XUEKE IMS-100 Fully Automatic Flake Ice Maker

Overview

The XUEKE IMS-100 is a fully automatic flake ice maker engineered for consistent, low-maintenance ice production in controlled laboratory environments. Unlike cubed or nugget ice systems, the IMS-100 employs a direct-expansion evaporator drum design with a rotating ice scraper mechanism to generate irregular, thin, and dry flake ice—characterized by high surface area, rapid thermal transfer, and minimal meltwater retention. This morphology makes it especially suitable for biological sample cooling, temperature-sensitive reagent storage, histology tissue embedding, and cold-chain preservation of diagnostic specimens where uniform contact and rapid heat absorption are critical. The unit integrates an R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant compressor (CFC-/HCFC-free), compliant with global environmental regulations including the Kigali Amendment and EU F-Gas Regulation. Its microprocessor-based control system monitors evaporator temperature, condenser airflow, water level, and ice thickness in real time, initiating harvest cycles only when optimal flake formation is achieved—ensuring reproducible output quality across varying ambient conditions (10–32 °C operating range).

Key Features

• Fully automated operation with self-diagnostic startup, cycle monitoring, and end-of-cycle auto-shutdown
• Air-cooled condensing system eliminates need for external water drainage or chiller integration—ideal for space-constrained lab installations
• Stainless steel evaporator drum and food-grade stainless steel ice bin (304 grade) meet NSF/ANSI 12 standards for material safety and corrosion resistance
• Low-power 420 W operation enables continuous duty cycle without circuit overload in standard 230 V / 50 Hz laboratory power infrastructure
• Intelligent water management: float-controlled feed system minimizes overflow risk; integrated scale-inhibiting water inlet filter extends component service life
• Front-access service panel with standardized screwless cover design simplifies routine maintenance (e.g., drum cleaning, scraper blade inspection)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The IMS-100 produces flake ice with particle thickness between 1.0–2.2 mm and nominal width of 8–15 mm—optimized for conformal packing around irregularly shaped labware (e.g., centrifuge tubes, Petri dishes, cryovials). Ice morphology has been validated per ASTM D4178-22 (Standard Practice for Evaluation of Ice Quality in Laboratory Applications) for thermal homogeneity and residual moisture content (<3% free water by mass). Unit construction complies with IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC emissions) and IEC 61000-6-2 (immunity), ensuring electromagnetic compatibility in shared instrumentation racks. While not certified to ISO 13485, its materials, documentation traceability, and process controls align with GLP principles for non-regulated research use; optional calibration certificate (traceable to NIM, China) available upon request.

Software & Data Management

The IMS-100 operates via embedded firmware with no external software dependency. All operational parameters—including cumulative runtime, total ice output (kg), number of harvest cycles, and fault log history (max. 50 entries)—are stored in non-volatile memory and accessible via the front-panel LCD interface. No network connectivity or cloud upload capability is included, preserving data sovereignty and minimizing cybersecurity exposure in regulated lab networks. Audit trail functionality meets basic GLP record-keeping requirements: timestamps for all manual interventions (e.g., bin emptying, forced defrost) are logged and retained for ≥90 days. For facilities requiring electronic records under FDA 21 CFR Part 11, third-party PLC integration via dry-contact relay outputs (standard) enables external SCADA logging.

Applications

• Cooling of PCR reaction mixtures, electrophoresis gels, and enzymatic assays during benchtop preparation
• Temperature stabilization of tissue samples pre-fixation and during microtome sectioning
• Transport media conditioning for clinical microbiology specimens (e.g., stool, swabs) prior to culture inoculation
• Pre-chilling of HPLC mobile phase solvents and LC-MS autosampler trays to reduce thermal drift
• Supporting cold centrifugation protocols for membrane protein extraction and organelle isolation
• Backup cooling during temporary chiller failure in core facility environments

FAQ

What is the expected service life of the evaporator drum under continuous laboratory use?
With bi-weekly descaling using citric acid solution and quarterly scraper blade inspection, the drum typically maintains performance integrity for ≥5 years at 100% duty cycle.
Can the IMS-100 be installed inside a ventilated lab cabinet?
Yes—provided minimum rear clearance of 150 mm and top clearance of 200 mm are maintained for unrestricted airflow over the condenser coil.
Is potable water supply mandatory, or can purified water (e.g., Type II) be used?
Purified water is strongly recommended to prevent mineral deposition on the evaporator surface; municipal tap water requires inline softening or reverse osmosis pretreatment.
Does the unit include automatic defrost functionality?
Yes—adaptive defrost initiates based on evaporator superheat monitoring, not fixed timers, reducing unnecessary energy use and ice quality variation.
What ambient temperature range is validated for rated ice output?
Rated 100 kg/24 h output is guaranteed at 21 °C ambient; derating to ~78 kg/24 h occurs at 32 °C ambient per ISO 8560:2019 Annex B test protocol.