16
This area corresponds to the energy on ice. Making these different areas into one can
equalize the dimple size.
To calculate the energy required for ice production, the actual ice production area under
0°C in the evaporator temperature curve is approximated into a triangle.
This area can be calculated by
Time x temperature ÷ 2
Therefore,
Energy required for ice production = time x temperature ÷ 2
Time
Temperature
0°C
Freeze cycle time (min)
Evaporator temp
(°C)
Time x temp ÷ 2
Providing the calculated energy to icemaking water can produce ice with fixed dimple
size not affected by ambient conditions.
Actually, after the evaporator temperature becomes 0°C, the icemaker adds thermistor
sensed temperature every second and continues ice production until the energy value
calculated above (target freeze completion value) is reached.
To have stable ice production, it is necessary to calculate icemaking energy internally
with the microprocessor. This energy calculation requires not just temperature but also
time as shown in the above graph.
For this reason, both temperature and time are used to determine freeze completion.
