Flake Ice Machines | Refrigeration System |
Receiver
If the system has a remote condenser, the refrigerant will enter a receiver before passing through the filter drier. The receiver holds reserve liquid refrigerant during the freeze cycle. The receiver also stores liquid refrigerant during the off cycle.
Refrigerant
Refrigerant in a high-pressure liquid form is fed to an expansion valve where the refrigerant is reduced to a low-pressure liquid. Under this low pressure, the liquid will absorb heat from the evaporator causing the liquid to change to a vapor. This vapor is the drawn into the compressor where the temperature and pressure of the vapor are increased. The high temperature, high pressure vapor flows to the condenser where the heat is removed, causing the vapor to return to the liquid form, making the refrigerant ready to flow back to the evaporator to pick up more heat.
Most Ice-O-Matic ice machine use R134a or R404a refrigerant. Always check the serial number data plate for the proper type of refrigerant and the amount used in the machine you are servicing.
R404a and R134a are both HFC refrigerants, which result in no ozone depletion factor. R404a cylinders are orange in color, R134a cylinders are light blue in color.
Important: When discharging refrigerant from an icemaker, recover as much of the refrigerant as possible with a recovery device or some other means to prevent the refrigerant from entering the atmosphere.
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