How It Works ICEU060
Page 10
Refrigeration System
Freezing Cycle
The ice cubes are formed in an inverted mold that is refrigerated.
The refrigeration process begins at the compressor. There, refrigerant vapor is compressed and flows
from the compressor through the discharge line as a high temperature, high pressure gas. In the
discharge line there is a strainer with two outlets; one leads to the condenser, and the other one to the hot
gas valve. Because the hot gas solenoid is closed, the gas flows to the condenser, where heat is
transferred from the refrigerant to the air passing through the condenser. The refrigerant then condenses
into a high pressure liquid.
From the condenser, the liquid refrigerant flows through the liquid line, and the liquid line filter drier. After
the filter drier, the liquid refrigerant enters the metering device, a capillary tube. After passing the
restriction of the capillary tube, the refrigerant enters an area of relative low pressure, the evaporator. In
the tubing of the evaporator, the liquid refrigerant expands and evaporates, absorbing heat from the
evaporator tubing and anything in contact with it such as water sprayed against it.
The refrigerant, now a low pressure, low temperature vapor, flows into the accumulator, which traps
excess liquid refrigerant. The vapor, now primarily a gas, goes through the suction line and back to the
compressor.