| 摘要 |
The invention makes a solid block or blocks of ice, stores the ice where it is made, and when needed consumes the ice as a heat sink for cooling or refrigeration. The invention is directed at the market for reduction of peak electric loads, by making ice at night when electric rates are low and ambient temperatures cool, and using the ice for cooling during the day in periods of high temperatures and high electric rates. Ice is made/consumed by direct contact with the cooled/heated surface, giving high heat transfer rates and efficiency. The basic concept is expressed in a number of embodiments, allowing for a variety of uses in small to extremely large applications. |
| 主权项 |
1. A machine which
a. Generates ice by means of a generating surface cooled by Freon or other refrigerant, which generating surface is repetitively detached a short distance from the previously frozen ice by separating the generating surface and the frozen ice at a shallow angle relative to the generating surface, which separation opens a gap between the generating surface and the previously frozen ice, which gap is simultaneously filled with water which immediately freezes, and by such repetitive action generates a block of solid ice, and b. stores the ice in situ, for later use, and c. when cooling is needed, consumes the ice by redirecting the flow of refrigerant such that the machine receives warm refrigerant from, for example, the heat exchanger of an air conditioning system or the condenser of a refrigeration system, uses the warm refrigerant to warm the generating surface, and forces the warm generating surface against the ice, thereby quickly and efficiently melting the ice and cooling the refrigerant, which refrigerant is then returned for use in the air conditioning or refrigeration system, and which d. incorporates sensors and controls, as necessary, in order to interface with the air conditioning or refrigeration system to which it is attached and to maximize the efficiency of the total system. |
