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/
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
1 1/8 hole is machined into plug to match the diameter of the anemometer
1 PVC elbow 1 PVC pipe
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Drain line for ice melt is placed in a bucket on top of a digital scale Ice melt water bucket
Scotsman ice machine melt water from 70 lbs of ice after 9 hours with the condenser fan off.
p.7
p.xi
p.8
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