To explore the ways that controls and components improve equipment efficiency, experiments have been conducted on a large, cell-type, automatic ice machine that produces approximately 1,800 lb/day of quality ice.
This ice machine incorporates a critical charge (46 oz) of R-402B, a near-azeotropic, HCFC-based refrigerant blend of 38% R-125, 2% R-290, and 60% R-22. This ice-making machine also contains two evaporators, two non-adjustable TXVs, a hot gas defrost system, liquid receiver, coaxial (tube within a tube) water-cooled condenser, and a water-regulating valve (Figure 1).