The Details On Cryogenic Equipment

By Grace Rivas


The word "cryogenic" is not one which most people will use casually in conversation. In fact, you might have to look it up in a dictionary to see the correct definition. In fact, cryogenic equipment is used in many lab and medical research facilities, as well as in food processing activities. Here are some of the details about the category of devices related to super cold temperatures and materials.

Cryogenics is a complex word which originates from Greek language. While Kryos means freezing or cold, Genes means generated. The word therefore means any material which is generated or born with the specific feature of being freezing cold.

The definition that is understood today is applied to certain gases that become liquid form when subjected to precise conditions. Specifically, these gases become liquids when they are chilled to extremely low levels and also under particular pressure levels. There are several reasons why this process is needed.

Known cryogenics gases include liquid oxygen, helium, hydrogen and nitrogen. Each of these gases have an extremely low boiling point (-51 C or -60 F). The most commonly used gas is nitrogen because it is easy to buy. Cryogenics can only be worked with in a special environment such as medical institutes and laboratories.

The main uses of cryogenics today are to preserve anything with an organic origin, such as food, in the best state possible and to research how different organisms are affected by low temperatures. The extreme cold might be used during specific surgeries or in electronic research regarding super-conductivity and magnetic fields. When researching the behavior of certain materials in extreme temperature conditions or to protect against highly flammable surfaces or as a fuel, liquid gases might be utilized.

The device that is used to hold and store liquid gases in order to safely handle them must be constructed to protect against the cold and to maintain constant pressure during the processes. One of the first pieces of equipment to be utilized was the Dewar Flask. The inventor was James Dewar who was the first scientist to liquefy hydrogen. The inside is glass with a double wall to protect the handler from the extreme cold.

When liquid gases need to be moved from one location to another in a system, a transfer pump is used. The pump must be able to operate in very cold environments, and usually under high pressure. In order to store and cool liquid gases, pressure vessels are required. Clean air is another need when working in a laboratory environment. Equipment that purifies the indoor air, lab purifiers are utilized. Another cleaning task under cold conditions is accomplished by the use of cold traps. Specially designed valves and seals which fit the tools and containers are also required.

When there is research under conditions of extreme cold, cryogenic equipment exists to ensure that the lab results are accurate and replicable. Because the stresses of temperature and pressure placed on the equipment, high quality is crucial. Safety of the handler is critical and so is the protection of the sometimes costly equipment and processes. When an experiment is conducted under such conditions, it is critically important to be able to depend upon the results obtained in the experiment. If used in a commercial application, safe and easy handling of the liquid gases is vital.




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