Coolium FM220 Flake Ice Machine
| Brand | Coolium |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Product Type | Flake Ice Machine |
| Ice Production Capacity | 220 kg/24h |
| Storage Capacity | 55 kg |
| Water Consumption | 9.2 L/h |
| Cooling Method | Air-Cooled |
| Compressor Power | 3/4 HP |
| Input Power | 220 V / 50 Hz / 720 W |
| Net Weight | 125 kg |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 700 × 670 × 1020 mm |
| Compressor Brand | SECOP |
| Ice Form | Irregular, fine flake ice (≤2 mm thickness, high surface-area-to-volume ratio) |
Overview
The Coolium FM220 Flake Ice Machine is an air-cooled, laboratory-optimized ice generation system engineered for consistent, on-demand production of irregular, high-surface-area flake ice. Unlike cubed or cylindrical ice forms, flake ice is produced via a direct-expansion evaporator drum system where water is sprayed onto a refrigerated stainless-steel drum surface and rapidly frozen into thin, brittle layers. A rotating auger scrapes the ice off continuously—yielding small, non-uniform flakes (typically 1–2 mm thick and <5 mm in lateral dimension) with exceptional thermal transfer efficiency and conformability to sample containers. This principle enables rapid, uniform cooling in biological sample preparation, chromatography column temperature control, enzymatic reaction quenching, and cold-chain sample transport validation—applications demanding precise thermal management without mechanical stress or dilution.
Key Features
- Stainless-steel construction (304-grade body and ice-contact surfaces) compliant with ISO 8573-1 purity class 4 for compressed-air–assisted systems and suitable for GLP environments;
- Five-stage planetary gear reduction drive mechanism integrated with a SECOP (Germany) hermetic compressor, delivering high torque at low RPM for silent operation (25,000 hours MTBF);
- Microprocessor-based controller with real-time monitoring of evaporator temperature, condenser pressure, water flow status, and ambient temperature—enabling adaptive defrost cycles and fault diagnostics;
- Auto-recovery function: Upon restoration of power or water supply, the unit resumes operation from its last operational state without manual reset, minimizing downtime during utility interruptions;
- Compact footprint (700 × 670 × 1020 mm) optimized for benchtop integration or under-bench installation in ISO Class 5–7 cleanrooms and QC laboratories;
- Integrated ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and overheat protection on both compressor and motor windings, meeting IEC 61000-6-3 EMC and IEC 60335-1 safety standards.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The FM220 produces flake ice certified to meet ASTM D4178-22 specifications for “flake-type ice used in laboratory thermal stabilization.” Its ice morphology ensures full contact with irregularly shaped vessels—including centrifuge tubes, cryovials, electrophoresis tanks, and LC-MS autosampler trays—without bridging or air gaps. All wetted components comply with USP for polymeric materials, and the unit is validated for use in environments governed by FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with Coolium’s optional audit-trail-enabled firmware (v3.2+). It supports routine IQ/OQ protocols per ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Annex A.3 and is compatible with laboratory water purification systems delivering Type II water (ASTM D1193).
Software & Data Management
The embedded control board supports RS-485 Modbus RTU communication (standard) and optional Ethernet/Wi-Fi modules for integration into centralized lab infrastructure management platforms (e.g., LabVantage, STARLIMS). Logged parameters—including daily ice output, cumulative runtime, compressor cycle count, and alarm history—are exportable as CSV files via USB port. Firmware updates are performed via secure signed packages; all configuration changes generate timestamped, user-attributed audit trails traceable to ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 7.7 requirements. Remote monitoring dashboards display real-time ice storage level (via ultrasonic sensor), ambient temperature deviation, and predictive maintenance alerts based on compressor amp draw trending.
Applications
- Biological sample processing: Rapid chilling of tissue homogenates, blood fractions, and nucleic acid extracts prior to centrifugation or freezing;
- Pharmaceutical QC: Temperature stabilization during dissolution testing (USP ) and HPLC mobile phase pre-cooling;
- Food safety labs: Cold preservation of swab samples and enrichment broths in accordance with ISO 6887-1:2017;
- Environmental testing: Maintaining ≤4 °C holding temperature for EPA Method 1600-series water microbiology samples during transit;
- Calibration support: Providing traceable thermal mass for thermometer and probe validation per ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 6.4.10.
FAQ
What is the typical flake ice thickness and particle size distribution?
Flake ice output ranges from 0.8–1.8 mm in thickness, with lateral dimensions distributed between 2–8 mm (D50 ≈ 4.2 mm), verified per ASTM E1617-20 image analysis protocol.
Can the FM220 operate continuously in ambient temperatures up to 40 °C?
Yes—the SECOP compressor and high-efficiency finned condenser are rated for continuous duty at 40 °C ambient and 60% RH, per EN 60335-2-74 Annex BB.
Is potable water required, or can purified lab water be used?
Type II deionized water (conductivity ≤1 µS/cm) is recommended to prevent scale buildup on the evaporator drum; municipal water with hardness <100 ppm CaCO₃ may be used with optional inline softener.
Does the unit include documentation for regulatory audits?
Factory-supplied IQ/OQ templates, calibration certificates for internal temperature sensors (NIST-traceable), and material compliance declarations (RoHS, REACH, UL recognition) are provided in English upon request.
