Simulation and Optimization of Refrigerant Side of Ice Mold Evaporator in Direct Cooling Ice Maker

Quantitative research on the industrial application of direct cooling ice makers is limited, resulting in a lack of clarity in control mechanisms and inadequate heat transfer capability and uniformity in ice making. A mathematical model focusing on the refrigerant side of the ice mold evaporator was established, and a MATLAB simulation model was used to analyze the changes in heat transfer and flow parameters in the flow direction throughout the ice-making process, with comparisons drawn between the experimental data and the simulation results. The heat transfer rate before water icing was approximately 30% higher than that after water icing, and the refrigerant flow rates were significantly different. The heat flux in the superheat region decreased by 40.9% compared to that in the two-phase region, and reducing the superheat section can significantly enhance heat transfer and improve temperature uniformity. The thermal resistances of the water and ice sides accounted for 93.4% and 91.7% of the total resistance, respectively. Thus, the heat transfer of the water side or ice side should first be improved to optimize heat transfer. The simulation model can predict the change in the flow rate and simulate the superheat section, which provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design and operation control of an ice-making machine and helps to improve the product performance and accelerate the ice-making process.