초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for making and harvesting ice. Gaseous refrigerant is directed from a suction accumulator to a compressor, then to a condenser wherein the gaseous refrigerant is condensed into a liquid and through an expansion valve which reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant, which

An apparatus and method for making and harvesting ice. Gaseous refrigerant is directed from a suction accumulator to a compressor, then to a condenser wherein the gaseous refrigerant is condensed into a liquid and through an expansion valve which reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant, which is then directed into the ice making plates to evaporate the refrigerant to cool the plates while water from a water supply circuit is flowed over a cold outer surface of the ice making plates allowing ice to form. During a harvest cycle, gaseous refrigerant from the compressor is directed into the ice making plates to be condensed into a liquid in the ice making plates, warming the plates to release the ice. Liquid refrigerant from the plates is directed to harvest gas generation plate and water is flowed over an outer surface of the gas generation plate, warming the refrigerant to a gaseous state, while cooling the water in preparation for the next ice making cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An ice melting and harvesting system comprising:a refrigerant system comprising:a refrigerant compressor;a condenser having an outlet;an expansion valve to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing from the condenser;at least one ice making plate;a harvest gas generator plate;a

[ I claim:] [1.] An ice melting and harvesting system comprising:a refrigerant system comprising:a refrigerant compressor;a condenser having an outlet;an expansion valve to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing from the condenser;at least one ice making plate;a harvest gas generator plate;a valve to selectively direct gaseous refrigerant from the compressor towards the condenser during an ice making cycle and a valve to selectively direct said gaseous refrigerant towards said ice making plate during a harvest cycle;a suction accumulator;a heat exchanger having one side associated with said suction accumulator and one side associated with an outlet of said condenser;a valve on the downstream side of said ice making plate to selectively direct refrigerant from the ice making plate to the suction accumulator during an ice making cycle and from the harvest gas generator plate to the suction accumulator during a harvest cycle;a water supply circuit comprising;a first upper water source for said ice making plate;a second upper water source for said harvest gas generator plate;a lower water tank;a pump for pumping water from said lower water tank to said first and second upper water sources;a source of make-up water; anda water supply valve for selectively directing water to said first upper water source to flow over said ice making plate during an ice making cycle and a water supply valve for selectively directing water to said second upper water source to flow over said harvest gas generator plate during a harvest cycle.