Investigation into the ice generator with double supercooled heat exchangers

A novel ice generator with double supercooled heat exchangers is introduced for continuous ice generation using supercooled water. When the ice blockage happens in one of the supercooled heat exhcangers, the ice generator can continue to work by switching to another one instead of stopping work, assuring the continuous ice making. The outstanding highlight of this ice generator is that the ice blockage that happened in one of the supercooled heat exchangers can be melted by the hot refrigerant gas without extra heater. In this paper, the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the heat exchanger are simulated by providing guidance for experimental studies. Based on the results of simulation and the theoretical studies, a series of experiments are conducted. Although the ice blockage cannot be thoroughly resolved, the results show that it is a practical and efficient method of ice generation system. This work provides theoretical and experimental basis and is practical for the improvement of ice generator using supercooled water; in addition, the ice blockage is retarded, improving the ice production.