A heat pump system is disclosed comprising a heat-exchanger extracting latent heat from liquid stored in a reservoir, thereby forming an ice slurry. The heat pump also includes a device for delivering the heat to a heat consumer. The heat pump system includes a random input of extrinsic liquid into the reservoir and a device for removing ice slurry stored in the reservoir outward the system.

A heat pump system is disclosed comprising a heat-exchanger extracting latent heat from liquid stored in a reservoir, thereby forming an ice slurry. The heat pump also includes a device for delivering the heat to a heat consumer. The heat pump system includes a random input of extrinsic liquid into the reservoir and a device for removing ice slurry stored in the reservoir outward the system.

Stand-alone ice making appliances and methods of controlling stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water from the pump. The appliance further includes an off-time detector configured to provide a signal indicative of whether the ice maker has been unpowered for a time period sufficient to begin ice production without overheating.

The invention relates to improvements of a heat exchanger, particularly a scraping heat exchanger having an outer cylinder comprising a first wall having a smooth circle-cylindrical inner side, and an inner cylinder positioned concentrically within it. The improvements regard a simple detachable inner cylinder, a heat exchanger with lid including a fluid barrier, a heat exchanger with a tangential output, and a method and heat exchanger adapted for improved evacuation of a product chamber of a heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger for an ice-making machine comprises a generally cylindrical, tubular body defining a generally cylindrical, internal heat exchange surface, and at least one refrigerant circuit comprising at least one refrigerant passage disposed about the outer surface of the tubular body, at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit being brazed to the outer surface of the tubular body.

A heat exchanger for an ice-making machine comprises a generally cylindrical, tubular body defining a generally cylindrical, internal heat exchange surface, and at least one refrigerant circuit comprising at least one refrigerant passage disposed about the outer surface of the tubular body, at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit being brazed to the outer surface of the tubular body.

The heat exchanger is adapted for cooling a coolant (e.g., water), used to cool a device or an area (e.g., building interior), such as during periods of peak energy cost and usage, to save energy and energy costs. The heat exchanger includes a coolant storage tank with one or more refrigerant circulators in contact with the floor of the tank. The circulators use a refrigerant having a freezing temperature colder than the coolant, with coolant on the floor of the tank forming a layer of ice thereon. A rotary scraper extends up through the tank floor from each circulator, with the scrapers operating to remove the thin layer of ice from the floor as the ice forms. The resulting ice chips are relatively small and thin, thus having a relatively large surface area for their volume in order to maximize melting and rapid cooling of the coolant.

An appliance and method of operation is provided. The appliance may include an outer casing, a user interface, and a controller. The outer casing may define an enclosed volume. The user interface may be mounted to the outer casing to include a light projector and a translucent diffuser disc. The light projector may be positioned within the enclosed volume and include a plurality of discrete segmented light emitting diodes to each selectively emit one or more discrete light emissions. The translucent diffuser disc may be positioned between the light projector and the outer casing. The diffuser disc may include a continuous outer surface aligned with the light projector to display the one or more discrete light emissions as a visually continuous pattern. The controller may be operably connected with the light projector and configured to determine the visually continuous pattern displayed at the continuous outer surface.

Provided is an ice-making device that can be easily miniaturized. The ice-making device includes: a freezing tank 12 that stores brine; and a flake ice making part 15 arranged inside the freezing tank 12 and capable of being immersed in the brine Ws, wherein the flake ice making part 15 includes: a disc part 26 that causes a refrigerant, which is supplied from a freezing machine 14, to circulate therein, the disc part 26 having plate surfaces 26a, 26b that generate ice of the brine Ws; a nozzle part 41 that provides a flow of the brine Ws to the plate surfaces 26a, 26b; and a sweeping part 23 that is displaced with respect to the plate surfaces 26a, 26b to separate the ice generated on the plate surfaces 26a, 26b from the plate surfaces 26a, 26b.

Provided is an ice-making device that can be easily miniaturized. The ice-making device includes: a freezing tank 12 that stores brine; and a flake ice making part 15 arranged inside the freezing tank 12 and capable of being immersed in the brine Ws, wherein the flake ice making part 15 includes: a disc part 26 that causes a refrigerant, which is supplied from a freezing machine 14, to circulate therein, the disc part 26 having plate surfaces 26a, 26b that generate ice of the brine Ws; a nozzle part 41 that provides a flow of the brine Ws to the plate surfaces 26a, 26b; and a sweeping part 23 that is displaced with respect to the plate surfaces 26a, 26b to separate the ice generated on the plate surfaces 26a, 26b from the plate surfaces 26a, 26b.