Laboratory Refrigerators –Temperature range, capacity & requirements

Laboratory Refrigerators, One of the most essential aspects of a modern lab is the lab freezer. It is vital that you choose the right freezer to ensure that you are making a good investment. You may think that choosing the right freezer is easy and only involves checking up on some samples. However, there are several other things that you will need to check before you choose one out.

When you select the right lab freezer, you can decide on how sensitive to temperature changes your samples can be. In case, you want to replace your old equipment and set up a new facility then you should follow the considerations mentioned in this article to help you choose a new freezer.

What is the range of temperature that you will require?

When you want to buy a new lab freezer,  it is crucial that you check the range of temperature that the freezer will offer. In fact, the temperature range is an essential factor to consider when you want to purchase a new freezer. Some of the most common temperature ranges for a lab freezer are as follows:

• General-purpose laboratory refrigerator  temperatures will range from an approx 0 to 10 oC (32 to 5 oF), Freezer ranges are 0 to -30  oC  (-22 to 32 oF)
• Ultra low-temperature freezers will range from -40 to -86 oC (-40 to -122 oF)
• Cryogenic Freezers can go down to even temperatures as low as -125 oC (-193 oF)

A life science lab shall require a freezer with a temperature range from – 20 to – 40 degrees C. This will provide a safe and stable storage condition to various types of reagents or samples. A lot of freezers that are used today have a temperature display which makes them quite convenient for medical use.

What is the capacity that you will need?

The capacity of the refrigerator will be dependent directly upon the samples and tests that you need for your storage. IT will be a good way to check your external dimensions because it will allow you to place your freezer at the designated location that you want.

There are larger research facilities and institutions where you will need to keep larger units and even multiple small units in order to fulfill your storage requirements. The multiple small units can provide you with a thin layout which will result in a lower downtime. This will increase the overall efficiency of your laboratory in the long run.

What are the requirements for good ventilation?

The requirements for ventilation will vary with each model. In fact, this is one of the main questions that you need to as your own supplier before you make your purchase. This will ensure that you understand where you will place your device also. IT will depend on the type of freezer that you want to install because air is generally sourced from the freezer’s back and the top.

Generally, if you have a large cross-section area of ventilation, then your lab freezer will be more energy efficient. The inlet for the air and the outlet cannot be covered or blocked in any manner and you will need to ensure a thorough cleaning on a regular basis. In case you have any form of restrictions on the type of ventilation that you wish to keep, then you may also go for customized ventilation. In this case, the air is often forced out from the front of your freezer and hence you will not need any additional space for clearance.

Understand whether you need temperature monitoring systems

In the event that you work with samples that are sensitive to changes in temperatures, then you will need to put in devices that can record and log temperature changes accurately. These devices store data and have alarm systems that can help in alerting you in case there are any considerable changes in temperature or exceeds any preset threshold. This ensures that your samples are not spoilt.

There are a lot of additional bells or whistles which you can keep alongside your new freezer. The temperature alarm system can be visual or audible. You can have temperature chart recorders with digital key locks and a backup battery system also to ensure the smooth working of your freezer through power blackouts. There are other devices available to improve functionality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is seen that lab freezers are essential components of labs all over the world. IT is important in several different aspects of a lab’s functionality. There are several questions that have to be asked and certain considerations that need to be made before you can choose the best freezer for your lab. However, the ones mentioned in this article will be helpful and guide you in making a good investment. Hopefully, the information mentioned in this article will have helped you.

Harper Harrison

Harper Harrison is a reporter for The Hear UP. Harper got an internship at the NPR and worked as a reporter and producer. harper has also worked as a reporter for the Medium. Harper covers health and science for The Hear UP.