Systems and methods are provided for dispensing ice and at least one liquid, and related cleaning processes. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ice bin for storing a quantity of ice particles, a dispensing tube for carrying at least a first liquid, and a discharge chute in communication with a discharge outlet, wherein the discharge chute is disposed upstream of the discharge outlet. An outlet end of the dispensing tube is positioned within a portion of the ice bin at a location aligned above the discharge outlet. The ice particles and the first liquid are dispensed through the discharge outlet separately or at the same time.

An icemaking system includes: a refrigerant circuit that executes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle; a circulation circuit that circulates solution as a cooling target of the refrigerant circuit; and a control device that controls refrigerant evaporation temperature at the refrigerant circuit. The circulation circuit includes a solution flow path of: an ice generator; a solution tank that stores the solution; and a pump that pressure feeds the solution to the solution flow path. The refrigerant circuit includes: an evaporator of the ice generator; a compressor; a condenser; and an expansion valve. The control device includes a central processing unit (CPU) that adjusts to lower evaporation temperature at the evaporator as the solution has higher solute concentration.

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 method for controlling an operation of an ice-making machine configured to make ice by cooling a medium to be cooled, through heat exchange with a refrigerant. The method includes increasing an evaporation temperature of the refrigerant to be supplied to the ice-making machine when a drive current for an ice scraper of the ice-making machine is more than a first current value.

A method and apparatus to create falling snow for use at ski resorts, theme parks and test and training facilities for use with drones, motor vehicles, autonomous vehicles and aircraft components.

An ice making device and a method of making ice. A plurality of passages for refrigerant, preferably, multi-component refrigerant, is in thermal communication with a freezing surface, for example in an outer shell surrounding a body. The passages each include an inlet and an outlet. The inlet for a passage may be disposed approximately 180° from the outlet for that passage. The outlet for the passages may form the inlet for the subsequent passage. The size of the outlets may be smaller than a cross-sectional size of the passage. As the refrigerant moves through the passages, water on the freezing surfaces will freeze and form ice. A blade will scrape the ice off.

An icemaking system includes a circulation circuit configured to circulate icemaking solution, at least one icemaker provided in the circulation circuit, a cooling mechanism, a first detector and an adjuster. The icemaker includes a cooling chamber and a scraping mechanism. The cooling chamber has an inflow port and an exhaust port of solution, and the cooling chamber allows the solution to flow in the cooling chamber. The scraping mechanism scrapes ice generated on an inner surface of the cooling chamber. The cooling mechanism cools the solution in the cooling chamber. The first detector detects whether the inflow port of the cooling chamber has an ice nucleus. The adjuster adjusts a cooling temperature of the solution in accordance with a detection result of the first detector.

An icemaking system includes a circulation circuit configured to circulate icemaking solution, at least one icemaker provided in the circulation circuit, a cooling mechanism, a first detector and an adjuster. The icemaker includes a cooling chamber and a scraping mechanism. The cooling chamber has an inflow port and an exhaust port of solution, and the cooling chamber allows the solution to flow in the cooling chamber. The scraping mechanism scrapes ice generated on an inner surface of the cooling chamber. The cooling mechanism cools the solution in the cooling chamber. The first detector detects whether the inflow port of the cooling chamber has an ice nucleus. The adjuster adjusts a cooling temperature of the solution in accordance with a detection result of the first detector.

To provide a food freezing device, a food freezing method, and a frozen food with which an eating quality as before quickly frozen can be obtained even when foods such as cooked rice foods and noodles are quickly frozen.

A food freezing device 400 of the present invention includes: a freezing tank 410 that stores an ice slurry S in a state of being maintained at equal to or less than −10° C.; a hanger 431 that holds an α-starch-containing frozen food F in the ice slurry S stored in the freezing tank 410; an ice slurry supply means (420, 450, 456, and 300) for supplying the ice slurry into the freezing tank 410; and a flow means (130) for causing the ice slurry to flow such that the ice slurry S collides with the frozen food F at equal to or greater than a predetermined relative speed. The frozen food F is a cooked rice food such as nigiri sushi or noodles such as udon noodles that contain a large amount of α-starch.

To provide a food freezing device, a food freezing method, and a frozen food with which an eating quality as before quickly frozen can be obtained even when foods such as cooked rice foods and noodles are quickly frozen.

A food freezing device 400 of the present invention includes: a freezing tank 410 that stores an ice slurry S in a state of being maintained at equal to or less than −10° C.; a hanger 431 that holds an α-starch-containing frozen food F in the ice slurry S stored in the freezing tank 410; an ice slurry supply means (420, 450, 456, and 300) for supplying the ice slurry into the freezing tank 410; and a flow means (130) for causing the ice slurry to flow such that the ice slurry S collides with the frozen food F at equal to or greater than a predetermined relative speed. The frozen food F is a cooked rice food such as nigiri sushi or noodles such as udon noodles that contain a large amount of α-starch.