10
Freeze
During the freeze cycle the compressor is pumping refrigerant, the fan motor is blowing air, and
the water pump is circulating water. When the batch of ice has been fully formed, the ice maker
stops the freeze cycle and begins the harvest cycle.
Harvest
During the harvest cycle the compressor is still operating, but the water pump has stopped. The
hot gas valve opens, diverting hot refrigerant gas into the evaporator. The gas warms the
evaporator, causing the cubes to slide, as a unit, off the evaporator and into the storage bin. The
freeze cycle will restart when all the cubes have been harvested.
How the Machine Uses the Water
The ice maker begins with a fixed charge of water that is contained in the water trough. As the water
flows to the freezing evaporator surface, the portion of water that does not contain mineral impurities
will freeze and stick to the ice cube molds. The water containing impurities falls back into the trough.
During the ice-making process, fresh water enters the water trough continuously as the water from
the trough freezes continuously on the evaporator.