Manitowoc Ice Machine Running Water Continues

Author: Mark Giebel – Sr Engineer, NPD – Manitowoc Ice discusses key points about Ice Machine water filtration.

Water Filtration from an Ice point of view!
You cannot have great Ice without great water.  Water filtration plays a key role in not only keeping the ice machine cleaner longer, but it also effects the taste of the ice and or a beverage that is being consumed.  Besides ice cooling beverages, the end user experience should be a positive one that doesn't leave a bad taste in their mouth.  It does not matter if it is the local burger joint, a high-end cocktail bar or the latest farm to table restaurant in town. If the drinks, in a dining experience, are not crisp and clean to let the soda or spirit shine this will set the pace for the whole meal and the reviews (possibly negative) ones that they will impart with others. Having ice or water in beverages that is cloudy or tastes of chorine and iron will not be a strong encouragement for the customers for repeat orders and will even affect their meal experience.
Fundamentally, Ice machines take the inputs of electricity and water to create ice by removing heat from the water. Today we will focus on water and the impact this simple component has on icemakers as well as the ice consumption experience. The main difference between a commercial icemaker and a residential refrigerator freezer icemaker is that the residential units will freeze impurities (minerals, sediment, etc.) into the ice affecting its taste.  Whereas the commercial icemaker continually circulates water over a vertical surface to freeze the purest water, leaving heavily concentrated impure water (scaled) to flush down the drain, thus producing a clear cube of ice. Unfortunately, this magical process can only do so much. If the incoming water pressure drops or water quality is poor, the freezing process will trap impurities into the ice altering taste of all beverages it's used in.
The most affective solution to provide quality water is to use filtration specifically designed for the application. There is an almost limitless amount of filtration options, but the two main categories of water treatment involve both physically preventing debris and impurities from passing through the filter with a carbon block or treating the water to allow the impurities to pass through the machine without settling in the ice or within the icemaker components. Both methods when used correctly will provide the user with pure tasteless ice and have the added benefit of increased service life of the equipment and reduced cleaning/downtime required to maintain the equipment. With these benefits in mind, the ArticPure + filtration series is designed to use the best combination of both technologies.
First, Carbon block filters act as a barrier to capture substances.  These removed substances can be both physical such as sediment and debris as well as chemical like chlorine and chloramines. The process for containing chemical contaminates is absorption. The carbon blocks use absorption to soak up particles, such as Chlorine (for taste and smell) similar to how a sponge does with water. This carbon filter sponge acts to hold the contaminates and allow water to pass through. The tiny pores of the carbon block are measured in microns. The smaller the micron, the finer the filtration. Low flow rate and pressure give contaminants more time to be captured and adhere to the carbon block. The more contact time water has with the surface of a carbon filter, the more efficient the absorption.
Chlorine and chloramines are typically added to municipality's water sources to treat and sanitize water to an acceptable level to meet local health requires. This practice has been and will continue as areas/regions struggle with biological challenges with treating water. While this practice accomplishes health requirement guidelines, it results in increasing situations requiring treatment for taste and odor removal.
Second, common treatment tools used in Ice Machine specific water filters, as well as our ArticPure + filtration is the use of slow-release polyphosphates as a de-scaler and prevents the dissolved minerals in water from solidifying in the icemaker during the freezing process. This same process is familiar to anyone who adds rinse aid to their dishwashers to keep their glasses from becoming stained with minerals. The polyphosphates dissolve very slowly changing how certain minerals react in water allowing them to remain solvent and aide in the flushing process at the end of the ice making cycle versus solidifying in the water system. The benefit of this design results in clearer and more pure ice and contributes to a longer service life, reducing wear and increase periods between cleaning of the equipment.  While these attributes are great for ice machines, they are not so great for carbonated beverage systems.  If an ice machine water filter (containing polyphosphates) is used the soda will "Carb Out".  Meaning the soda will be flat.

A commercial ice machine is a significant investment.  Fortunately, when you work with trained ice specialists, they will know the questions to ask to ensure that you have the best solution for water filtration and ensure that you have the solutions that will provide a steady and reliable supply of fresh and tasty ice for years to come!

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Source: https://www.manitowocice.com/News/Blog/February-2022-(1)/Key-Points-about-Ice-Machine-Water-Filtration

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