An ice machine harvests ice by warming the evaporator, causing the ice to release and slide into a storage bin, after any excess water is purged.
Here's a breakdown of the ice harvesting process:
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Purging Excess Water: Before harvesting, any remaining excess water that hasn't frozen is purged from the ice-making mechanism. This prevents mineral buildup and ensures cleaner ice. The water is typically drained away.
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Warming the Evaporator: The key to releasing the ice is to slightly warm the evaporator, the component where the ice forms. This warming is usually achieved by introducing hot gas refrigerant into the evaporator.
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Ice Release: As the evaporator warms, the bond between the ice and the cold surface weakens. This allows the sheet or cubes of ice to detach.
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Ice Sliding/Dropping: Once released, gravity takes over. The sheet of ice, or individual cubes, slide or drop into a storage bin. The precise method depends on the ice machine's design.
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Water Curtain/Ice Damper (Optional): Some ice machines have a water curtain or ice damper. The ice must clear this component to ensure it correctly enters the storage bin. If the ice doesn't clear the damper, it may indicate a problem.
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Cycle Restart: After the ice is harvested, the ice machine automatically restarts the freeze cycle, beginning the process of making more ice.
