In ice makers, temperature is monitored and maintained by thermostats built into the mold. When the water valve is opened, the water fills the ice molds for 7 seconds before closing by itself. During the freezing process, as the ice builds up and the temperature dips, the thermostat will close a switch in the electrical circuit and warm up the heating coil and the bottom of the mold. Ice cubes will begin slipping off the mold once it becomes warm enough.
Following is some information about how ice makers work and the differences between the ice-making processes of a commercial ice maker, a regular refrigerator ice maker, and a portable ice maker.
How Do Commercial Ice Makers Work?
The four essential components of an ice maker are the compressor, the condenser, the inlet valve, and the evaporator. Ice can only be made by connecting the machine to a fresh water supply and an electrical circuit. This automates the process of ice making as the ice tray (connected to a set of heat exchange pipes) is instantly refilled once a batch of ice cubes is extracted.
When the switch is turned on, the machine starts pumping water from the collection sump into the ice tray. Next, the compressor compresses low-pressure vapor into high-pressure vapor, which is then delivered to the condenser. The condenser then routes the high-pressure vapor into its coiled pipes, which are near or on the unit’s exterior. By converting high-pressure vapor into high water pressure, the heat will be dissipated.
The high-pressure coolant is then released through an inlet valve, creating vapor once more. When the refrigerant reaches the evaporator, it undergoes heat exchange. It is usually a metal rod that is cooled by the low-pressure coolant, which then makes the interior of the machine and ice tray cold.
Water gradually freezes to form clear ice during this process. After a few minutes, the solenoid valve (which is connected to the heat exchange pipes) is activated, which causes the refrigerant to return to the evaporator. The ice tray and heat exchanger begin to heat up rapidly, which loosens the ice cubes and causes them to slide down. Once the tray starts warming, cylinder pistons eject the ice cubes out of the tray.
How Do Refrigerator Ice Makers Work?
The cubes are scooped up and out by ejector blades and shut-off arms, which direct them to the collection bin located directly beneath the tray in most freezers and refrigerators. Once there are no more ice cubes left in the molds and the shut-off arm reaches the lowest position, the water valve is automatically activated to begin a new cycle. If there are any ice cubes in the way, the machine will only fill a part of the tray with water.
The Difference Between Commercial and Refrigerator Ice Makers
The main difference between a commercial ice maker and a refrigerator ice maker is that the latter freezes whole pockets of water. The ice cubes stay clear and crack-free because commercial ice makers freeze them layer by layer, from the inside out.
How Do Portable Ice Makers Work?
Portable ice makers do not have a water connection, so filling the water reservoir is a manual process. The water is pumped up to the ice tray from the bottom of the reservoir via a hole in the bottom of the reservoir. The heat exchanger’s 12-inch prongs are submerged into the water as soon as the cycle begins.
Cooling the prongs quickly encourages the formation of ice cubes within minutes (6 on average). The spikes start heating up when the cubes are ready, which makes it easy for them to slide off and roll into the ice bin, above the water reservoir. A portable nugget ice maker does not keep ice frozen as long as a commercial ice maker does. When all the ice cubes in the ice collection bin are left unused, the melted water from the cubes will go back into the water reservoir and become ice again.
Summary
A tale as old as time is the making of ice. Ice making techniques have improved over centuries, and we couldn’t be happier! Now you know why ice makers work – whether it is a commercial or portable unit, while your freezer/refrigerator works on a similar, but slightly different, principle.