Ice machine with a dual-circuit evaporator for hydrocarbon refrigerant
AssigneeTrue Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorKevin Knatt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ice making machine having a refrigeration system designed for hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, and particularly propane (R-290), that includes dual independent refrigeration systems and a unique evaporator assembly comprising of a single freeze plate attached to two cooling circuits. The serpentines are designed in an advantageous pattern that promotes efficiency by ensuring the even bridging of ice during freezing and minimizing unwanted melting during harvest by providing an even distribution of the heat load. The charge limitations imposed with flammable refrigerants would otherwise prevent large capacity ice maker from being properly charged with a single circuit. The ice making machine includes a single water circuit and control system.
Claims12
A method of harvesting ice from a single freeze plate of an ice maker, the method comprising adjusting a first hot gas valve and a separate second hot gas valve to direct first hot gas to flow along a first portion of the freeze plate and separate second hot gas to flow along a second portion of the freeze plate;
- and simultaneously heating the freeze plate using the first hot gas and the second hot gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.