KR20030028396A - Ice making method and ice making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the phase change, when the supercooling state is cancelled in a closed canceller, from being introduced to a connecting tube upstream. CONSTITUTION: Supercooling water from a supercooler 2 flows into a closed canceller 4 via a connecting tube 3. The connecting tube 3 is divided in an outside vessel 22. In the outside vessel 22, water that is 0°C or higher is injected from a water injection pipe 21 and goes into the connecting tube 3 from a gap d. A water liquid film is formed on a wall surface in the downstream connecting tube 3.

Description

ICE MAKING METHOD AND ICE MAKING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a method capable of continuously deicing water by releasing the supercooled state of water continuously and not interfering with the production of the supercooled water over a long period of time.

A general technique for producing subcooled water and then subsequently producing sherbet-shaped ice is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,671,077. On the other hand, a method of producing ice by continuously releasing water in a supercooled state in a closed pipe is also proposed.

However, in order to perform continuous ice making for a long time, it is possible to avoid freezing of the cooler by preventing the phase change (subcooling release) from propagating from the sub-ice defroster, for example, from the supercooling defroster, to the cooler. There is a need.

That is, when the subcooled water produced by the subcooler starts to change phase in the subcooler, the nucleus of ice is successively grown on the wall surface of the subcooler and the peeling by the water flow is repeated. The phenomenon of ice growth and delamination on the solid surface in contact with the supercooled water propagates upstream, i.e., on the supercooler side, along the inner wall of the connection pipe connected to the inlet of the supercooler. The reason for this propagation is related to the adhesion of ice to the wall. In other words, even though the ice attached to the wall is fading in the high velocity flow, it is still standing against the wall while moving, or moving toward the downstream side at an extremely slow speed. Phase change advances upstream. In addition, even if peeling occurs due to flow, microcrystalline groups remain on the original bonding surface, and new ice cores grow.

In this regard, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2806155 discloses a method for preventing phase change radio waves by heating a connecting tube, and in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-74532, A method of specially processing the end of the ice-making vessel side to raise the flow rate to 2.7 m / s or more has been proposed to prevent ice from entering the connecting pipe.

In addition, the method of weakening the adhesion of the ice to the wall surface in the subcooler, as disclosed in the 35th Japanese Thermal Conduct Symposium Lecture Collection (1998, p. 221), has shown that the thermal conductivity of the wall material itself is small. Another method is to use materials.

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2806155, energy for heating is required separately, and there is a problem that the deicing amount cannot be avoided due to the temperature rise of the supercooled water.

On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-74532, since the pipe resistance of the connector increases as the flow rate of the connector increases, the energy for conveying water and the ice water produced is higher than that of the case where the flow rate does not increase. It is needed extra. In addition, in order to maintain the effect that the phase change does not propagate upstream for a long time, it is necessary to take additional measures to prevent foreign matters such as fine scratches and scales from coming into contact with the surface on which the special processing at the end of the connecting pipe is performed. .

In addition, the method of using a material with a small thermal conductivity on the wall material itself does not allow the adhesion of the ice to be zero (zero) unless a substance having a thermal conductivity of zero (zero) exists. It cannot be completely prevented from propagating upstream.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and in the production of ice by supercooling release in a hermetic system, it does not require special heating energy or special processing on the surface of the connection pipe end to prevent propagation as described above. It aims to prevent the propagation of a phase change from the subcooler to the connecting pipe by being stable over a long period of time.

In order to achieve this object, the ice-making method of the present invention is a method for producing ice by sending water cooled to a supercooler with a supercooler to a closed supercooler without contacting the atmosphere through a connecting pipe. Water at 0 ° C. or higher is supplied to the inner surface. This 0 degreeC or more water can use the water immediately before introduction into a supercooler, or the water after heating the water taken out from a heat storage tank. Of course, water above 0 ° C may be employed.

When 0 degreeC or more water is supplied with respect to the whole inner surface circumference of a connecting pipe, the liquid film of 0 degreeC or more water is formed in the whole inner surface circumference | surroundings of the connecting pipe downstream of a supplied part. This liquid film can prevent the adhesion of ice to the inner wall of the connecting pipe and the propagation upstream of the phase change. Also, in the liquid film of 0 ° C or higher formed on the wall of the connecting pipe, even if ice cores exist, they do not grow, but melt or flow downstream, so that the phase change exceeds the part supplying the water of 0 ° C or higher to the connecting pipe. It does not propagate upstream. In order to obtain the above effects, it is necessary to maintain the flow rate from the outlet of the connecting pipe at about 2% to 3% of the flow rate of the water flowing into the supercooling releaser. Moreover, the flow velocity in a connection pipe should just be 1 m / s or more.

Ice manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the supercooling water to the supercooled state, the closed supercooling releaser for releasing the water of the subcooled state, the connection pipe connecting the outlet of the subcooler and the inlet of the subcooler, the connection An outer container that tightly covers the outer circumference of the tube and a water injection tube for injecting water into the outer container, in the outer container, the connecting tube is divided over the entire circumference through the void.

According to the ice manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, since the connecting pipe is divided in the outer container over the entire circumference through the void, when water is injected into the outer container from the water injection pipe, water is supplied to the inner wall of the connecting pipe from the void. Thus, the liquid film of water injected into the connecting pipe inner wall on the downstream side from the void can be formed. Therefore, it is possible to implement the ice manufacturing method of this invention preferably. In addition, when the ice cube is formed in the connecting pipe from the subcooler, the propagation is slightly alleviated by the gap. However, since the bridge action moves, propagation upstream cannot be completely prevented.

The water injection pipe diverges from the inlet pipe connected to the inlet side of the subcooler and bypasses the subcooler, so that the water inlet pipe is connected between the external container, so that a separate water source does not need to be secured. Even if the temperature of the water is also appropriate or heating is required, there is little required for it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the structure of this ice manufacturing apparatus in embodiment.

2 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the shape of the interior of the connecting pipe in the ice manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment;

Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the split end end of the connector,

Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the split end end of the connecting pipe,

5 is a side cross-sectional view showing still another example of a split end end of the connector;

Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing another example of the divided end face of the connecting pipe.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: ice maker 2: supercooler

3: connector 3a: upstream connector

3b: downstream connector 4: release

11: introduction tube 14: preheater

21: water injection pipe 22: outer container

d: void

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, preferred embodiment of this invention is described based on drawing, and this invention is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 1: shows the structure of the whole ice manufacturing apparatus 1 in this embodiment, The subcooler 2 has the structure of what is called a cell and tube, for example. The water introduced into the subcooler 2 is cooled by brine from a freezer (not shown), and has a function of bringing the water into a subcooled state of, for example, 0 ° C or lower.

One end of the connecting pipe 3 is connected to the outlet side of the subcooler 2, that is, the outlet port 2a, and the other end of the connecting pipe 3 is hermetically sealed subcooler 4 Is connected to. The supercooling releaser 4 has a function of releasing the supercooling state of the subcooled water introduced through the connecting pipe 3, changing the phase to generate slurry ice, and flowing it to the outside. As the trigger for the supercooling release, for example, ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic vibrator are used, but a well-known one can be suitably used as this type of closed supercooling releaser 4.

An inlet pipe 11 is connected to the inlet side of the subcooler 2, and the water taken out from the various water tanks 13 including the heat storage tank by the pump 12 is sent into the subcooler 2. On the upstream side of the pump 12 in the inlet pipe 11, a preheater (preheater) 14 is provided as a heater, for example, and water flowing in the inlet pipe 11 is, for example, 0.5. It is possible to heat up to ℃.

One end of the water injection pipe 21 is connected to the downstream side of the pump 12 in the inlet pipe 11, and the other end of the outer container 22 which tightly covers the outer circumference of the connecting pipe 3. ) Therefore, a part of the water in the inlet pipe 11 is bypassed to the subcooler 2 through the water inlet pipe 21 and is delivered to the outer container 22. Therefore, the water to the water injection pipe 21 and the water to the subcooler 2 are performed by one pump 12.

As shown in Fig. 2, the connecting pipe 3 is divided at right angles to the axial direction so as to create a void d in the outer container 22, so that the upstream connecting pipe 3a and the downstream connecting pipe are Divided into (3b). Therefore, when water is injected into the outer container 22 from the water injection pipe 21, the water which penetrated into the connection pipe 3 in the said space | gap d flows in the downstream connection pipe 3b according to the flow in the connection pipe 3; The liquid film of water which flows to the downstream side along the wall surface of (), and was injected into the inner wall surface of the downstream connection pipe 3b is formed.

In addition, the pressure applied to the water flowing through the water injection pipe 21 by the pump 12 is maintained until it reaches the outer container 22, so that water is pushed into the connection pipe 3 in the gap d described later. There is no problem.

This ice manufacturing apparatus 1 in this embodiment has the above structure, and the operation example is demonstrated next. For example, when 0 degreeC water is taken out from the water tank 13, it heats up to 0.5 degreeC by the preheater 14. This 0.5 ° C water is cooled to a subcooled state of, for example, -2 ° C in the subcooler (2), and is sent to the subcooler (4) through the connecting pipe (3) as it is, and the subcooler (4). In this case, the supercooled state is released, and a slurry-like ice of 0 ° C. is produced, for example, and flows out continuously.

Meanwhile, 0.5 ° C. water branched from the inlet pipe 11 and flowed into the water injection pipe 21 is injected into the outer container 22, so that the connecting pipe 3 at the divided portion of the connecting pipe 3, that is, the air gap d, is formed. ), And flows downstream as the water flows in the supercooled state. At this time, since the void d is over the entire circumference, the water at 0.5 ° C flows along the wall surface of the inner wall of the downstream connection pipe 3b, and as a result, the wall surface, i.e., the entire circumference of the inner surface, is 0.5 ° C. A liquid film of water is formed.

Moreover, the junction point (water jetting / entering opening of water injection) of the water injection pipe 21 and the outer container 22 is set in the predetermined distance from the clearance gap d beyond the axis line. This configuration is such that water is uniformly injected from the entire wall surface.

Therefore, even if the supercooling release made by the supercooling release machine 4 is to propagate upstream along the wall surface, since the liquid film of 0 degreeC or more is formed in the wall surface of the inner wall of the downstream connection pipe 3b, it goes to the upstream side. Propagation is prevented. In addition, in the liquid film formed at the wall surface of O ° C. or higher, even if ice cores are present, they do not grow, but are melted or flowed downstream by the flow of supercooled water, so that the phase change causes the outlet of the connecting pipe 3 to exit. There is no propagation upstream. Therefore, freezing at the outlet of the connecting pipe 3 and the subcooler 2 is prevented, and the slurry ice can be continuously produced in a stable manner.

In addition, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to perform special processing such as resin on the surface of the wall surface, and a stable propagation prevention effect can be obtained for a long time. In this embodiment, although the water for liquid film formation is heated to 0.5 degreeC by the preheater 14, the energy required for it is extremely small, and the conventional direct connection pipe etc. are heated to prevent freezing. Compared to the method, much less energy is enough.

In the present embodiment, since a part of the water flowing through the inlet pipe 11 is branched so that water is injected into the outer container 22, it is not necessary to secure a separate water source for the water injected into the outer container 22.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the preheater 14 was installed so as to heat the water which flows in the inlet pipe 11, it is a sensor and a controller, for example, to heat this separately with respect to the water which flows through the water injection pipe 21. Appropriate temperature regulating devices, such as heaters combined with these, may be provided. Accordingly, the water for injection can be individually set to an appropriate temperature. The outlet of the water injection pipe 21 may not be a branch of the introduction pipe 11, may be extracted directly from a water source such as a water tank, or the water supply and the external vessel 22 may be connected through a valve and a temperature adjusting device.

The shape of the divided end surface of the connection pipe 3, that is, the end surface of the upstream connection pipe 3a, and the end surface of the downstream connection pipe 3b, preferably employs the same examples as in each of the following examples of FIG. Good to do.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the inner wall 31 side of the end face of the upstream connecting pipe 3a is tapered to protrude toward the downstream side, and the outer wall 32 side of the end face of the downstream connecting pipe 3b. It is a tapered shape projecting toward the upstream side.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, although the inner wall 31 side of the end surface of the upstream connection pipe 3a is tapered like the example of FIG. 3, it protrudes toward the downstream side, but the end surface of the downstream connection pipe 3b does not exist. While the outer wall 32 side protrudes toward the upstream side, the end face 33 itself of the downstream connecting pipe 3b is convexly curved toward the upstream side.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the inner wall 31 side of the end face of the upstream connecting pipe 3a protrudes to the downstream side than the outer wall 34 side, and the inner wall 35 side of the end face of the downstream connecting pipe 3b is The tip 36 of the end face of the upstream side connecting pipe 3a and the tip 37 of the end face of the downstream connecting pipe 3b are each perpendicular to the axial direction. It has a configuration with a cut face.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the inner wall 31 side of the end surface of the upstream connecting pipe 3a protrudes downstream rather than the outer wall 34 side, and the inner wall 35 of the end surface of the downstream connecting pipe 3b. The side protrudes upstream from the outer wall 32 side, and the end face 38 of the upstream connector 3a and the end face 39 of the downstream connector 3b themselves are formed outside the connector 3. It is convexly curved toward.

When the divided end surface shape of the connection pipe 3 shown in FIGS. 3-6 shown above is employ | adopted, the water which entered into the space | gap d more preferably makes the inner wall 35 of the downstream connection pipe 3b more preferable. It flows along and it is possible to form the liquid film by this water more preferable on the surface of the inner wall 35 of the downstream connection pipe 3b. Moreover, in the result which the inventor experimented with the divided end surface shape shown to FIGS. 3-6, the aspect of FIG. 4 showed the most favorable effect.

In addition to the above embodiment, for example, a plate heat exchanger can be used instead of the cell and tube heat exchanger (supercooler).

Moreover, also about the outer container 22, the annular thing of diameter larger than the connecting pipe 3 can be used besides box shape.

According to the present invention, in the manufacture of ice by the supercooling release by the hermetic system, it is stable for a long time without requiring special heating energy or special processing to the surface of the connecting tube end, and it is stable for a long time. It is possible to prevent the phase change propagation to the. Therefore, it is possible to continuously remove the supercooled state of water and to make ice, and to carry out this stably for a long time.

Claims (11)

A method of producing ice by sending water cooled to a subcooler to a sealed subcooler without contacting the atmosphere through a connecting pipe. Ice production method, characterized in that for supplying water 0 ℃ or more to the inner surface of the connecting pipe. The ice-making method according to claim 1, wherein the water of 0 ° C or more is used immediately before being introduced into the supercooler. The ice production method according to claim 1, wherein the water at 0 ° C or higher is water after heating the water taken out from the heat storage tank. An apparatus for making ice, A supercooler for supercooling water, A closed supercooling releaser for releasing water in a supercooled state, A connecting pipe connecting an outlet of the subcooler and an inlet of the subcooler; An outer container for tightly covering the outer circumference of the connector; Has a water injection pipe for injecting water into the outer container, In the outer container, the connection pipe is an ice manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that divided over the entire circumference through the void. The ice making apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the water injection pipe branches from the introduction pipe connected to the inlet side of the subcooler and bypasses the subcooler, and is connected between the outer container and the ice container. The end wall of the end part of the said connecting pipe is a taper shape in which the inner wall side of the end face of an upstream connection pipe | tube protrudes toward the downstream side, and the outer wall side of the end surface of the downstream connection pipe is an upstream side. Ice-making apparatus characterized in that the tapered shape protruding toward. The end wall of the end part of the said connecting pipe is a taper shape in which the inner wall side of the end face of an upstream connection pipe | tube protrudes toward the downstream side, and the outer wall side of the end surface of the downstream connection pipe is an upstream side. And an end face of the downstream connecting pipe is convexly curved toward the upstream side. The end wall of the end of the connecting pipe projects in the inner wall side of the end face of the upstream connecting pipe, and the inner wall of the end face of the downstream connecting pipe protrudes in the upstream side rather than the outer wall. The tip of the inner wall side of each end face has a surface perpendicular to the axial direction. The end wall of the end of the connecting pipe projects in the inner wall side of the end face of the upstream connecting pipe, and the inner wall of the end face of the downstream connecting pipe protrudes in the upstream side rather than the outer wall. Each end surface itself is an ice manufacturing device, characterized in that the convexly curved toward the outside of the connector. The ice manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a temperature controller for controlling a temperature of water flowing in the water injection pipe. The ice manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a heater for heating water flowing in the introduction pipe on an upstream side of the connection portion of the water injection pipe in the introduction pipe.