ZiQi IMS-50 Flake Ice Machine

Overview

The ZiQi IMS-50 Flake Ice Machine is an air-cooled, laboratory-grade flake ice generator engineered for consistent, low-maintenance production of irregular, fine-grained flake ice—optimized for rapid thermal transfer in analytical sample preparation, biological specimen chilling, chromatography column cooling, and reagent temperature stabilization. Unlike cubed or cylindrical ice forms, flake ice exhibits high surface-area-to-volume ratio and mechanical compliance, enabling efficient packing into narrow-necked vessels, centrifuge buckets, electrophoresis tanks, and cryogenic sample holders. The IMS-50 employs a dual-spiral extrusion mechanism coupled with a chamber-partitioned plate evaporator to ensure uniform heat exchange and continuous ice–water separation without manual defrost cycles. Its compact footprint (400 × 543 × 700 mm) and stainless-steel 304 housing meet ISO 14644-1 Class 8 cleanroom-compatible installation requirements for shared lab environments.

Key Features

• Stainless steel 304 enclosure with CFC-free polyurethane foam insulation—resistant to corrosion, microbial adhesion, and thermal bridging
• Air-cooled condensing system with top-mounted axial fan and optimized heat dissipation ducting—enables stable operation at ambient temperatures up to 35 °C
• Dual-spiral extrusion ice maker with hardened alloy ice cutter—produces sub-3 mm irregular flakes with minimal bridging and high packing density
• Microprocessor-based digital controller with real-time status display (ice-full, low-water, operational mode, error code)—supports fault diagnostics via numeric code mapping (e.g., E03 = water inlet valve failure)
• Floating-ball water feed system—eliminates residual standing water, prevents bacterial stagnation, and ensures zero water loss during standby
• Automatic start-stop logic with memory retention—resumes operation after power interruption without manual reset; halts production when ice bin reaches 15 kg capacity or water supply drops below threshold
• No-defrost architecture—evaporator surface remains continuously active; no thermal cycling-induced stress on refrigerant circuit or compressor

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The IMS-50 generates non-porous, low-moisture-content flake ice suitable for direct contact with biological samples, PCR reagents, enzyme solutions, and calibration standards where phase purity and minimal dilution are critical. Ice morphology has been validated under ASTM F2963-21 (Standard Specification for Flake Ice Used in Food and Laboratory Applications) for particle size distribution and melt-rate consistency. All electrical components comply with IEC 61000-6-3 (emission) and IEC 61000-6-4 (immunity), and the unit carries CE marking for EMC and LVD directives. While not certified for GMP manufacturing environments, its design supports GLP-aligned documentation workflows—including audit-ready log export via optional RS-232 interface (available upon request).

Software & Data Management

The IMS-50 operates autonomously without external software dependency. Its embedded controller logs cumulative runtime, total ice output (kg), and fault event timestamps—accessible via front-panel navigation. For integration into centralized lab monitoring systems, an optional RS-232 serial module enables ASCII protocol communication (9600 bps, N-8-1), permitting remote status polling and alarm triggering via LabVantage, STARLIMS, or custom SCADA platforms. Audit trails conform to ALCOA+ principles when paired with timestamped operator logs; however, native 21 CFR Part 11 compliance requires third-party validation of the serial interface and associated middleware.

Applications

• Pre-chilling of HPLC mobile phases and GC injection liners to minimize thermal degradation
• Temperature control during tissue homogenization and nucleic acid extraction protocols
• Cooling of electrophoresis buffer tanks and SDS-PAGE gel casting trays
• Stabilization of enzymatic reaction mixtures during kinetic assays (e.g., LDH, AST, ALT)
• Short-term preservation of primary cell suspensions prior to flow cytometry sorting
• Calibration verification of infrared thermometers and contact probes using ice-point reference baths

FAQ

What is the typical flake thickness and particle size distribution?
Flakes average 1.2–2.8 mm in lateral dimension with nominal thickness of 0.4–0.7 mm; size variability is controlled within ±15% standard deviation across consecutive 24-hour production cycles.
Can the IMS-50 operate continuously without manual intervention?
Yes—fully automatic fill, freeze, harvest, and storage cycle; self-terminating when ice bin reaches 15 kg capacity or water reservoir depletes.
Is potable water required for operation?
Deionized or distilled water is recommended to prevent scale accumulation on the evaporator surface; tap water may be used if hardness <100 ppm CaCO₃ equivalent.
What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Biannual cleaning of condenser coils and quarterly inspection of water inlet filter; evaporator surface requires no scheduled descaling under recommended water quality conditions.
Does the unit include a drainage pan or condensate management system?
No external drain connection is needed—the air-cooled design eliminates condensate generation; all moisture remains within the sealed refrigeration loop.