An ice storage amount adjusting system is disclosed. The ice storage amount adjusting system includes a chiller, an air-condition scheduler for outputting a scheduling parameter of an air-conditioner during a first time, an indoor-temperature setting module for outputting indoor-temperature setting condition during the first time, a building exterior-load collecting module for outputting exterior loading factors of a building during the first time, a weather forecasting data collecting module for outputting weather forecasting data during an upcoming second time, and an air-condition loading predictor. The air-condition loading predictor predicts an air-condition loading of the air-conditioner at the second time based on the scheduling parameter, the indoor-temperature setting condition, the exterior loading factors and the weather forecasting data. The chiller adjusts its ice storage amount to reach a target storage demand based on the predicted air-condition loading.

Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of solid production that may include contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The method may include solidifying the second fluid. Some embodiments include a solid production system that may include a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The system may include one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.

An ice-maker (12) provides a weight-sensing ice bin (16) that provides multiple levels of ice measurement thereby allowing improved control strategies that reduce ice making or ice making rate in accordance with anticipated ice usage to eliminate energy costs and the need to discard stale ice cubes. The weight sensor may be an induction sensor where the coil also serves a heating function for defrosting.

An ice making device includes: an ice making part in which an evaporator is incorporated; a refrigerating circuit for ice making including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator, the refrigerating circuit being configured to circulate a refrigerant through the compressor, the condenser, the electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator in this order to produce ice in the ice making part; and a controller configured to increase a circulation amount of the refrigerant in the refrigerating circuit and then reduce the circulation amount in accordance with reduction in a cooling load in the ice making part when receiving an ice making command, and adjust the circulation amount such that a degree of superheat is equal to or lower than 2 C.

A method for building an ice structure includes making a plurality of ice logs and attaching the ice logs together to form a support structure. The support structure may be two or more stories high and may be constructed by freezing the ice logs together.

An ice maker includes an ice maker housing, an ice mold, an ice chute, and an ice stop. The ice mold is mounted to the ice maker to receive a fluid from which an ice piece is formed when the ice maker is used. The ice chute is mounted below the ice mold to receive the ice piece when the ice piece is formed. The ice chute slopes downward from a first edge to a second edge. The ice stop is formed of a sheet of material mounted to extend in a vertical direction. The ice stop is mounted a distance from the second edge of the ice chute such that, when the ice piece exits from the second edge of the ice chute, the ice piece strikes the ice stop.

A method for building an ice structure includes making a plurality of ice logs and attaching the ice logs together to form a support structure. The support structure may be two or more stories high and may be constructed by freezing the ice logs together.

An ice storage amount adjusting system is disclosed. The ice storage amount adjusting system includes a chiller, an air-condition scheduler for outputting a scheduling parameter of an air-conditioner during a first time, an indoor-temperature setting module for outputting indoor-temperature setting condition during the first time, a shell-feature collecting module for outputting shell-loading factors of a building during the first time, a weather forecasting data collecting module for outputting weather forecasting data during an upcoming second time, and an air-condition loading predictor. The air-condition loading predictor predicts an air-condition loading of the air-conditioner at the second time based on the scheduling parameter, the indoor-temperature setting condition, the shell-loading factors and the weather forecasting data. The chiller adjusts its ice storage amount to reach a target storage demand based on the predicted air-condition loading.

A regeneration device for regenerating a coolant dispersion with phase change material includes: a redispersion unit for redispersing the coolant dispersion, the redispersion unit including a restrictor; and a recooling unit that enables freezing of a phase change material by dissipating heat stored in the coolant dispersion. The recooling unit is arranged so that dissipated heat is at least partially recuperated in order to heat up the coolant dispersion to an inlet temperature.

Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of solid production that may include contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The method may include solidifying the second fluid. Some embodiments include a solid production system that may include a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The system may include one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.