Utilization of harvest and/or melt water from an ice machine for a refrigerant subcool/precool system and method therefor

• US 20030213261A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olive Tree Patents 1 LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas H. Hebert
• Inventors: Hebert, Thomas H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,898,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/277
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/322 Skin grafting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/10 Hair or skin implants
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/02 Subcoolers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/04 Desuperheaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/12 by freezing water on cooled surfaces, e.g. to form slabs
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/14 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/122 the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/85 Food storage or conservation, e.g. cooling or drying

Abstract

First, a system for providing liquid refrigerant subcooling, subsequent to that subcooling accomplished by the primary condenser of an ice machine, by means of utilizing cold harvest and/or melt water discharge from said ice machine. Subcooling heat exchange to be accomplished by directing and controlling the flow of said harvest and/or melt water through some type of refrigerant to fluid heat exchanger, or by a passive heat sink method whereby the liquid refrigerant subcooler sits in a non-pumped open reservoir that overflows at each harvest cycle. This would provide greater refrigeration capacity to the ice machine system.

Secondly, a system for providing hot gas discharge refrigerant precooling before said hot gas passes into the primary condenser of an ice machine, by means of utilizing the cold harvest and/or melt water discharge from said ice machine. Precooling heat exchange to be accomplished by directing and controlling the flow of said harvest and/or melt water through some type of refrigerant to fluid heat exchanger, or by a passive heat sink method whereby the hot gas discharge refrigerant precooler sits in a non-pumped open reservoir that overflows at each harvest cycle. This would provide lower power consumption, increased pumping efficiency of the compressor, decreased heat rejection to the ambient air surrounding the ice machine as well as improving the primary condensers performance.

Next, a system that combines the first two systems described, that utilizes the cold harvest and/or melt water first in the subcooler, then reuses it in the precooler, for providing both the benefits of subcooling and precooling with the same harvest and/or melt water supply being used twice.

Then, a system for providing inlet water precooling by utilizing excess refrigeration capacity provided by the subcooling to precool the inlet water supply to the ice machine. This would provide for increasing the ice machine'"'"'s daily ice production capacity.

Also, a system for providing ice storage bin chilling by utilizing excess refrigeration capacity provided by the subcooling to chill the ice storage chamber of the ice machine. This would provide for decreased ice loss to melting and would provide for retained ice quality.

Finally, a system that would allow means to downsize the compressor size for an ice machine by taking into account the extra refrigeration capacity provided by the extra subcooling of the liquid refrigerant to the ice machine. This would provide for an ice capacity matched to the existing ice making plate as well as for reduction in power consumption per unit weight of ice produced.

Claims

1. A heat exchange refrigerant subcool system that utilizes stored discharge water from an ice machine that is then pumped through a heat exchanger for subcooling a refrigerant that has already passed through the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of the condenser, enabling the refrigerant to flow in a first direction through said subcooler after first flowing through the condenser; and

said subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a pump that pumps stored ice machine discharge water to directly flow through said subcooler from a bottom portion to a top portion in a second direction opposite to said first direction and then to discharge;

whereby said subcooler utilizes the pumped and flowing cold discharge water from an ice machine for providing maximum available subcooling to the liquid refrigerant of said ice machine.

2. The heat exchange refrigerant subcool system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pump controllably pumps said discharge water through said subcooler for maximum subcooling effect.

3. The heat exchange refrigerant subcool system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said subcooler is positioned within a water storage tank that receives the discharge water from said ice machine.

4. The heat exchange refrigerant subcool system as set forth in claim 3, further including a drainage fluidly connected to said water storage tank allowing overflow to drain therefrom.

5. The heat exchange refrigerant subcool system as set forth in claim 4, further including a second storage container for receiving said overflow.

6. The heat exchange refrigerant subcool system as set forth in claim 2, further including a precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of said compressor, said precooler being connected in heat exchange relationship with the discharge water from said subcooler.

17. The storage system as set forth in claim 1, further including a system for producing a flow of said discharge water from said storage vessel to a heat exchanger, comprising in combination:

a) a pump connected in fluid communication between said storage vessel and said first heat exchanger;

b) a flow control device located between said pump and said first heat exchanger; and

c) means for positioning said storage vessel above a level of said heat exchanger allowing gravity to flow said discharge water from said storage vessel to said heat exchanger, whereby said discharge water flows by being pumped or by gravity, from said storage vessel to said heat exchanger.

7. A heat exchange refrigerant subcool system that utilizes stored discharge water from an ice machine that is then pumped through a heat exchanger for subcooling a refrigerant that has already passed through the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a) a subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of the condenser, enabling the refrigerant to flow through said subcooler after first flowing through the condenser; and

b) said subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a pump that pumps stored ice machine discharge water through a control system that enables the correct amount of discharge water to flow through said subcooler and then to discharge or to a secondary heat exchanger;

whereby said subcooler utilizes the pumped and flowing cold discharge water from an ice machine for providing maximum available subcooling to the liquid refrigerant of said ice machine.

8. A heat exchange refrigerant subcool system that utilizes the discharge water from an ice machine in a passive heat sink storage method, for subcooling a refrigerant that has already passed through the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a) a subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of the condenser, enabling the refrigerant to flow through said subcooler after first flowing through the condenser;

b) said subcooler being positioned in a water storage tank that receives the discharge water from said ice machine; and

c) a means for said discharge water to overflow to drainage or to a second storage container;

whereby said subcooler utilizes the stored discharge water from an ice machine for providing maximum available subcooling to the liquid refrigerant.

9. A heat exchange refrigerant precool system that utilizes the discharge water from an ice machine that is then pumped through a heat exchanger for precooling a refrigerant before said refrigerant passes into the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a) a precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a compressor, enabling the hot gas refrigerant to flow through said precooler before passing into the condenser; and

b) said precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a pump that pumps stored ice machine discharge water through a control system that enables the correct amount of discharge water to flow through said precooler and then to discharge or other use;

whereby said precooler utilizes the pumped and flowing cold discharge water from an ice machine for providing maximum available precooling to the refrigerant before said refrigerant passes into the condenser of said ice machine.

10. A heat exchange refrigerant precool system that utilizes the discharge water from an ice machine in a passive heat sink storage method, for precooling a refrigerant before said refrigerant passes into the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a) a precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a compressor, enabling the hot gas refrigerant discharge from a compressor to flow through said precooler before passing into the condenser;

b) said precooler being positioned in a water storage tank that receives the discharge water from said ice machine; and

c) a means for said ice machine discharge water to overflow to drainage;

whereby said precooler utilizing the heat sink provided by the stored discharge water from an ice machine for providing maximum available precooling to the pre-condenser refrigerant of said ice machine.

11. A combination subcool and precool heat exchange system that utilizes the stored discharge water from an ice machine that is first pumped through a first heat exchanger for subcooling the liquid refrigerant that has passed through the condenser of said ice machine and then subsequently pumped through a second heat exchanger for precooling the hot gas discharge refrigerant from a compressor before said refrigerant passes into the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a) the first heat exchanger, a subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of the condenser, enabling the refrigerant to flow through said subcooler after first flowing through the condenser;

b) the second heat exchanger, a precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a compressor, enabling the hot gas refrigerant to flow through said precooler before passing into the condenser;

c) said subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a pump that pumps stored ice machine discharge water through a control system that enables the correct amount of discharge water to flow through said subcooler and then into said precooler; and

d) said precooler connected in fluid communication with the water flow output of the subcooler of the previously used discharge water. Said previously used discharge water passing through said precooler heat exchanger and then on to drainage;

whereby said subcool and precool system utilizes the pumped and flowing cold discharge water from an

ice machine for providing maximum available subcooling to the liquid refrigerant and maximum available precooling to the hot gas discharge refrigerant of said ice machine.

12. A heat exchange subcool and precool system that utilizes the stored discharge water from an ice machine in a passive heat sink storage method for subcooling the liquid refrigerant that has passed through the condenser of said ice machine and then subsequently precooling the hot gas discharge refrigerant from a compressor before said refrigerant passes into the condenser of said ice machine, comprising in combination:

a) a subcooler connected in fluid communication with the output of the condenser, enabling the refrigerant to flow through said subcooler after first flowing through the condenser;

b) said subcooler placed in a first water storage tank that receives the discharge of water from said ice machine;

c) a means for said discharge water to overflow to drainage or to a second storage container;

d) a precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of a compressor, enabling the hot gas refrigerant discharge from a compressor to flow through said precooler before passing into the condenser;

e) said precooler either placed in the same storage tank as the subcooler but above the subcooler or placed in said second storage container that receives the discharge from said first storage container; and

f) a means for said secondarily used discharge water to overflow to drainage;

whereby said subcool and precool system utilizes the heat sink provided by the stored discharge water from an ice machine for providing maximum available subcooling to the liquid refrigerant and maximum available precooling to the hot gas discharge refrigerant of said ice machine.

13. An inlet water precooler system for an ice machine that utilizes excess refrigeration capacity provided by excess subcooling of the liquid refrigerant, comprising in combination:

a) an inlet water precooler connected in fluid communication with the output of refrigerant from the primary ice making evaporator of an ice machine, enabling the refrigerant to flow through said inlet water precooler after exiting said ice making evaporator;

b) said inlet water precooler connected in fluid communication with the inlet water to the ice machine, enabling the inlet water to flow through said inlet water precooler before entering the water reservoir of said ice machine;

c) means for preventing the inlet water from mixing with the refrigerant in the inlet water precooler;

d) means for bypassing the refrigerant past the inlet water precooler when the ice machine goes into hot gas defrost and/or harvest; and

e) means for preventing damage to the inlet water precooler if said precooler were to freeze,

whereby said inlet water precooler system utilizes excess refrigeration capacity of an ice machine to provide the maximum available precooling to the inlet water to said ice machine.

14. An ice storage bin chiller system for an ice machine that utilizes excess refrigeration capacity provided by excess subcooling of the liquid refrigerant, comprising in combination:

a) an ice storage bin chiller connected in fluid communication with the output of refrigerant from the primary ice making evaporator of an ice machine, enabling the refrigerant to flow through said ice storage bin chiller after exiting said ice making evaporator;

b) said ice storage bin chiller either acting passively with air flow through the chiller provided by convection or actively with air flow provided by a fan; and

c) means for bypassing the refrigerant past the ice storage bin chiller when the ice machine goes into hot gas defrost and/or harvest;

whereby said ice storage bin chiller system utilizes excess refrigeration capacity of an ice machine to provide the maximum available chilling of the ice storage bin of said ice machine.

15. A method for reducing the compressor size of an ice making machine by matching the capacity of a compressor with the capacity of the ice making evaporator where excess subcooling of the liquid refrigerant is accomplished, comprising the step of:

using standard compressor performance tables or other compressor capacity information that relates to subcooled liquid refrigerant temperatures to find the compressor needed for a specific ice making machine.

16. A storage system for capturing, storing and insulating from heat gain the discharged water from an ice making machine, comprising in combination:

a) a storage vessel for storing the discharge water from at least one ice making machine;

b) said storage vessel in fluid communication with one of a harvest water discharge output of the ice making machine and a melt water output from an ice storage bin of the ice making machine; and

c) an overflow pipe connected in fluid communication with said storage vessel.