JPH074801A - Ice making equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a supercooling type ice-maker which can be installed even at a place without a vertical height enough for installation, to prevent a pipe-line from deteriorating by allowing oxygen to dissolve in water, and to enable the conveyance of produced ice to any place. CONSTITUTION:A cooling device 1 for making supercooled water 10 is connected with a supercooling state-releasing device 23 for allowing the supercooled water 10 to return to cooled water, in order that water and ice being allowed to forcibly flow inside these devices are not in contact with the air, and the water and ice are continuously turned into a mixture of them at the inside of a system enclosed with water. In this way, an ice-maker 24 can be installed even in an existing building without a vertical height enough for installation and a pipe-line can be prevented from deteriorating by allowing oxygen to dissolve in the water. Produced ice can be conveyed to any place by being forcibly sent into the pipe-line.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making system for storing ice for heat storage as a cold heat source for air conditioning, ice for spraying indoor / outdoor ski areas, and general / cool ice. The present invention relates to an apparatus for continuously and stably producing ice in a system closed with supercooled water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, supercooled water obtained by cooling water to 0.degree.
As an apparatus for producing (liquid-like) ice, for example, JP-A-3-241251 "ice storage device for air conditioning" is known. In this device, the supercooled water immediately after coming out of the cooling pipe of the cooler is opened and dropped into the atmosphere, and collided with a shock plate or the like installed below to cause a phase change from the supercooled water to ice. Raise it and make ice.

However, in the apparatus of this method, (1) a certain vertical distance between the cooler and the impact plate or the like is required, and there is a limitation in height in installing the apparatus. (2) Manufacturing There will be a spatial arrangement restriction between the ice storage tank and the cooler. (3) Heat will be exchanged with the atmosphere to open it to the atmosphere once, and some of the ice produced will melt (4). Oxygen dissolves in the circulating water to release it to the atmosphere and causes corrosion of pipes and equipment. (5) Free fall causes ice to be generated downwards, making it difficult to convey the resulting ice to a distant point. There is.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A main object of the present invention is to provide a supercooling type ice making device which can be installed even in a place where the vertical height cannot be sufficiently obtained. Another object of the present invention is to prevent supercooled water from undergoing a phase change into ice in an environment shielded from the atmosphere to prevent deterioration of piping due to dissolution of oxygen. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device having a degree of freedom such that ice made in an environment shielded from the atmosphere can be transferred to any place by pressure feeding through a pipe connected to the ice making device. To provide.

[0005]

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is, in the first aspect, to eliminate a supercooled state of a cooler for cooling water to produce supercooled water and a generated supercooled water. Is connected so that the water and ice flowing inside them do not come into contact with the atmosphere. This is accomplished by an ice making device adapted to be continuously converted into a mixture.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the cooling device and the supercooling releasing device are sealed so that the water inside does not come into contact with the atmosphere, and ice is produced in the sealed system. Since it does not require a vertical distance as in the case of falling, an existing building where the vertical distance between the cooler and the ice storage tank cannot be sufficient or the ice storage tank is above the cooler It is also possible to install ice making equipment.
Further, since ice is produced in the closed system, it is possible to prevent the dissolution of oxygen and prevent the deterioration of the pipe.

In addition, since the supercooled water becomes a mixture of water and ice in the closed system by the supercooling releasing device and is transported in the pipe, the pressure of the water sent to the cooler becomes a mixture of water and ice. Since the mixture of water and ice generated here has a small ratio of ice to water, there is no possibility of blocking the inside of the transportation pipe. Therefore, the ice made in the closed system is
Since it can be directly transferred to any place through the pipe, there is an advantage that the place for installing the ice storage tank can be freely selected.

In a second aspect of the ice making device according to the present invention, the supercooling releasing device includes a large-diameter pipe and a small-diameter pipe, and the supercooling water inlet side has a small-sized pipe having a large flow velocity in the pipe. It is made of a caliber pipe, and this small caliber pipe is arranged so as to project into the large caliber pipe in a nozzle shape, and induces a phase change from supercooled water to ice in the large caliber pipe downstream from the nozzle-shaped portion. A phase change inducing device is provided.

In this aspect, the phase change from the supercooled water to the mixture of water and ice in the supercooling releasing device is performed as follows. The supercooled water produced by the cooler is passed through a small diameter pipe to make the flow velocity larger than the phase change propagation velocity, and the end of the small diameter pipe is projected like a nozzle into the large diameter pipe to form a cross-sectional area of the flow path. By rapidly increasing, the phase change from water to ice does not propagate upstream even if ice is present in the large diameter pipe. When ice nuclei are once generated in supercooled water having a slow flow velocity by the phase change inducing device, water corresponding to the degree of supercooling changes to ice, and the supercooled water becomes a mixture of water and ice. After that, this ice becomes ice nuclei and a continuous phase change occurs. In order to induce a phase change, the molecular arrangement of supercooled water is changed by using a method such as cavitation in water, collision and friction between solids in water, or strong turbulence in water. Supplies the energy necessary for a stable ice structure. By the above action,
The supercooled water can be continuously converted into a mixture of water and ice.

In a third aspect of the ice making device according to the present invention, water and ice are fed from the vicinity of the downstream end of the large diameter pipe of the supercooling releasing device to the periphery of the portion of the small diameter pipe projecting like a nozzle. A bypass pipe for circulating and flowing is connected. As a result, the flow of water and ice in the large diameter pipe is
The main flow to the pipe connected to the downstream side and the bypass flow from the bypass pipe are mixed and flow inside. As a result, it is possible to prevent ice from adhering to the vicinity of the tip of the nozzle-shaped portion, and it is possible to stably manufacture ice. Further, even if the generated ice accumulates in the large diameter pipe, the accumulated ice is removed by the bypass flow and mixed with water to remove the accumulated ice.

The ice-making device according to the invention can be implemented in several additional ways. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entire ice making system (primary side) including an ice making device 24 using supercooled water according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Water from the ice storage tank 8 is introduced into the cooler 1 by the water circulation pump 9, and the water passing through the inside of the cooler 1 is cooled to below freezing (supercooling). The refrigerator 2 is used for cooling the water, and the brine (unfreeze liquid) is supplied to the refrigerator 2 by the brine circulation pump 3.
Is supplied. The water 10 that has reached subcooling is sent into the subcooling releasing device 23.

The supercooling releasing device 23 includes a large-diameter pipe 5 and a small-diameter pipe 4, and water that has reached subcooling in the cooler 1 is first sent into the small-diameter pipe 4, After the flow velocity is increased to 2.7 m / s or more, it is blown out from the nozzle-shaped tip portion 4A (FIG. 2) of the small diameter pipe 4 extended into the large diameter pipe 5. Supercooled water 10 flowing into the large diameter pipe 5
Is phase-changed from water to ice 11 by the phase-change inducing device 7 that changes the supercooled water into ice, and flows into the large-diameter pipe 5 downstream, forming a cotton-like shape (shervet-like or liquid-like). It is transported into the ice storage tank 8 which stores ice 11 and water.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the phase change inducing device 7 is
The small-diameter pipe 4 is installed around the large-diameter pipe 5 on the downstream side of the nozzle-shaped tip portion 4A, but the position of the phase change inducing device 7 can be changed as described later.

In FIG. 1, a bypass pipe 6 is connected from the vicinity of the downstream end of the large-diameter pipe 5 to the periphery of the nozzle-shaped tip portion 4A of the small-diameter pipe 4.
A bypass flow is formed with some water and some ice. The phase change ratio of the supercooled water to ice is determined by the supercooled water temperature, the supercooled water temperature is Tw (° C.), and the latent heat of melting of ice is Q ice (= 79.
6 kcal / kg), (-Tw / Q ice) x 10
It becomes 0 (%). That is, when the supercooled water temperature is -2 ° C,
(2 / 79.6) × 100 = 2.5% of the supercooled water changes into ice. The phase-changed ice is a small ice crystal that floats in water and becomes cotton-like (sherbet-like or liquid-like).

The effect of the bypass flow from the downstream side of the large diameter pipe 5 is to prevent the blockage by ice as shown in FIG. If there is no bypass pipe (Fig. 2A), small-diameter pipe 4
A vortex is formed near the outlet from the nozzle-shaped tip 4A of
The generated small ice gradually accumulates, and finally the accumulated ice 13
Cover the cross section of the large-diameter pipe 5, and eventually cause blockage. When the bypass pipe 6 is provided (FIG. 2B), the nozzle-shaped tip portion from the downstream side of the large-diameter pipe 5 is caused by the pressure difference between the negative pressure around the nozzle-shaped tip portion 4A and the bypass pipe take-out portion pressure on the downstream side of the large-diameter pipe 5. Water and some ice flows in the direction of 4A. The bypass flow prevents the ice generated around the nozzle-shaped tip portion 4A from accumulating, and obstructs the clogging of the pipe with accumulated ice.

The bypass pipe 6 is connected to the large-diameter pipe 5 at one or more places along the circumferential direction of the large-diameter pipe 5 as shown in FIGS. The bypass flow is connected in a spiral shape to the water flow of the supercooled water 10 from so that the bypass flow is formed in the large diameter pipe 5. With this spiral water flow, the water flow of the supercooled water 10 does not directly contact the surface of the large diameter pipe 5, so that it is possible to prevent the accumulation of ice on the inner surface of the large diameter pipe 5.

The phase change inducing device 7 for changing the phase of the supercooled water 10 is installed on the inner wall of the large diameter pipe 5 (FIG. 4A) as shown in FIG. Method for providing a return pipe 14 for releasing supercooling between the upstream side and the downstream side to forcibly generate a bypass flow by the pump P to induce a phase change (FIG. 4B), or to provide it in the middle of the bypass pipe 6. There is a method (FIG. 4C), a method of providing a pump P in the middle of the bypass pipe 6 to induce a phase change and forcibly returning the bypass flow (FIG. 4D).

When the phase change start temperature of the supercooled water 10 is low, the pipe itself is cooled to the phase change start temperature. Therefore, after the phase change starts, ice adheres to the surface of the pipe, and this adhered ice Then, ice that has undergone a phase change from the supercooled water adheres and accumulates, blocking the inside of the pipe. Therefore, in order to cause the phase change of the supercooled water in the closed system, in order to prevent the blockage in the pipe, the supercooled water temperature changes from 0 ° C to -0.5 ° C at the highest supercooled water temperature. Have to wake up. As a method for satisfying this condition, a change in molecular arrangement caused by a cavitation caused by a rotating body (propeller, pump impeller, etc.), a cavitation caused by an ultrasonic oscillator, collision or friction between solids, etc. can be used.

FIG. 5 shows the phase change inducing device 7 as described above.
An example of is shown. FIG. 5A shows a method of driving the rotating shaft 17 by the motor 15 to rotate the propeller 18 at a high speed to generate cavitation and perform a phase change. FIG. 5B is a method in which the tip of the rotary blade 20 is forcibly brought into contact with the inner surface of the cylinder 19 in the cylinder 19 to cause a phase change by solid contact. The relationship between the cylinder 19 and the rotary vane 20 is shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5D. By providing the opening 25 on the wall surface of the cylinder 19, a collision due to solid contact occurs and the effect is further enhanced. Figure 5
C is a method in which the ultrasonic transducer 21 causes cavitation in water to cause a phase change.

When a phase change of supercooled water occurs first due to the action of the phase change inducing device 7, there is ice generated in the large diameter pipe 5, and the bypass pipe 6 causes a small amount of ice from the downstream of the large diameter pipe 5. The generated ice is constantly supplied to the nozzle-shaped tip portion 4A of the caliber pipe 4, and this ice triggers the next phase change. Therefore, the phase change of the supercooled water 10 to the ice causes the phase change inducing device 7
Even if the operation of is stopped, it is continuously performed. That is, if the phase change inducing device 7 functions at the first phase change of supercooled water,
It should be noted that in the subsequent phase change, the generated ice itself becomes ice nuclei and the phase change continues.

[0022]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to freely drop supercooled water, it is possible to install the ice making device even in a place where the vertical height cannot be sufficiently obtained. Will be possible. Further, since the supercooled water is phase-changed into ice in an environment shielded from the atmosphere, deterioration of the pipe due to dissolution of oxygen can be prevented. Further, the produced ice can be transferred to any place by pressure-feeding the inside of the pipe, and its technical effect is extremely remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire ice making system including an ice making apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a flow of ice at a connecting portion between a large diameter pipe and a small diameter pipe.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a large diameter pipe and a bypass pipe.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a position of a phase change inducing device in the supercooling releasing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of a phase change inducing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cooler 2 Refrigerator 3, 9 Pump 4 Small diameter pipe 4A Nozzle tip 5 Large diameter pipe 6 Bypass pipe 7 Phase change inducing device 8 Ice storage tank 10 Supercooled water 11 Ice 13 Accumulated ice 23 Supercooling release device 24 Ice Manufacturing equipment

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 11, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A cooler for cooling water to produce supercooled water,
A supercooling releasing device that eliminates the supercooled state of the generated supercooled water and continuously converts it into a mixture of water and ice is connected so that the water and ice flowing inside them do not come into contact with the atmosphere. An ice making device characterized in that water is continuously converted into a mixture of water and ice in a closed system. 2. The supercooling releasing device includes a large-diameter pipe and a small-diameter pipe, the inlet side of the supercooled water is made of a small-diameter pipe so as to increase the flow velocity in the pipe, and the small-diameter pipe is large. A phase change inducing device that is arranged so as to project in a nozzle shape in the bore tube and that induces a phase change from supercooled water to ice is provided in the large bore tube downstream of the nozzle portion. Item 1. The ice making device according to item 1. 3. A bypass pipe for circulating and flowing water and ice from the vicinity of the downstream end of the large-diameter pipe to around the nozzle-like portion of the small-diameter pipe is connected. 2. The ice making device described in 2. 4. The ice making device according to claim 3, wherein the bypass pipe is connected along the circumferential direction of the large diameter pipe so as to generate a spiral flow along the wall surface in the large diameter pipe. . 5. The supercooling canceling device is made of a small-diameter pipe so that the inlet side of the supercooled water has a large flow velocity in the pipe, and the small-diameter pipe is arranged so as to project like a nozzle into the large-diameter pipe. A bypass pipe for circulating and flowing water and ice from the vicinity of the downstream end of the large-diameter pipe to the periphery of the nozzle-shaped portion of the small-diameter pipe is connected, and the supercooled water is connected to the bypass pipe. The ice making device according to claim 1, further comprising a phase change inducing device that induces a phase change from ice to ice. 6. The ice making device according to claim 2, wherein the phase change inducing device is adapted to induce a phase change by causing a caulk tension in the supercooled water. 7. The ice making device according to claim 2, wherein the phase change inducing device induces a phase change by collision or friction between solids. 8. A return pipe for circulating water and ice from the downstream side to the upstream side of the supercooling releasing device is provided, and a phase change is induced by a pump provided in the middle of the return pipe. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein 9. A phase change is induced by a pump provided in the middle of the bypass pipe.
The ice making device described.