Pre-chiller System for Ice Making Apparatus

Abstract

A pre-chiller for an ice making system. The pre-chiller provides a coiled conductive tube mounted in an ice storage bin. Water flows through the tube and is chilled by the tube that is cold as a result of heat exchange from the ice in the ice storage bin. This chilled water is then delivered to the water inlet of the refrigeration system. The lower temperature of the chilled water compared to the typical ambient temperature of the water delivered to the refrigeration system lowers the power consumption of the refrigeration system and increases its efficiency.

1 . An ice making system for producing ice wherein said ice making system comprises:
 a refrigeration system for producing ice;   a water inlet on said refrigeration system for receiving water for producing ice;   a storage bin for storing the ice; and   a pre-chiller mounted inside of said storage bin and connected to said water inlet so that ice stored in said storage bin cools water flowing through said pre-chiller.   
   
   
       2 . The ice making system of  claim 1  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 a tube formed of a conductive material.   
   
   
       3 . The ice making system of  claim 1  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 a conductive tube formed in a series of coils.   
   
   
       4 . The ice making system of  claim 1  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 a conductive tube formed in a series of coils; and   an insulative material surrounding the surfaces of said conductive tube that are in direct contact with a surface of said storage bin.   
   
   
       5 . The ice making system of  claim 1  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 said conductive tube is sealed within a sanitary container to prevent contamination of the ice from said pre-chiller.   
   
   
       6 . The ice making system of  claim 1  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 said conductive tube is mounted adjacent a surface of said ice storage bin outside side said storage bin.   
   
   
       7 . A pre-chiller unit for providing chilled water to an ice making system having a refrigeration unit and an ice storage bin, said pre-chiller unit comprises:
 a water inlet for receiving water from a supply;   a conductive tube connected to said water inlet and mounted in said ice storage bin so that water flowing through said conductive tube from said water inlet is chilled from heat exchange between the water and ice stored in said ice storage bin; and   a water outlet connected to said conductive tube for transporting the chilled water to said refrigeration unit.   
   
   
       8 . The pre-chiller unit of  claim 7  wherein said conductive tube includes:
 a series of coils.   
   
   
       9 . The pre-chiller unit of  claim 7  wherein said conductive tube includes:
 a series of coils that are mounted in direct contact with a surface of said storage bin; and   an insulative material surrounding the surfaces of said conductive tube that are in direct contact with a surface of said storage bin.   
   
   
       10 . The pre-chiller of  claim 7  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 said conductive tube is sealed within a sanitary container to prevent contamination of the ice from said pre-chiller.   
   
   
       11 . The ice making system of  claim 7  wherein said pre-chiller includes:
 said conductive tube is mounted adjacent a surface of said ice storage bin outside side said storage bin.   
   
   
       12 . A method for increasing the efficiency of an ice making system having a refrigeration unit and ice storage bin, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tube formed of a conductive material;   mounting said tube inside of the ice storage bin;   supplying water through said tube so that the water is chilled by the heat exchange between the water and ice stored in the ice storage bin; and   delivering the chilled water from said tube to the refrigeration unit so that the refrigeration system is not required to freeze ambient temperature water.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 insulating the portions of said tube in contact with the ice storage bin.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 providing said tube in a series of coils to increase the surface area of said tube in the ice storage bin.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 insulating the portions of said tube in contact with the ice storage bin; and   providing said tube in a series of coils to increase the surface area of said tube in contact with the ice storage bin.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 mounting said tube in a sanitary container inside of the storage bin.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 mounting said tube on an exterior surface of the storage bin.