WHY ARE ICE MACHINES SO DIRTY?

Because the condenser fan is pushing or pulling air through the food zone. This presentation explains how to test for airflows and points out what NSF and FDA regulations apply
By: Robert Almblad CTO Origin Tech LLC September 10, 2012 http://www.safeicehealthcare.com/

Methods of testing airflow on operational ice machines in the field

Testing Scotsman on an ice bin with Extech anemometer: Open door and place a sheet of plastic over bin opening. Place anemometer over a 1 1/8 in plastic sheet. Take reading when condenser fan is on. This one is 846 fpm

Measure drain on Scotsman Prodigy This is negative air pressure so air is being drawn up from the floor drain into the food zone at the rate of 152 fpm.

Hotwire Anemometer is used to measure air flow through small holes, like the drain line, cracks and joints. Widely available but this is a Kanomax brand.

Testing Hoshizaki on an ice bin: Open door and place a sheet of plastic over bin opening. Place anemometer over a 1 1/8 in plastic sheet. Take reading. This one is 531 fpm

TESTING ICE MACHINES ON ICE DISPENSERS

Remove this lid

Replace with lid with a built in anemometer Anemometer

Lid made of clear plexiglass

Black bubble seals

Flat side for flat faced ice machines

Curved side for Manitowoc Hole for PVC pipe

1 1/8 hole is machined into plug to match the diameter of the anemometer
1 PVC elbow 1 PVC pipe

Lid installed on flat faced machine

Lid reversed and installed on a curve face Manitowoc

Ice bin nearly full and making ice with condenser fan running, creates a negative airspeed of 905 feet per minute on a standard Scotsman Prodigi sitting on top a standard ice dispenser.

Installed on a Hoshizaki

531 fpm

Ice-O-Matic has 137 fpm negative airflow but also has spots of 1,230 fpm positive airflow into the food zone.

Measure drain on Scotsman Prodigy This is negative air pressure so air is being drawn up the drain into the food zone.

Ice-O-Matic

Measure cracks in ice machine

Scotsman Prodigy

Measure air drawn into the food zone from the closed lid on a Scotsman Prodigy.

Measure small holes in Ice O Matic that blow air at high speed into the food zone.

Another method to measure airflow when bin has ice in it.

Rubber gasket Screen to prevent ice from entering tube

Hollow tube 1 1/8 hole cut in side Bottom blocked so no air can escape

This instrument can measure airflow without getting the blades wet or hit by ice

Same Scotsman Prodegi making ice with bin nearly full. This has 196 fpm with the dispense gate closed.

When gate is opened to dispense ice, the airflow increases to 334 fpm

DIFFERENT WAYS OF MEASURING AIRFLOW THROUGH THE FOOD ZONE IN ICE MACHINES IN THE LABORATORY
By: Robert Almblad CTO Origin Tech LLC August 31, 2012

Integrated air cooled ice machine

Test platform with a 1 1/8 ID hole for measuring air speed Platform is made from flat, hard smooth material 1 or more larger than the ice machines footprint

1 anemometer propeller

Optional elbow fitted in hole makes it easier to read anemometer

Simplest way to measure airflow through the food zone is: 1) Place ice machine on top of a flat board with a hole in it 2) Insert some PVC pipe to make it easier to measure 3) Measure with anemometer

HOW TO MEASURE AIRFLOW IN NUGGET ICE MACHINES

Nugget or flake Ice bin

Forced air
Air can be forced under the ice bin and exit right next to the dispensing chute

Install a PVC pipe directly to the ice bin dispense chute to measure only air flow through the food zone.

Seal a PVC pipe directly to the bottom of the ice bin to ensure only air moving through the ice bin is measured

Optional reducer elbow to 1 1/8 diameter for consistency in measurement with cuber

1. By-pass the control panel and put a switch on the condenser fan motor so just the condenser fan is running 2. Replace all the panels 3. Measure air with a 1 1/8 diameter anemometer, note direction of propeller rotation for positive or negative air flow. Available at: http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDis play?langId=1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&pa=218085&productId=21 8085&keyCode=WSF&CID=GMC&gclid=CNfRw6Hp17ACFUZN4A odDDvq2g

INDIRECTLY MEASURE AIRFLOW BY MEASURING ICE MELTED BY AIRFLOW

INDIRECTLY MEASURE AIRFLOW BY ICE MELT

Scotsman ice machine is wired so just the condenser fan can be turned on and off It is place on top of a standard ice dispenser with the ice gate closed. Exactly 70 lbs of ice from another ice machine is put in here and then the lid is closed.

Drain line for ice melt is placed in a bucket on top of a digital scale Ice melt water bucket

UNSEALED CONDENSER FAN MELTS LOTS OF ICE WASTING ENERGY

Scotsman Ice machine melt water from70 lbs of ice after 9 hours with condenser fan on.

Water level Weight 25 lbs. and 2.1 oz.

Scotsman ice machine melt water from 70 lbs of ice after 9 hours with the condenser fan off.

Water level Weight 11 lbs and 1.2 oz.

NSF STANDARD 12 STATES IN PART:

5.17 Entry ports Condensing compartments shall be sealed from the ice making compartment.

The FDA Food Code States:

p.113

p.7

p.xi

p.8

The Overlooked Clause

There must be a dustproof barrier between the condenser air and the ice.
This requirement applies to all self-contained aircooled ice machines. Today no ice machine meets this requirement. The FDA Food Code has been adopted by, and is enforced in, 52 of the 56 states and territories in the US (97% of the population).
Source: http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/retailfoodprotection/federalstatecoop erativeprograms/ucm108156.htm

FDA Food Code Adoption

Dustproof?
IEC529

http://www.ezscreen.com/ip_ratings.htm

Scotsman Prodigy

enterobacter cloacae

Condenser fan creates low pressure in compressor compartment Unfiltered air is drawn from the bin cabnetry holes and through the drain hole into the food zone Does not pass the Food Code

Hoshizaki

enterobacter cloacae

Airflow is similar to Scotsman Prodigy and sucks air from the drain into the food zone Does not pass the Food Code

Ice-O-Matic
Airflow is similar to Scotsman Prodigy sucks air from the drain into the food zone Does not pass the Food Code

Staphylococcus aureus

Manitowoc

legionella pneumophila

Condenser fan pressurizes compressor compartment Air is forced through numerous holes into the food zone

Does not pass the Food Code