The refrigeration principle of the tube ice machine is based on the evaporative cooling cycle, which absorbs heat through the phase change process of the refrigerant in the evaporator, causing water to freeze into tube shaped ice cubes in a specially designed mold. The core refrigeration cycle includes four key processes: evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion, as follows:
Evaporation process: Low pressure liquid refrigerant absorbs surrounding heat in the evaporator and changes from liquid to gas. This process lowers the temperature of the evaporator, providing a low-temperature environment for water to freeze. The evaporator of the tube ice machine is composed of multiple vertically parallel steel pipes, and water is evenly sprayed into the inner wall of the steel pipes through the top guide vane, forming a water film. The water film gradually cools down after coming into contact with the inner wall of the low-temperature steel pipe, and eventually freezes into an ice layer on the inner wall of the pipe.
Compression process: The compressor compresses low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-temperature and high-pressure gas. This process increases the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant, providing energy for the subsequent condensation process. The compressor, as the core power source of the tube ice machine, ensures the continuous circulation of refrigerant in the system.
Condensation process: High temperature and high pressure gaseous refrigerant releases heat through the condenser and condenses into medium temperature and high pressure liquid refrigerant. The condenser usually adopts a finned structure, which discharges the heat of the refrigerant through air or water cooling to achieve gas-liquid phase transition.
Expansion process: The liquid refrigerant is depressurized through an expansion valve or throttle valve, returning to a low-temperature and low-pressure state. This process significantly reduces the temperature of the refrigerant, preparing for the next round of evaporation and heat absorption. The expansion valve maintains a stable low-temperature environment inside the evaporator by precisely controlling the refrigerant flow rate.
The complete process of the tube ice machine cooling cycle:
The refrigerant absorbs heat from water in the evaporator, causing the water to freeze into ice tubes;
The gaseous refrigerant is compressed by the compressor and enters the condenser for heat dissipation;
The liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator again after being depressurized by the expansion valve, forming a continuous cycle.
When the thickness of the ice tube reaches the set value, the system stops supplying water and uses high-temperature and high-pressure gas or electric heating elements to separate the ice tube from the inner wall of the steel pipe. Then, the ice cutting mechanism cuts the ice tube into the set length to complete the ice making process.
The unique advantages of the refrigeration principle of tube ice machine:
Efficient heat exchange: The inner wall of the steel pipe is in direct contact with the water film, maximizing heat conduction efficiency and shortening ice making time.
Energy saving design: By optimizing the compressor power and condenser heat dissipation efficiency, the energy consumption per unit of ice making is reduced.
Automated control: Integrating components such as liquid level sensors and temperature controllers to achieve automatic operation of the entire process of ice making, de icing, and cutting.
Excellent quality of ice cubes: The tubular structure makes the contact area of ice cubes small and has strong resistance to melting, making it suitable for scenarios such as beverage preparation and food preservation.
