Inventive surfaces, and methods of using the same, are provided that exhibit improved water collection and frost formation properties over prior art surfaces. The inventive surfaces have a plurality of nanosized recessed areas formed therein. The geometries and patterns of the recessed areas are particularly designed to discourage water droplet coalescence on the surfaces. Due to these designs, the surfaces are capable of forming and maintaining smaller, as well as asymmetrical, droplets on the surfaces. As a result, a greater surface area of the inventive surfaces can be covered by water droplets, thereby increasing water recovery. In addition, the smaller, asymmetrical droplets lead to desirable frost layer characteristics under non-cryogenic freezing conditions.

Inventive surfaces, and methods of using the same, are provided that exhibit improved water collection and frost formation properties over prior art surfaces. The inventive surfaces have a plurality of nanosized recessed areas formed therein. The geometries and patterns of the recessed areas are particularly designed to discourage water droplet coalescence on the surfaces. Due to these designs, the surfaces are capable of forming and maintaining smaller, as well as asymmetrical, droplets on the surfaces. As a result, a greater surface area of the inventive surfaces can be covered by water droplets, thereby increasing water recovery. In addition, the smaller, asymmetrical droplets lead to desirable frost layer characteristics under non-cryogenic freezing conditions.

An apparatus for generating and storing in a tank 22 a flowable slush 2 of frozen particles usable inter alia in Ice Pigging™ includes a control system 100 which is arranged to monitor an operating parameter OP of an agitator 23 in the storage tank. The control system initiates a slush comminution and separation or dewatering cycle when a control parameter CP based on the operating parameter OP reaches a threshold value CPt. The control parameter may represent a cumulative energy input to the storage tank 22. Comminution may be performed prior to separation, with the treatment cycle being terminated when a sensed rheometric parameter RP of the slush circulating in the treatment flowpath reaches a target value RPt.

An apparatus for generating and storing in a tank 22 a flowable slush 2 of frozen particles usable inter alia in Ice Pigging™ includes a control system 100 which is arranged to monitor an operating parameter OP of an agitator 23 in the storage tank. The control system initiates a slush comminution and separation or dewatering cycle when a control parameter CP based on the operating parameter OP reaches a threshold value CPt. The control parameter may represent a cumulative energy input to the storage tank 22. Comminution may be performed prior to separation, with the treatment cycle being terminated when a sensed rheometric parameter RP of the slush circulating in the treatment flowpath reaches a target value RPt.

Provided herein are methods of diagnosing an electronic device having an ice making function, the method comprising: receiving, by a server, data related to water supply and ice making from the electronic device; based on receiving the data, checking, by the server, one or more of water pressure state, an ice making state, or an ice usage state of the electronic device; based on the checked state, diagnosing, by the server, the electronic device to be in a low water pressure state or an insufficient water supply state; and based on the diagnosis, activating, by the server, a repair-inspection service for the electronic device, or providing a notification service to a user terminal corresponding to the electronic device.

Provided herein are methods of diagnosing an electronic device having an ice making function, the method comprising: receiving, by a server, data related to water supply and ice making from the electronic device; based on receiving the data, checking, by the server, one or more of water pressure state, an ice making state, or an ice usage state of the electronic device; based on the checked state, diagnosing, by the server, the electronic device to be in a low water pressure state or an insufficient water supply state; and based on the diagnosis, activating, by the server, a repair-inspection service for the electronic device, or providing a notification service to a user terminal corresponding to the electronic device.

The present disclosure relates to a management server for an ice maker that includes: a communicator configured to receive (i) operation information on extraction of ice stored in the ice maker and (ii) sensing information on an amount of the ice stored in the ice maker; and a controller configured, based on (i) the received operation information and sensing information in a first time section and (ii) the received operation information and sensing information in a second time section after the first time section, to determine whether the ice stored in the ice maker is clumped in the second time section.

An ice making system includes: a refrigerant circuit that performs a vapor compression refrigeration cycle and that includes a compressor, a condenser that condenses refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a first expansion valve with an adjustable opening degree that decompresses the refrigerant from the condenser, a flooded evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the first expansion valve, and a superheater that imparts a degree of superheating to the refrigerant discharged from the flooded evaporator; a circulation circuit that circulates a medium that is cooled by the flooded evaporator; and a control device that controls the adjustable opening degree of the first expansion valve such that the superheater imparts to the refrigerant discharged from the flooded evaporator a degree of superheating at which dryness of the refrigerant is kept within a predetermined range of less than 1.

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator case, a freezer case disposed below the refrigerator case, a door disposed at a front of the refrigerator case, an ice maker disposed at the door, an evaporator disposed at a rear of the freezer case, an ice maker supply duct supplying the cold air to the ice maker, and an ice maker return duct supplying the cold air from the ice maker to the freezer compartment. An upper portion of the ice maker return duct extends from a rear of one side surface of the freezer case to a front of one side surface of the refrigerator case, a lower portion of the ice maker return duct extends in a vertical direction from the rear of one side surface of the freezer case, and the lower portion bends from the upper portion toward the other side surface of the freezer case.