Choosing a Refrigeration Compressor for
Ice Manufacturing
Modern Ice Equipment & Supply
Many factors go into the decisions behind building an ice plant as one design concept doesn’t fit every plant. This post will explore the difference between screw compressors and reciprocating compressors for your high side system. The Modern Ice Engineering and Sales Team can help you with some of the key questions you may face in the decision making process.
Screw compressors and reciprocating compressors are the two main types of refrigeration compressors for ice manufacturing. Both types can have sophisticated controls allowing for remote operations and allowing for multiple compressors to work seamlessly together. Systems can be designed for current production and to allow for future growth.
Screw compressors are generally more efficient when operating at full-load capacity and are inefficient below the 50% capacity when compared with reciprocating machines. However, reciprocating compressors are better suited for systems that have high load variability.
| Screw Compressor | Reciprocating Compressor |
|---|---|
| Pros | Pros |
| Ideal for multiple ice makers driven off a compressor and where operators may not be present | Ideal for single ice maker operation on a single compressor with high load variability. Works well for constant loads, such as flake ice makers |
| Very efficient when operating at 85% or more loaded | Below 100% capacity, reciprocating compressors use less power than similarly-sized screw compressors |
| Better suited for base loading and operation at full load and never needs to be unloaded completely – Infinite unloading levels but will shut down if fully unloaded | Unloads 100% with no efficiency loss. Unloads in increments (75%, 50%, 25% unloading for example) |
| Requires less maintenance | Simple to maintain and rebuild |
| Two 75-ton Vogt ice makers only require one screw compressor saving approximately 30% on the compressor purchase | |
| Cons | Cons |
| Less efficient at below 50% capacity | Requires more maintenance |
| Difficult to run on just one icemaker if the icemaker is 25 ton a day or below | Less efficient oil separation resulting in more oil migration into the icemakers |
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