Pulse electrothermal and heat-storage ice detachment apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. Icemaker apparatus having pulse electrothermal ice detachment apparatus comprising:
- an icemaking tube comprising one or more ice growth regions;
one or more cooling fins thermally connected via one or more cold rings to the icemaking tube at the one or more ice growth regions for transferring heat away from each ice growth region;
apparatus for introducing water into the icemaking tube so that at least a portion of the water freezes into ice at the ice growth regions; and
a power supply for periodically supplying a pulse of electrical power to the icemaking tube, to melt at least an interfacial layer of the ice to detach the ice from the tube, wherein duration of the pulse is limited such that a heat diffusion distance associated with the pulse is less than at least one of a thickness of the tube and a thickness of the ice;
wherein the pulse of electrical power comprises at least five kilowatts of power per square meter of area of the icemaking tube.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for pulse electrothermal and heat-storage ice detachment. A pulse electrothermal ice detachment apparatus includes one or more coolant tubes, and optionally, fins in thermal contact with the coolant tubes. The tubes and/or fins form a resistive heater. One or more switches may apply electrical power to the resistive heater, generating heat to detach ice from the tubes and/or the fins. A freezer unit forms a heat-storage icemaking system having a compressor and a condenser for dissipating waste heat, and coolant that circulates through the compressor, the condenser and a coolant tube. The coolant tube is in thermal contact with an evaporator plate. A tank, after the compressor and before the condenser, transfers heat from the coolant to a heating liquid. The heating liquid periodically flows through a heating tube in thermal contact with the evaporator plate, detaching ice from the evaporator plate.
123 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Icemaker apparatus having pulse electrothermal ice detachment apparatus comprising:
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an icemaking tube comprising one or more ice growth regions; one or more cooling fins thermally connected via one or more cold rings to the icemaking tube at the one or more ice growth regions for transferring heat away from each ice growth region; apparatus for introducing water into the icemaking tube so that at least a portion of the water freezes into ice at the ice growth regions; and a power supply for periodically supplying a pulse of electrical power to the icemaking tube, to melt at least an interfacial layer of the ice to detach the ice from the tube, wherein duration of the pulse is limited such that a heat diffusion distance associated with the pulse is less than at least one of a thickness of the tube and a thickness of the ice; wherein the pulse of electrical power comprises at least five kilowatts of power per square meter of area of the icemaking tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20)
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15. Icemaker apparatus having pulse electrothermal ice detachment apparatus comprising:
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an icemaking tube comprising one or more ice growth regions; at least one coolant tube in thermal contact with the icemaking tube at the one or more ice growth regions for transferring heat away from each ice growth region; a dielectric layer electrically, but not thermally, insulating the icemaking tube from the coolant tube(s); apparatus for introducing water into the ice making tube so that at least a portion of the water freezes into ice at the ice growth regions; and a power supply for periodically supplying a pulse of electrical power to a resistive electric heater in thermal contact with the tube, to melt at least an interfacial layer of the ice to detach the ice from the tube, wherein duration of the pulse is limited such that a heat diffusion distance associated with the pulse is less than at least one of a thickness of the tube and a thickness of the ice; wherein the pulse of electrical power comprises at least five kilowatts of power per square meter of area of the ice making tube. - View Dependent Claims (16, 19, 21)
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Specification