Ice Machine Application Information

Below is information on water related problems in ice machines and how OptiPure FX and QT systems solve those problems. Application and sizing guides for the major manufacturers are also available at the bottom of the page.

Ice is 100% Water – It is important to consider all of the impact that water can have on your equipment, your products, your customers and your success. Undesirable water characteristics are often the cause of expensive repairs, shortened equipment life and poor beverage quality which can be avoided with the right treatment methods.
                           
Water treatment is not a mystery - It is a science. Specific water treatment technologies are combined to deal with different contaminants and create a desired result. What matters most is that:

1. The filtration system includes the right treatment technologies for ice machine applications.
2. The filtration treatment technologies are adequately sized and properly sequenced.
3. The system performance is ‘balanced’, which means each of the different treatment methods, i.e. chlorine reduction, and scale inhibition will deliver consistent results based on the system capacity.
4. The system will perform at the required flow rate.
5. The system capacity is proportional to the actual water usage of the ice machine between recommended filter change intervals.

It’s a lot like buying tires - If you buy tires with a 40,000 mile rating, you would expect to enjoy the benefits of a smooth ride and good handling to last until you replace them. But if, after 10,000 miles, the ride is rough and handling is terrible, the performance claims are not in ‘balance’ with the mileage rating (capacity) and the tires were a poor choice. The same can happen with water filtration systems. Educating yourself about water related problems with ice machines and deciding which filtration system is the best value will pay dividends for years.

Ask good questions - Educate yourself about the water contaminants that can affect your ice machine, and the available treatment options. Understand the performance features of the filtration system you are considering. Determine the rated capacity of the filtration system and compare it to the amount of water your ice machine will be using between filter changes. The bottom line is: if you don’t understand what filtration does, and how it can impact your business, it’s tough to make the best choice.

These are common water contaminants that cause problems with ice machines:

Minerals (Scale)

Dirt, Sediment

Chlorine and Taste & Odor

The following information describes how they impact an ice machine, and how OptiPure Water Filtration Systems deal effectively with each of them.

Scale (Limescale) – Water Hardness

The most common and expensive water related problem with ice machines is the formation and accumulation of scale. Varying amounts of scale-forming compounds (primarily calcium carbonate) are present in water supplies. These dissolved mineral compounds, also referred to as water “hardness”, are attracted to the metal surfaces of an ice machine, such as the evaporator, where they form a hard, rock-like layer. Over time scale build-up reduces energy efficiency, impedes ice production, interferes with beverage quality and eventually causes shut-down requiring expensive service.

An effective way to protect ice making equipment against scale is to introduce a ‘scale inhibitor’ media. This same type of treatment technology is commonly used by public water municipalities to inhibit scale formation in distribution systems. Ideally, a consistent amount of inhibitor media is dissolved into the water stream where it reacts with hardness minerals and interferes with the formation of scale.

For a scale inhibitor filter to be effective it is important that:

1. The water flowing through the cartridge must come in contact with the inhibitor media.
2. The media surface area must be sufficient to provide the required contact time with water.
3. There must be enough media volume and surface area to provide protection for the rated capacity of the filtration system.

OptiPure ice machine filtration systems utilize IsoNet®, a patented scale inhibitor technology. IsoNet ensures consistent dosing by trapping and holding the right blend of scale inhibitor media in the ideal position within the core of the cartridge. All of the water flowing into and through the cartridge core comes in contact with IsoNet where hardness minerals react with special inhibitors to prevent the formation of scale. The IsoNet media also provides protection against corrosion.

Patented IsoNet® is delivering exceptional protection against scale & corrosion for thousands of ice machines throughout North America. When you compare the media volume, available surface area over time, and patented delivery method, OptiPure Filtration Systems provide substantially more scale inhibitor capacity and consistency than any competitive product.

Dirt, Sediment, Rust (particulate matter)

Suspended particulate matter in water can be detrimental to the condition and performance of an ice machine. Particulates in water cause added wear on parts, and can clog solenoids, screens, valves and other fittings. Fine silt and dirt settle as sediment and can be a catalyst for scale build-up. Dirt, rust and other debris affect the taste, texture and appearance of ice and can ruin beverages.

OptiPure FXI and QTI filtration systems are NSF Tested and Certified for Nominal Particulate Reduction: Class I. This means they filter out the majority of suspended particulate matter down to .5 micron in size. To get an idea how small this is, one micron is equivalent to .000001 meter, a human hair is about 90 microns thick and, the smallest speck you can see is about 40 microns.

It is important to understand that there is no "rated capacity" regarding particulate reduction. A sediment filter will trap and hold the majority of particles, based on a performance rating, until it becomes plugged or “loaded”. NSF testing does not certify that a sediment filter will work for a certain number of gallons, only that it will take out most particles down to a specified size. Ultimately, if there is particulate matter in water, and enough water passes through a filter, it will plug. That’s its job.

Proper system application will assure that your ice machine performs at its peak. OptiPure application recommendations are based upon the systems tested and proven ability to protect equipment between filter changes. Water usage, flow rates and media capacities are considered in these recommendations. Deviating from these recommendations will compromise filtration system performance and equipment operation.

Chlorine, Taste & Odor

Chlorine, the most common disinfectant used in the US, is effective in killing most pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Municipal water supplies are typically chlorinated to provide a residual concentration throughout the distribution system. This residual (free) chlorine presents two problems for an ice machine. First, it can make ice taste and smell bad. Second, it causes pitting and corrosion on surfaces that can reduce machine life by years.

Taste and odor in water can come from wide range of contaminants and chemical characteristics. Unpleasant tastes and odors are commonly described as a musty, earthy, or fishy smell which is often associated with decaying algae.

Activated carbon is the best technology for reducing chlorine, tastes & odors. Activated carbons for water filtration are available in several forms which include granular activated carbon (GAC), and powdered activated carbon (PAC). Powdered activated carbon has the greatest surface area of all the forms. A ball of PAC the size of a pea has a surface area equivalent to half a football field. Factors that affect a filter’s chlorine reduction capacity are:

1. The type of carbon used.
2. The available surface area.
3. The water contact time with the media.

The media structure of the OptiPure cartridge is entirely composed of fibers coated with powdered activated carbon. Hundreds of thousands of these carbon saturated fibers make up the entire depth of the OptiPure CTO, CTOS, CTO-Q and CTOS-Q cartridges. The high mass of powdered activated carbon, along with the gradient-depth structure of these cartridges, provides tremendous surface area and substantial contact time as water flows through. These factors, along with IsoNet, contribute to the exceptional performance and capacity of the OptiPure ice machine filtration systems.

OptiPure filtration systems are NSF Tested and Certified for Chlorine Reduction and Taste & Odor Reduction. Chlorine reduction is what the "rated capacity" of filtration systems is based upon. In order to "pass" chlorine reduction testing with NSF, a system must reduce a controlled amount of free chlorine by at least 50% for a predetermined number of gallons, at a specified flow rate. OptiPure ice machine filtration systems are NSF Certified to reduce free chlorine by at least 96.8% for their rated capacity. System capacities range from 15,000 to 90,000 gallons, at flow rates ranging from 1½ to 9 gallons per minute.