Ice-making device and ice-making method

Abstract

Provided is an ice-making device that can be easily miniaturized. The ice-making device includes: a freezing tank 12 that stores brine; and a flake ice making part 15 arranged inside the freezing tank 12 and capable of being immersed in the brine Ws, wherein the flake ice making part 15 includes: a disc part 26 that causes a refrigerant, which is supplied from a freezing machine 14 , to circulate therein, the disc part 26 having plate surfaces 26 a, 26 b that generate ice of the brine Ws; a nozzle part 41 that provides a flow of the brine Ws to the plate surfaces 26 a, 26 b ; and a sweeping part 23 that is displaced with respect to the plate surfaces 26 a, 26 b to separate the ice generated on the plate surfaces 26 a, 26 b from the plate surfaces 26 a, 26 b.

1 . An ice-making device comprising:
 an ice slurry production tank storing brine; and   an ice production unit arranged inside the ice slurry production tank, the ice production unit being able to be immersed in the brine, wherein   the ice production unit includes:   an ice-making plate circulating refrigerant, which is supplied by a freezing machine, inside thereof and including an ice-making surface, which generates ice of the brine on at least one surface thereof;   a flow forming unit providing a flow of the brine to the ice-making surface; and   a sweeping unit being displaced with respect to the ice-making surface to separate ice generated on the ice-making surface from the ice-making surface.   
     
     
         2 . The ice-making device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sweeping unit is arranged in a driving unit rotating or rotatively reciprocating with respect to the ice-making surface. 
     
     
         3 . The ice-making device according to  claim 2 , wherein the ice production unit further includes a holding unit holding at least the ice-making plate and the driving unit in one piece. 
     
     
         4 . The ice-making device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the sweeping unit has water-repellent coating. 
     
     
         5 . An ice-making device comprising:
 an ice-making unit contacting brine;   a first refrigerant path formed to pass through the ice-making unit and capable of causing a first refrigerant to flow; and   a second refrigerant path formed to pass through the ice-making unit and capable of causing a second refrigerant, which has an evaporation temperature lower than that of the first refrigerant, to flow, wherein   the second refrigerant cools the ice-making unit cooled by the first refrigerant.   
     
     
         6 . The ice-making device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the ice-making unit is immersed in the brine.   
     
     
         7 . The ice-making device according to  claim 5 , wherein a pressure of the second refrigerant having been vaporized provides fluidity to the second refrigerant. 
     
     
         8 . The ice-making device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a sweeping unit being displaced with respect to an ice-making surface of the ice-making unit to separate ice generated on the ice-making surface from the ice-making surface, wherein   at least part of the sweeping unit has water-repellent coating.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An ice-making method performed using an ice-making device including an ice-making unit contacting brine, a first refrigerant path formed to pass through the ice-making unit and capable of causing a first refrigerant to flow, and a second refrigerant path formed to pass through the ice-making unit and capable of causing a second refrigerant, which has an evaporation temperature lower than an evaporation temperature of the first refrigerant, to flow, the ice-making method comprising:
 cooling the ice-making unit by the second refrigerant after cooling the ice-making unit by the first refrigerant.   
     
     
         11 . An ice-making device comprising:
 an ice slurry production tank storing brine; and   an ice production unit arranged inside the ice slurry production tank, the ice production unit being able to contact the brine, wherein   the ice production unit includes:   an ice-making plate having an ice-making surface; and   a sweeping unit being displaced with respect to the ice-making surface to separate ice generated on the ice-making surface from the ice-making surface, wherein   at least part of the sweeping unit has water-repellent coating.   
     
     
         12 . The ice-making device according to  claim 11 , wherein the ice-making plate is supported by a support unit arranged in the ice slurry production tank, the support unit being detachably attached to the ice slurry production tank. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The ice-making device according to  claim 11 , wherein the ice slurry production tank includes a stirring device to stir ice slurry produced in the ice slurry production tank. 
     
     
         16 . An ice-making method using an ice-making device including an ice slurry production tank storing brine, and an ice production unit arranged inside the ice slurry production tank, the ice production unit being able to contact the brine, the ice production unit including an ice-making plate with an ice-making surface and a sweeping unit being displaced with respect to the ice-making surface to separate ice generated on the ice-making surface from the ice-making surface, the ice-making method comprising:
 separating the ice from the ice-making surface by displacing the sweeping unit, at least part of which has water-repellent coating.