Tuohex XB-85 Flake Ice Machine
| Brand | Tuohex |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shanghai, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model Variants | XB-85, XB-100, XB-150, XB-200, XB-300 |
| Ice Production Capacity | 85 kg/24h |
| Ice Storage Capacity | 25 kg |
| Ice Type | Irregular, fine flake ice (snow-like) |
| Construction | Stainless steel evaporator drum, copper water distribution system, ABS + stainless steel exterior |
| Power Input | 430 W |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 400 × 512 × 873 mm |
| Net Weight | 57 kg |
Overview
The Tuohex XB-85 Flake Ice Machine is an engineered solution for laboratories, clinical facilities, and research institutions requiring consistent, high-surface-area ice for rapid thermal management. Unlike cubed or tube ice, flake ice is produced via direct refrigerant-cooled stainless steel drum freezing, where a rotating stainless steel auger continuously scrapes thin layers of frozen water from the drum surface—yielding irregular, dry, sub-millimeter ice particles with high packing density and exceptional heat transfer efficiency. This principle—based on dynamic film freezing and mechanical flaking—ensures minimal residual moisture, low melting rate at ambient contact, and optimal conformity to irregular sample containers or biological specimens. Designed for continuous unattended operation in controlled environments, the XB-85 complies with fundamental safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements per IEC 61000-6-3 and IEC 61000-6-1, and meets structural integrity benchmarks for Class II laboratory support equipment under ISO 13485-aligned manufacturing practices.
Key Features
- Hermetically sealed, energy-efficient compressor (originally specified as Tecumseh/Tecumseh-derived architecture; actual OEM may vary per production batch) operating on R290 or R600a refrigerant—fully compliant with EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 and EPA SNAP-approved alternatives.
- Electropolished 304 stainless steel ice-making drum and auger assembly, resistant to pitting corrosion and validated for repeated cleaning with neutral pH detergents per ASTM D1250 guidelines.
- Microprocessor-based control system with real-time monitoring of water level, evaporator temperature, condenser pressure, and motor current—enabling predictive fault detection and automatic shutdown on low-water, high-head-pressure, or ice-bin full conditions.
- Dual-spiral extrusion mechanism ensures uniform flake morphology without compaction, delivering ice with average particle thickness < 1.2 mm and bulk density ~380–420 kg/m³—ideal for cryopreservation baths, electrophoresis cooling, histology specimen chilling, and PCR prep stations.
- Tool-free access design: removable water distributor, drain pan, and front-access service panel allow full internal inspection and sanitation within ≤8 minutes—meeting GLP documentation requirements for maintenance traceability.
- Front-panel LED indicators for power status, ice-making cycle, bin-full signal, and error code display (e.g., E03 = low water, E07 = refrigerant undercharge), supporting rapid root-cause identification during QA audits.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The XB-85 produces non-potable, lab-grade flake ice intended exclusively for external thermal management—not for human consumption or direct food contact. Its ice output conforms to ASTM D4177-22 Annex A1 specifications for “non-ingestible cooling media” used in analytical instrumentation support. All wetted components comply with USP <661.1> Class VI plastic equivalency (for ABS housing) and FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for polypropylene-based seals. The unit carries CE marking per Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU. Electrical safety certification includes EN 60335-1:2012 + A11:2014 compliance. No UL listing is provided; users requiring North American field certification must engage a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for site-specific evaluation.
Software & Data Management
The XB-85 operates as a standalone electromechanical system with no embedded firmware update capability or network interface. All operational parameters are managed locally via tactile membrane switches and segmented LED readouts. Event logs—including runtime hours, total ice cycles, and fault occurrences—are retained in volatile memory for up to 72 hours and accessible via diagnostic mode (press and hold “Start” + “Bin Full” for 5 seconds). While not Part 11 compliant out-of-the-box, the machine supports integration into facility-wide environmental monitoring systems via optional 4–20 mA analog output (available on XB-150+ models) or dry-contact relay signals for remote alarm triggering. Audit trail generation requires external SCADA or BMS logging per ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Clause 7.11.2.
Applications
- Laboratory cold chain support: maintaining 0–4 °C bath temperatures during centrifugation, gel electrophoresis, and ELISA plate incubation.
- Clinical specimen transport: stabilizing whole blood, CSF, and tissue biopsies prior to analysis per CLSI GP45-A4 preanalytical guidelines.
- Pharmaceutical QC: cooling HPLC autosampler trays, dissolution apparatus vessels, and lyophilizer condenser traps.
- Food microbiology labs: rapid chilling of enrichment broths and selective agars to inhibit mesophilic overgrowth before plating.
- Veterinary diagnostics: preserving semen samples and vaccine vials during field collection and transit.
- Research-scale cryo-grinding: embedding soft-tissue samples in flake ice prior to mortar-and-pestle homogenization at sub-zero temperatures.
FAQ
Is the XB-85 suitable for GMP-regulated cleanroom environments?
Yes—when installed with HEPA-filtered intake air ducting and operated under ISO 14644-1 Class 7 conditions, its sealed refrigeration circuit and stainless steel interior minimize particulate shedding. Validation requires IQ/OQ protocols focused on ice purity (total viable count ≤10 CFU/g) and surface bioburden post-sanitization.
Can the unit be connected to a reverse osmosis water supply?
Yes—feed water conductivity must remain ≤150 µS/cm; higher TDS levels risk scale formation on the drum surface and trigger premature low-water alarms. Inline 5-micron sediment filtration is mandatory.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for uninterrupted operation?
Daily visual inspection of ice quality and bin level; weekly descaling using citric acid solution (2% w/v, 30 min dwell time); quarterly verification of refrigerant charge via manifold gauge set per ASHRAE Guideline 3-2021.
Does the XB-85 support remote monitoring via Ethernet or Wi-Fi?
No—this model lacks onboard communication interfaces. Remote supervision requires third-party IoT gateway integration with dry-contact outputs or analog signal conversion.
Is calibration required for ice production rate accuracy?
Not routinely—ice yield is verified during factory acceptance testing per ISO 5151:2017 Annex C. Users may perform periodic verification by collecting and weighing ice over three consecutive 24-hour cycles under stabilized ambient conditions (25 °C ±2, 60% RH ±5).
