Systems and methods for making ice

Abstract

A cross-connected refrigeration system includes a first refrigeration subsystem and a second refrigeration subsystem that are fluidly coupled by a header, each of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem including a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, and a heating loop including an electrically-controlled valve, and the evaporator, and a header connection that connects the refrigeration loops and the heating loops of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem to a common header, respectively. The compressor in the first refrigeration subsystem is selectively deactivated and the electrically-controlled valve in the first refrigeration subsystem is selectively opened such that compressed gas from the compressor in the second refrigeration subsystem enters the heating loop of the first refrigeration subsystem and heats the evaporator of the first refrigeration subsystem.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of freezing and collecting a frozen substance using a cross-connected refrigeration system including a first refrigeration subsystem and a second refrigeration subsystem that are connected by a common header, the method comprising:
 compressing a refrigerant in the second refrigeration subsystem;   deactivating a compressor in the first refrigeration subsystem; and   opening an electrically-controlled valve in the first refrigeration subsystem such that compressed refrigerant from the second refrigeration subsystem enters an evaporator of the first refrigeration subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigeration subsystem includes a heating loop check valve and a refrigeration loop check valve, and an opening setpoint of the heating loop check valve is lower than an opening setpoint of the refrigeration loop check valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the opening setpoint of the heating loop check valve is half the opening setpoint of the refrigeration loop check valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-controlled valve is a solenoid-controlled valve. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor in the first refrigeration subsystem is deactivated and the electrically-controlled valve in the first refrigeration subsystem is opened based on an amount of ice in thermal communication with the evaporator of the first refrigeration subsystem. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the frozen substance is ice. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem comprising:
 a refrigeration loop comprising:   a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator; and   a heating loop comprising:
 an electrically-controlled valve, and the evaporator; and 
 a header connection that connects the refrigeration loops and the heating loops of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem to a common header, respectively, wherein 
   the compressor in the first refrigeration subsystem is selectively deactivated and the electrically-controlled valve in the first refrigeration subsystem is selectively opened such that compressed gas from the compressor in the second refrigeration subsystem enters the heating loop of the first refrigeration subsystem and heats the evaporator of the first refrigeration subsystem.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the evaporator comprises a refrigeration system side and an external side and the external side is in thermal communication with water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compressor and the electrically-controlled valve in either of the first refrigeration subsystem or the second refrigeration subsystem deactivate and open, respectively, based on an amount of ice formed by the evaporator of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the heating loops of both of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem include a heating loop check valve; and   the refrigeration loops of both of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem include a refrigeration loop check valve, wherein   the heating loop check valve has a lower opening setpoint than the refrigeration loop check valve.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the refrigeration loops in both of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem include a receiver and a subcooler.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a liquid manifold couples the refrigeration loops of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrically-controlled valve in the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem is a solenoid-controlled valve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the refrigeration loop in any of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem includes an interchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem are coupled to a package transfer system, the package transfer system further comprising:
 an intake hopper attached to an opening of a bag;   a conveyor;   a lifting tray; and   a pusher, wherein   the substance is configured to be positioned to drop from the evaporator into the bag attached to the intake hopper when frozen, and   the conveyor moves the bag to the lifting tray where the bag is lifted and pushed by the pusher into a storage freezer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-connected refrigeration system and the package transfer system are housed in a container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cross-connected refrigeration system is selectively positionable outside of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein when the cross-connected refrigeration system is positioned outside the container, the package transfer system moves the bag into a void left by the cross-connected refrigeration system in the container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the container includes an exterior shell that is lined with an insulating material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the insulating material is polyurethane foam.