Ice Machine Control System: Optimization in Ice Thickness Production

摘要

This paper describes a new control system method that optimizes the production of ice making by controlling when to harvest the ice at the ideal point thus yielding uniform ice cube thickness, minimizing machine cycle time, and maximizing machine performance. The major challenge in controlling ice-making machines is the ability to consistently guarantee that the ice cubes are produced in a tightly controlled range. If harvested too late the ice is too thick and the cubes bind together. If the harvest is too early the cubes may not bind to each other and fail to fall from the cuber in one piece. This new control system uses a temperature measurement device that, regardless of ambient temperature, optimizes the harvest when the thickness of the ice is optimal.