Method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of ice production
US5031409A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C5/10
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention is a method of harvesting ice formed on the freezing tube evaporator of a shell ice maker by trapping the gas phase refrigerant in the evaporator using a steam trap of the type that allows liquids to pass but not gases. The gas phase refrigerant can thus be maintained in the evaporator without circulating the gas phase refrigerant entirely through the refrigeration system. As a result, a greater fraction of the gas phase refrigerant in the evaporator condenses than would otherwise condense there if the gas phase refrigerant continued to flow without being trapped in the evaporator. The result is an increase in the heat transferred from the refrigerant to the evaporator and to the ice formed thereon and thus reduces the time and energy required to harvest the ice and correspondingly raises the efficiency of the entire ice making cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.