Product/Invention (Ice Maker Machine)

Name of Student

Institution Affiliation

This paper brings about an investigation of an ice maker machine as a new invention. An ice maker machine involves a technology that can be incorporated to a home freezer; could be a stand-alone appliance or it can be an industrial machine used to make ice. Usually, an ice maker machine is a stand-alone appliance for making ice. Typically, there are various categories of ice maker machines. The major two categories include tube ice maker machines and block ice maker machine. The latter includes the direct refrigeration ice-maker machine, as an example, which is described and discussed in this paper.

The history of ice maker machines is attributed to the invention of artificial refrigeration. William Cullen initiated and demonstrated the innovation at the University of Glasgow back in 1748 (Bellis, 2014). John Gorrie then developed and built a refrigerator in 1844 using Oliver Evan’s design. Later in 1853, a US Patent 10221 was awarded to Alexander Twining for an ice maker. The first perfect ice making machine was built by Andrew Muhl in 1867 in San Antonio. This machine was meant to assist in servicing the beef industry, which was by then expanding. The first commercial ice maker machines were produced after the ice maker patent was contracted by Columbus Iron Works in 1873 (Woolrich & Clark, 2010). The concept of refrigeration has today contributed to the development of more advanced ice maker machines.

Problems associated with the preservation of food products like meat, fruits, and drinks contributed to the invention of refrigeration, whose concept is used in ice maker machines. Besides, the need to take in cold drinks and ice products like ice creams has contributed to the advancement of the invention (Bellis, 2014). The need to fulfill the demand of ice by people for human consumption in general is the nevertheless the key idea behind the development and advancement of the technology (Focusun Technology, 2014). Direct refrigeration block ice-maker machine is as a result of this advancement.

The direct refrigeration block ice-maker machine is an ice maker machine that produces ice blocks within its aluminum evaporator (Focusun Technology, 2014). In this machine, aluminum material is a key requirement when building the ice maker machine. The ice maker machine is usually made of aluminum material because of its hygienic advantages. Besides, the expectance use of aluminum is extendable because of its metallic property of being rust resistance (Focusun Technology, 2014).

The direct refrigeration block ice-maker machine has a number of features that enhance its operations of ice making. It has a conveying system of pneumatics crawler, which maximizes the protection of ice blocks when harvesting the ice products. It has also special aluminum of aerospace technology level that is outstandingly durable and totally compliant with the required standards of food hygiene. As abovementioned, the use of aluminum as opposed to other metal material like iron or steel is to enhance food hygiene and ensure durability. The system further has a bitzer compressor that offers a high compressing power as well as guaranteeing the production of the ice within the shortest time possible. The same aspect ensures that power consumption is maintained as low as possible (Focusun Technology, 2014).

This ice maker machine uses a technology that has a proven performance that has already been secured by top global brands. Regarding the module design, the entire set is made up of a machine unit module, an evaporator module, and a cooling tower module. It is generally designed in such a way that both shipping and installation are easy (Focusun Technology, 2014).

One of the key parameters considered when designing and making the direct refrigeration block ice maker machine is temperature. The key aspects defining temperature in this case include ambient temperature and water inlet temperature which are usually 35o Celsius and 20o Celsius respectively. Operating power is another key parameter and includes the total running power, installment power, and cold water pump operating power, whose measurement is typically 2.055 Kw, 2.5 Kw, and 0.09 Kw respectively (Focusun Technology, 2014). The other important parameters are the compressor, the condenser, working time, and its dimensions. The compressor parameter involves aspects like refrigeration capacity, operating power, and horse power. The condenser involves consideration of the fan power and the cooling way. On the other hand, the working time refers to the ice making time and the ice falling time. Its dimensions are essential and include block ice weight, ice maker size, and the size of the pipe feeding water into the machine (Focusun Technology, 2014). The parameters are critical when designing this kind of an ice maker machine.

References

Bellis, M. (2014). The History of the Refrigerator and Freezers. Retrieved from About.com: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blrefrigerator.htm

Focusun Technology. (2014). Direct refrigeration block ice machine. Retrieved from howstuffworks.com/search.php?terms=ice+maker+machine&x=0&y=0: http://www.chinaicemachine.com/block-ice-machine/direct/

Woolrich, W. R., & Clark, C. T. (2010, June 15). REFRIGERATION. Retrieved from Texas State Historical Association : http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/dqr01