (1) to (4) above,
The refrigerant having a liquid level of 1/10 or less of the height of the internal space is stored in the lower part of the internal space.
According to the configuration of (5) above, since the operation is performed so that the refrigerant liquid having a liquid level of 1/10 or less of the height of the internal space is stored in the internal space of the casing, ice making can be performed with a small amount of refrigerant. Become. Further, by setting the liquid level of the refrigerant liquid to 1/10 or less of the height of the internal space, the refrigerant liquid level can be kept away from the refrigerant outlet at the upper part of the internal space, so that the refrigerant liquid reaches the refrigerant outlet. Does not mix. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid from returning to the compressor, and in the refrigerator that supplies the refrigerant, an accumulator that separates the gas and liquid from the refrigerant outlet to the compressor and a liquid gas heat exchanger for gasifying the refrigerant liquid. Is not required to be placed.

(6) In one embodiment, in any of the configurations (1) to (5) above,
A hot gas inlet formed at the lower part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space,
A hot gas outlet formed on the upper part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space,
To be equipped.
In the deicing step, hot gas is supplied from the hot gas inlet to the internal space of the casing in order to deice the tube ice formed on the inner surface of the heat transfer tube. According to the configuration (6) above, since the hot gas inlet is formed in the lower part of the casing, the hot gas is supplied into the refrigerant liquid accumulated in the lower part of the internal space of the casing, and the refrigerant liquid is vigorously agitated. As a result, the heat transfer coefficient with the tube ice can be increased and the deicing time can be shortened. Further, in the gas phase portion above the refrigerant liquid level, the outer surface of the heat transfer tube is exposed to saturated steam of hot gas. Therefore, the outer surface of the heat transfer tube becomes a condensed heat transfer in which hot gas flows down while condensing, and a heat transfer rate about twice that of the deicing process of a conventional full-liquid ice maker can be obtained, thereby shortening the deicing time. Can be shortened.

(7) In one embodiment, in any of the configurations (1) to (6) above,
A cutter provided below the plurality of heat transfer tubes is provided for cutting tube ice that slides down from the inner surface of the heat transfer tubes by its own weight at the time of deicing.
According to the configuration of the above (7), in order to provide the cutter, the tube ice that slides down from the inner surface of the heat transfer tube by its own weight can be appropriately cut to a length and supplied to the user in the deicing step.

(8) In one embodiment, in the configuration of (2) above,
A lower ice-making water storage unit provided below the plurality of heat transfer tubes, and
A water circulation path connecting the lower ice making water storage section and the upper ice making water storage section,
A water circulation pump provided in the water circulation passage and for circulating ice making water accumulated in the lower ice making water storage section to the upper ice making water storage section.
A level sensor that detects the liquid level of the ice-making water accumulated in the lower ice-making water storage unit, and
A control unit that controls the operation of the water circulation pump based on the detected value of the level sensor,
To be equipped.
According to the configuration of (8) above, in the ice making step, the liquid level of the ice making water accumulated in the lower ice making water storage unit can be controlled to a desired level, so that the ice making step can be smoothly performed.

(9) In one embodiment, in any of the configurations (1) to (8) above,
A refrigerator for producing the refrigerant supplied to the header is provided.
The refrigerator
Refrigerant circuit and
Refrigerant cycle components provided in the refrigerant circuit, including a compressor, condenser, receiver and expansion valve.
With
The refrigerant decompressed through the expansion valve is configured to be supplied to the casing.
According to the configuration of (9) above, by providing the refrigerator, it is possible to supply the refrigerant as a cold heat source of the ice maker to the ice maker.

(10) In one embodiment, in the configuration of (9) above,
A hot gas supply path communicating with the gas phase portion of the receiver and the internal space is provided.
According to the configuration of (10) above, by providing the hot gas supply path, hot gas (refrigerant gas having a temperature exceeding 0 ° C.) can be supplied to the internal space of the casing in the deicing step. Further, when hot gas is supplied from the gas phase portion of the receiver via the hot gas supply path, the inside of the receiver is depressurized by the supply of the hot gas, and the refrigerant liquid in the receiver is vaporized by the decompression in the receiver. Therefore, the hot gas can be replenished with the newly vaporized refrigerant gas.

(11) In one embodiment, in any of the configurations (1) to (10) above,
The refrigerant is a natural refrigerant, an HFC refrigerant, or an HFO refrigerant.
According to the configuration of (11) above, among the refrigerants, for example, NH ₃ has a large surface tension. Due to this surface tension, a uniform refrigerant liquid film can be formed in the circumferential direction of the heat transfer tube. As a result, the amount of heat transfer to the ice-making water can be improved.

According to some embodiments, in the flowing liquid film type tube ice ice maker, the amount of refrigerant can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, the efficiency of ice making and deicing can be improved, and the ice making capacity can be improved. In addition, the ice thickness does not become uneven in the extending direction of the heat transfer tube, and the liquid back to the compressor of the refrigerator that supplies the refrigerant can be suppressed.

It is a vertical sectional view of the ice machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a system diagram which shows the time of making ice of the refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a system diagram which shows the time of deicing of the refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to this, and are merely explanatory examples.
For example, expressions that represent relative or absolute arrangements such as "in a certain direction", "along a certain direction", "parallel", "orthogonal", "center", "concentric" or "coaxial" are exact. Not only does it represent such an arrangement, but it also represents a state of relative displacement with tolerances or angles and distances to the extent that the same function can be obtained.
For example, expressions such as "same", "equal", and "homogeneous" that indicate that things are in the same state not only represent exactly the same state, but also have tolerances or differences to the extent that the same function can be obtained. It shall also represent the existing state.
For example, an expression representing a shape such as a quadrangular shape or a cylindrical shape not only represents a shape such as a quadrangular shape or a cylindrical shape in a geometrically strict sense, but also an uneven portion or chamfering within a range in which the same effect can be obtained. The shape including the part and the like shall also be represented.
On the other hand, the expressions "equipped", "equipped", "equipped", "included", or "have" one component are not exclusive expressions that exclude the existence of other components.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker 10 according to the embodiment. The ice maker 10 includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes 14 inside the casing 12, and the heat transfer tubes 14 extend along the vertical direction. A refrigerant header 16 for storing the refrigerant liquid is provided in a region of the internal space S _{0 (outer space of the heat transfer tube 14) of the casing 12 where the upper end of the heat transfer tube 14 is arranged.} Then, the refrigerant liquid supplied from the refrigerant header 16 is configured to form a refrigerant liquid film on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube 14. The refrigerant liquid film formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube 14 flows downward along the outer surface of the heat transfer tube.
Ice-making water Wi is supplied from the upper end opening of the heat transfer tube 14 to the inside of the heat transfer tube 14, and the ice-making water Wi is cooled by a refrigerant liquid film formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube 14, and has a cylindrical shape on the inner surface of the heat transfer tube 14. Form tube ice Ti.

The term "refrigerant" as used herein means that the ice-making water Wi, which undergoes a phase change and flows down along the inner surface of the heat transfer tube 14, is cooled by latent heat of vaporization to produce ice.

The formation of the refrigerant liquid film on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube and the supply of the ice-making water Wi to the inside of the heat transfer tube are continuously performed until the tube ice Ti reaches a predetermined thickness. When the tube ice Ti reaches a predetermined thickness, the ice making process is switched to the deicing process. The de-ice process, the hot gas (refrigerant gas exceeding 0 ° C.) is supplied to the internal space S ₀ of the casing 12, the tube Ice Ti is peeled off from the inner surface of the heat transfer tube 14 by heat transmitted from the hot gas to the heat transfer tube 14, It slides down due to its own weight.

According to the above configuration, in the ice making step, the refrigerant liquid forms a flowing liquid film on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube and evaporates by heat exchange with the ice making water Wi inside the heat transfer tube. Since the liquid film is a thin film and does not stay, heat exchange is efficiently performed with low resistance to evaporation. In this way, since the refrigerant liquid film and the ice-making water Wi inside the heat transfer tube exchange heat with each other, the amount of refrigerant can be significantly reduced as compared with the full-liquid heat exchanger in which the refrigerant liquid is stored inside the casing 12. Further, since the refrigerant liquid film flows down along the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, a uniform liquid film can be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the heat transfer tube 14 as compared with the method of spraying the refrigerant liquid onto the heat transfer tube by using a spray or the like. The heat transfer coefficient can be improved. Further, in the case of a phase-changing refrigerant, since evaporation heat transfer is performed by a thin film, a high heat transfer coefficient can be obtained even with a low heat flux, and the ice making time can be significantly shortened as compared with the full-liquid type. Further, since the refrigerant flows down along the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, the evaporation temperature becomes constant in the vertical direction, and therefore, the ice thickness cannot be uneven in the vertical direction. Further, in the deicing step, since the amount of the refrigerant liquid held in the casing 12 is small, the refrigerant liquid can reach a saturation temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of ice in a short time by injecting the hot gas for deicing, and the hot gas. Condenses and flows down along the vertical direction of the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, so that the condensate does not stay and the heat of condensation of the hot gas is efficiently transferred to the ice side, so that the deicing time can be shortened. Therefore, the ice making capacity can be improved, and as will be described later, liquid backing to the compressor 64 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) constituting the refrigerator 60 that supplies the refrigerant to the ice making machine 10 can be suppressed.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a refrigerator 60 is provided. The refrigerator 60 includes refrigerating cycle components including a compressor 64, a condenser 66, a receiver 68, and an expansion valve 70 in a refrigerant circuit 62 in which a refrigerant circulates.
FIG. 2 shows an ice making process, and FIG. 3 shows an ice removing process. In the ice making process, the refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 64 is cooled by the condenser 66 to become a refrigerant liquid, which is sent to the receiver 68. The refrigerant liquid r is stored in the receiver 68, the refrigerant liquid r is depressurized via the expansion valve 70, and is supplied to the casing 12 of the ice maker 10.
According to this embodiment, by providing the refrigerator 60, a refrigerant as a cold heat source of the ice maker 10 can be supplied to the ice maker 10.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a tube plate 18 is provided on the upper portion of the casing 12, and the upper end of the heat transfer tube 14 is fixed to the tube plate 18. An upper ice making water storage portion 20 is provided above the pipe plate 18, and a refrigerant header 16 is provided below the pipe plate 18. In this way, the upper ice making water storage unit 20 is arranged above the pipe plate 18 with the pipe plate 18 as a boundary, and the refrigerant header 16 is arranged below the pipe plate 18.
In one embodiment, the upper ice-making water storage unit 20 is composed of a hollow container capable of storing ice-making water Wi inside, the bottom surface is composed of a tube plate 18, and the upper end of the heat transfer tube 14 is open to the bottom surface. Further, the bottom surface of the refrigerant header 16 is composed of a bottom wall 18a arranged along the horizontal direction, and an annular gap (not shown) for allowing the refrigerant liquid film to flow down between the bottom wall 18a and the outer peripheral surface of the heat transfer tube 14. ) Is formed. Further, the upper surface of the refrigerant header 16 is composed of a pipe plate 18.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided in the lower portion of the casing 12 as the refrigerant inlet pipe 22 communicates with the lower interior space S _0, the refrigerant header refrigerant liquid r which stores the bottom of the inner space S ₀ A refrigerant circulation pipe 24 for returning to 16 is provided. The refrigerant liquid r is supplied from the refrigerant inlet pipe 22 to the internal space S ₀ , and the refrigerant liquid r stored in the lower part of the internal space S ₀ is sent to the refrigerant header 16 by the refrigerant circulation pump 26 provided in the refrigerant circulation pipe 24. .. By circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerant circulation pipe 24 in this way, the tube ice Ti can be formed to a predetermined thickness.
According to this embodiment, the refrigerant inlet pipe 22 because it is provided in the lower portion of the internal space S _0, refrigerant liquid r supplied to the internal space S ₀ is not broken refrigerant liquid film formed on the heat transfer tube outer surface. Therefore, the heat transfer coefficient between the refrigerant liquid film and the ice-making water Wi on the inner surface of the heat transfer tube can be maintained high.

In one embodiment, the refrigerant outlet pipe 28 is provided so as to communicate with the internal space S ₀ at the bottom of the casing 12, the upper portion of the casing 12 the refrigerant inlet pipe 30 is provided so as to communicate with the refrigerant headers 16. Refrigerant liquid r which stores in the internal space S ₀ at the bottom of the casing 12 is fed from the refrigerant inlet pipe 30 via the refrigerant circulation pipe 24 from the refrigerant outlet pipe 28 by the refrigerant circulating pump 26 to coolant headers 16.

In one embodiment, provided as a refrigerant outlet pipe 32 to the refrigerant gas vaporized in heat exchange with the ice making water Wi is discharged communicates with the internal space S ₀ at the top of the casing 12. According to this embodiment, the refrigerant outlet pipe 32 is located at the top of the inner space S _0, is in a position away from the refrigerant liquid r accumulated in the lower portion of the internal space S _0, refrigerant liquid along the heat transfer tube 14 is liquid film Therefore, only the refrigerant gas can be discharged from the refrigerant outlet pipe 32. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid from returning to the compressor 64.

In one embodiment, the ice making process, operating as the liquid level of the refrigerant liquid to form about 1/10 of the liquid level in the vertical direction (height) of the internal space S ₀ to (H in FIG. 1). This makes it possible to make ice with a small amount of refrigerant. Further, by setting the liquid level H of the refrigerant liquid to about 1/10 of the vertical direction (height), the _{refrigerant liquid level can be kept away from the refrigerant inlet pipe 22 above the internal space S 0} , so that the refrigerant liquid level can be kept away from the refrigerant inlet. The refrigerant liquid does not mix with the refrigerant discharged from the pipe 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid from returning to the compressor 64, and in the refrigerator 60 that supplies the refrigerant, the accumulator for separating the gas and the liquid and the refrigerant liquid are gasified in the refrigerant circuit 62 from the refrigerant outlet pipe 32 to the compressor 64. There is no need to arrange a liquid gas heat exchanger.
In one embodiment, the tube sheet 36 is provided at a lower portion of the casing 12, the internal space S ₀ is a tube sheet 36 as the bottom surface, and is capable of storing liquid refrigerant r.

In one embodiment is provided with a hot gas inlet pipe 34 formed in the lower portion of the internal space S _0, and the hot gas outlet pipe 32 formed in the upper portion of the internal space S _0, the. In the de ice process, in order to de-ice the tube ice Ti formed on the heat transfer tube inner surface, the hot gas is supplied to the internal space S ₀ from the refrigerator 60.
According to this embodiment, the hot gas inlet tube 34 is to be formed in the lower part of the internal space S _0, the hot gas is supplied to the refrigerant liquid accumulated in the bottom of the inner space S _0, vigorously stirring the refrigerant liquid .. As a result, the heat transfer coefficient between the refrigerant liquid and the tube ice Ti can be increased, and the deicing time can be shortened. Further, in the gas phase portion above the refrigerant liquid surface, the outer surface of the heat transfer tube 14 is exposed to saturated vapor of hot gas. Therefore, the outer surface of the heat transfer tube 14 is condensed heat transfer in which hot gas flows down while condensing, and a heat transfer rate about twice that of the deicing process of a conventional full-liquid ice maker can be obtained, so that the deicing time is shortened. can.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hot gas outlet pipe 32 is also used as the refrigerant outlet pipe.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a cutter 38 is provided below the plurality of heat transfer tubes 14. In the deicing step, the tube ice Ti that slides down from the inner surface of the heat transfer tube 14 by its own weight can be appropriately cut to a length and supplied to the user.
In one embodiment, the cutter 38 is provided inside a lower ice making water reservoir 42 provided below the plurality of heat transfer tubes 14. The lower ice making water storage unit 42 is composed of a hollow container, and can store the ice making water Wi inside.
In one embodiment, the cutter 38 is rotatably configured about a rotation shaft 38a and is rotated by a drive unit (eg, a motor) 40. The length of the tube ice Ti to be cut can be adjusted by appropriately controlling the rotation speed of the cutter 38 by the drive unit 40 according to the falling speed of the tube ice Ti that slides down from the heat transfer tube 14 at the time of deicing.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a water circulation pipe 44 connecting the lower ice making water storage unit 42 and the upper ice making water storage unit 20 is provided, and the water circulation pipe 44 is provided with ice making accumulated in the lower ice making water storage unit 42. A water circulation pump 46 for circulating the irrigation water Wi to the upper ice making water storage unit 20 is provided. Further, a level sensor 48 for detecting the liquid level of the ice making water Wi accumulated in the lower ice making water storage unit 42 is provided, and the control unit 50 controls the operation of the water circulation pump 46 based on the detected value of the level sensor 48. ..
According to this embodiment, in the ice making step, the tube ice Ti can be formed to a predetermined thickness by circulating the ice making water Wi supplied to the inside of the heat transfer tube 14 to the heat transfer tube 14 via the water circulation tube 44. .. Further, since the liquid level of the ice-making water Wi accumulated in the lower ice-making water storage unit 42 can be controlled to a desired level, the ice-making process can be smoothly performed.
In one embodiment, when the ice-making water Wi of the upper ice-making water storage unit 20 and the lower ice-making water storage unit 42 becomes insufficient, make-up water can be injected into the upper ice-making water storage unit 20 or the lower ice-making water storage unit 42. .. After the tube ice Ti production is completed in the ice making process, the circulation of the ice making water Wi is stopped.

In one embodiment, a bottom plate 52 having a mesh-like opening is provided inside the lower ice making water storage portion 42. The internal space of the lower ice making water storage portion 42 is partitioned by the bottom plate 52 into an upper region including an outlet opening 54 of the tube ice Ti and a lower region including an outlet opening communicating with the water circulation pipe 44. As a result, the tube ice Ti cut by the cutter 38 and the water partially melted in the deicing step are separated by the bottom plate 52, and only the tube ice Ti can be discharged from the outlet opening 54 to the outside of the lower ice making water storage portion 42. .. The ice-making water Wi that has flowed down to the lower region is returned to the upper ice-making water storage unit 20 via the water circulation pipe 44.

In one embodiment, a hot gas supply path 72 communicating with the gas phase portion of the receiver 68 and the internal space S _{0 is provided.} According to this embodiment, by providing the hot gas supply passage 72 can supply hot gas to the internal space S ₀ in the de ice process. Since the condenser 66 is not cooled in this step, the receiver gas phase portion is maintained at a high temperature. Further, when hot gas is supplied from the gas phase portion of the receiver 68 via the hot gas supply path 72, the inside of the receiver 72 is depressurized by the supply of the hot gas, and the refrigerant liquid in the receiver is depressurized by the decompression in the receiver. Is vaporized, so hot gas can be replenished with the vaporized refrigerant gas.

In one embodiment, a natural refrigerant (eg, NH ₃ , CO ₂ , propane, isobutane, etc.), an HFC refrigerant (eg, R134a, R32, R404A, R410A, etc.), or an HFO refrigerant (eg, R1234yf, etc.) is used as the refrigerant. Be done.
According to this embodiment, among the above-mentioned refrigerants, for example, NH ₃ has a large surface tension. Since this surface tension acts so that the refrigerant liquid film wraps around the heat transfer tube 14 in the circumferential direction, a uniform refrigerant liquid film can be formed in the circumferential direction of the heat transfer tube. As a result, the amount of heat transfer to the ice-making water Wi can be improved.

According to some embodiments, it is possible to realize a flow-down liquid film type ice maker capable of reducing the amount of refrigerant, making the device compact, and increasing the efficiency of ice making and deicing.

10 Ice maker 12 Casing 14 Heat transfer tube 16 Refrigerant header 18, 36 Tube plate 20 Upper ice making water storage section 22, 30 Refrigerant inlet pipe 24 Refrigerant circulation pipe 26 Refrigerant circulation pump 28 Refrigerant outlet pipe 32 Refrigerant outlet pipe and hot gas outlet pipe 34 Hot gas inlet pipe 38 Cutter 38a Rotating shaft 40 Drive unit 42 Lower ice making water storage unit 44 Water circulation pipe 46 Water circulation pump 48 Level sensor 50 Control unit 52 Bottom plate 54 Outlet opening 60 Refrigerant 62 Refrigerant circuit 64 Compressor 66 Condenser 68 Receiver 70 Expansion valve 72 Hot gas supply path H Refrigerant liquid level S ₀ Internal space Ti Tube ice Wi Ice making water r Refrigerant liquid

Claims (12)

Casing and
A plurality of heat transfer tubes extending in the vertical direction inside the casing,
A header provided on the outer surface side of the heat transfer tube in the area of the internal space of the casing where the upper end of the heat transfer tube is arranged to store the refrigerant, and
With
The heat transfer tube is configured to receive the refrigerant from the header so that a liquid film of the refrigerant is formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube .
The inlet of the refrigerant is provided at the lower part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space.
A flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker comprising a refrigerant circulation path for returning the refrigerant liquid stored in the lower part of the internal space to the header. A tube plate to which the upper end of the heat transfer tube is fixed and
An upper ice-making water storage section formed above the tube plate,
With
The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the header is formed below the tube plate. The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the outlet of the refrigerant is provided at the upper part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space. The flow-down liquid film type tube ice according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the refrigerant having a liquid level of 1/10 or less of the height of the internal space is stored in the lower part of the internal space. Ice machine. Casing and
A plurality of heat transfer tubes extending in the vertical direction inside the casing,
A header provided on the outer surface side of the heat transfer tube in the area of the internal space of the casing where the upper end of the heat transfer tube is arranged to store the refrigerant, and
With
The heat transfer tube is configured to receive the refrigerant from the header so that a liquid film of the refrigerant is formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube.
A hot gas inlet formed at the lower part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space,
A hot gas outlet formed on the upper part of the casing so as to communicate with the internal space,
Downstream further comprising a liquid-film tube ice ice machine. It provided under the plurality of heat transfer tubes, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a cutter for cutting the tube ice slide down by its own weight from the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube during removal of ice Flowing liquid film type tube ice maker. A lower ice-making water storage unit provided below the plurality of heat transfer tubes, and
A water circulation path connecting the lower ice making water storage section and the upper ice making water storage section,
A water circulation pump provided in the water circulation passage and for circulating ice making water accumulated in the lower ice making water storage section to the upper ice making water storage section.
A level sensor that detects the liquid level of the ice-making water accumulated in the lower ice-making water storage unit, and
A control unit that controls the operation of the water circulation pump based on the detected value of the level sensor,
The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to claim 2, further comprising. A refrigerator for producing the refrigerant supplied to the header is provided.
The refrigerator
Refrigerant circuit and
Refrigerant cycle components provided in the refrigerant circuit, including a compressor, condenser, receiver and expansion valve.
With
The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the refrigerant decompressed through the expansion valve is supplied to the casing. The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to claim 8 , further comprising a hot gas supply path communicating the gas phase portion of the receiver and the internal space. A refrigerant inlet pipe provided at the bottom of the casing is further provided so as to communicate with the lower region of the internal space of the casing.
The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the refrigerant decompressed through the expansion valve is supplied to the internal space via the refrigerant inlet pipe. Casing and
A plurality of heat transfer tubes extending in the vertical direction inside the casing,
A header provided on the outer surface side of the heat transfer tube in the area of the internal space of the casing where the upper end of the heat transfer tube is arranged to store the refrigerant, and
It is a flowing liquid film type tube ice maker equipped with
The heat transfer tube is configured to receive the refrigerant from the header so that a liquid film of the refrigerant is formed on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube.
A refrigerator for producing the refrigerant supplied to the header is provided.
The refrigerator
Refrigerant circuit and
Refrigerant cycle components provided in the refrigerant circuit, including a compressor, condenser, receiver and expansion valve.
With
The refrigerant decompressed through the expansion valve is configured to be supplied to the casing.
A refrigerant inlet pipe provided at the bottom of the casing is further provided so as to communicate with the lower region of the internal space of the casing.
A flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker configured so that the refrigerant decompressed through the expansion valve is supplied to the internal space via the refrigerant inlet pipe. The flow-down liquid film type tube ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the refrigerant is a natural refrigerant, an HFC refrigerant, or an HFO refrigerant.

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