Commercial ice machines have come a long way since John Gorrie first created them in 1845! These days, most new commercial ice makers have all sorts of features to give users the best experience. For example, one of the most common lines of ice machines Easy Ice uses, the Manitowoc NXT series, comes with features like a digital display, production scheduling, and more.
While these advancements are helpful, they are not central to how ice makers work. Despite the advancements in ice machine functions, the refrigeration cycle and the ice-making process have remained relatively unchanged since it was first designed. To understand how an ice maker works, we need to learn how a refrigeration system works.
Easy Ice has managed over 33,000 ice machines and counting. We understand how ice makers work, and how to keep them running well. Here is a high-level explanation of how an ice maker work from the experts!
How Does an Ice Machine Work? How You Get Your Ice Cubes
The process behind how ice cubes make their way to your ice tray is fascinating and relies on several key components. Having on-demand ice cubes for your drinks is possible thanks to the wonders of electricity and mechanical engineering, which have given us the four key components of a freezer.
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Whether we're talking about commercial-grade modular or self contained ice machines like Easy Ice provides or the refrigerator in your home's ice maker, the fundamental processes of all ice machines are the same.
Modern refrigeration systems consist of four major components. Not counting external parts like the power supply or water supply, the core of a refrigerator-freezer is the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve (TXV), and the evaporator.
Refrigerant circulates through each of these ice machine components thanks to the fan motor changing the ambient temperature throughout the interior. Because of the localized low temperature, even warm water gradually freezes.
However, all of these components need to be working properly. If even one falters, you'll be stuck with an empty ice bin and have to break out the ice molds. Commercial ice makers need regular maintenance if you want to keep up a steady supply of ice cubes.
Again, if any of these components fail, your machine will not perform to specifications. In many instances, industrial ice makers will start producing fewer ice cubes. Leave it a little longer, and there won't be enough ice to meet customer demands. In some cases, the ice machine will even stop making ice altogether or begin leaking water. For this reason, caring for these components through routine maintenance and cleaning is a top priority.
At Easy Ice, our ice machines receive at least two preventive maintenance and cleaning visits per year to ensure these vital components stay in the best working order.
The Role of Ice Machine Refrigerant
Refrigerant is vital to the function of an ice machine. Modern refrigeration systems use some form of refrigerant to get water cold enough to freeze with mechanisms capable of releasing and absorbing heat.
Throughout the refrigerant’s journey, it heats and cools. During the heating and cooling cycles, the refrigerant changes physical states, from liquid to a vapor and back to a liquid again. This is part how the interior loses heat, which is what makes the ice-making cycle possible.
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By the time the refrigerant reaches the evaporator, it should be in the form of a low-pressure, low-temperature liquid. At this stage, the heat in the water migrates towards the cold refrigerant, lowering the temperature of the water to the freezing point.
The Ice Machine Compressor
The compressor is where an ice machine works to heat and pressurize refrigerant. This is a crucial step in preparing the refrigerant for rapid expansion later.
Once in this state, the vapor needs to convert to a high-pressure liquid before it passes through the TXV valve.
The Ice Machine Condenser
The ice machine condenser cools refrigerant to change its state from a vapor to a liquid.
An ice machine condenser is a series of metal tubes within the ice machine. As the refrigerant passes through the metal coils, heat migrates away from the refrigerant, effectively cooling it.
The ice machine completes the cooling process by forcing air (air-cooled ice machines) or running water (water-cooled iced machines) over the hot coils. The heat migrates into the air or water, where it is ejected out of the machine. Eventually, the temperature of the refrigerant lowers enough to change it from a high-pressure vapor to a high-pressure liquid.
The Expansion Valve (TXV)
The TXV releases the pressure in the refrigerant through rapid expansion.
Ice machines work to produce a batch of ice through a process known as adiabatic cooling. When a highly pressurized substance expands, the change in pressure acts as a heat exchanger and causes the substance to cool quickly.
It’s the same reason why the pressurized air you use to clean your keyboard becomes cold when you hold down the trigger. As the air exits, it releases the pressure in the can, causing the liquid in the can to cool.
In the ice-making process, the rapid expansion turns the refrigerant from a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid to low pressure, low-temperature liquid.
The Ice Machine Evaporator
The evaporator is where the ice maker will freeze water to produce an ice cube. Once the low-pressure liquid makes its way to the evaporator, heat from the water migrates through the evaporator plate and into the refrigerant.
As water flows over the evaporator, it begins to cool to the point of freezing. Over time, the water freezes into the shape of an ice cube.
Once the full cube is frozen, the ice machine starts a harvest cycle to gather the ice for use. The ice machine uses either heated gas or warm water (or both) to warm the evaporator, causing ice to melt and release into the commercial ice bin.
Other Parts (Inlet Valve, Etc.)
Of course, outside factors like water supply don't play a direct part in the cooling process. However, they still have an important role to play in the overall functionality of your machine. Paying for an expensive ice maker that never produces cloudy ice won't do much good if the ice drops into a dirty storage bin. Likewise, good luck making ice if you have issues with a faulty water inlet valve or a defective water pump.
An Ice Maker Works Only as Well as Its Components
Now that you know how an ice maker works, you can see how involved the refrigeration process really is. Whether you're working with a refrigerator ice maker, a silicone ice mold, or a commercial ice machine, the principles are the same.
Regular Ice Maker Maintenance is Essential
The process continues until the ice produced fills your ice bin, so you have plenty for your customers and employees. However, there's more to keeping your ice makers in good order and keeping your ice tray full than just the core technologies.
If any of these vital ice machine components fail, your ice machine will struggle to make ice. This is why ice machine maintenance procedures are so essential to producing a reliable ice supply. You need to keep the basic components of your machine in good order if you want smooth, reliable ice production.
It also helps to choose the right brand of ice maker for your needs. A commercial ice machine will typically have greater capacity than a refrigerator ice maker, for instance. While a refrigerator ice maker is fine for household purposes, you'll want a purpose-built
At Easy Ice, we’ve managed and maintained over 33,000 ice machines. We designed our all-inclusive ice machine managed rental program to ensure commercial ice machines stay in peak condition year-round. The secret is our affordable preventive maintenance and expert cleaning. If you have a commercial ice machine or a refrigerator ice maker, we'll keep it running smoothly and free of disruptions.
Need Ice Maker Repair? Call the Ice Experts
Are you looking for a no-hassle alternative to owning an ice machine? Our ice machine subscriptions come with the best commercial ice machines from Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, and more.
Our team of experienced ice machine technicians will keep your equipment in top shape by providing maintenance and cleaning on your machine twice a year. Our unbeatable ice maker services all come included in a low, monthly cost.
Have ice maker issues that only a qualified technician can fix? Call the Ice Experts for a quote today!