A method may include selecting a first set of values for a first set of parameters of one or more hardware components of an ice-making machine; identifying a water temperature at a water inlet of the ice-making machine; identifying an ambient air temperature surrounding the ice-making machine; calculating a second set of parameters of the ice-making machine based on at least a portion of the first set of values, the water temperature and the ambient temperature, the second set of parameters corresponding to operation of the ice-making machine in a freeze mode in which liquid water is cooled by an evaporator; and calculating a third set of parameters based on at least a portion of the first set of values, the water temperature and the ambient temperature, the third set of parameters corresponding to operation of the ice-making machine in a harvest mode.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

Provided are a refrigerator and an energy-saving control method and apparatus therefor. The refrigerator includes an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice discharge electric motor (1), an ice storage bin (2) and an ice storage bin position switch (3). The method includes: detecting and determining that the ice storage bin (2) is in a full ice state; controlling the ice maker so that same stops making ice, and acquiring the state of at least one of the ice discharge electric motor (1) and the ice storage bin position switch (3); and according to the state of at least one of the ice discharge electric motor (1) and the ice storage bin position switch (3), determining that the ice maker needs to do heating and ice detection actions.

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.

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 method may include selecting a first set of values for a first set of parameters of one or more hardware components of an ice-making machine; identifying a water temperature at a water inlet of the ice-making machine; identifying an ambient air temperature surrounding the ice-making machine; calculating a second set of parameters of the ice-making machine based on at least a portion of the first set of values, the water temperature and the ambient temperature, the second set of parameters corresponding to operation of the ice-making machine in a freeze mode in which liquid water is cooled by an evaporator; and calculating a third set of parameters based on at least a portion of the first set of values, the water temperature and the ambient temperature, the third set of parameters corresponding to operation of the ice-making machine in a harvest mode.

Provided is an ice-making machine, and more particularly, an ice-making machine capable of preventing slush from being formed. The ice-making machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an ice-making water storage for storing ice-making water therein; an evaporator for making the ice-making water into ice by receiving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage; a pump for moving the ice-making water stored in the ice-making water storage to the evaporator; a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water storage; and a control unit for controlling water to be supplied into the ice-making water storage at a predetermined time point after the pump is operated, wherein the predetermined time point is any one of a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches a second temperature when the temperature sensor reaches the second temperature, which is lower than a first temperature, within a first time after reaching the first temperature, a time point at which the temperature sensor reaches the first temperature and the first time passes when the temperature sensor does not reach the second temperature within the first time after reaching the first temperature, and a time point at which a second time passes after the pump is operated when the temperature sensor does not reach the first temperature within the second time, which is longer than the first time, after the pump is operated.

A system for producing clear ice uses sensor data on a freezing chamber condition to optimize production of clear ice. The sensor data provides information such as a clearness degree of ice, a freezing chamber temperature, and an ice maker temperature. The freezing chamber condition is predicated using the received sensor data. The freezing chamber condition is adjusted according to the received sensor data and the predicted freezing chamber condition.