Pages - Menu

The Importance Of Cryogenic Equipment

By Grace Rivas


If you have no idea what the word "cryogenic" means, you are probably in the majority. It is not a term often found in daily conversation. It is seen often in research facilities, food processing plants and in medical labs. Here are some of the details that describe cryogenic equipment, what it means and why it is important today.

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.

Several known gases are considered to fall into the cryogenics category. These include nitrogen, helium, hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The boiling point of these elements is set at minus 51C or 60F. Of these gases, nitrogen is the most common because it is plentiful and easy to obtain. To work with the products, a special environment is required.

There are many fields in which super-chilled gases are valuable. When choosing ways to preserve organic materials, for instance, such as food, the product is kept in a preserved state more effectively. Research on how organisms react to very cold temperatures is another purpose for research. Very cold temperatures can be used in some surgeries, or in studies about super-conductivity. When highly flammable materials are being handled, cold may provide a level of safety. Some liquid gases are used as fuel.

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 the liquid gas must be moved or transferred, special pumping devices are required. A pump that operates successfully under high pressure and extreme cold. In order to store the gases in liquid form, pressure vessels are required. These containers must maintain the low temperatures and the high pressures in storage conditions. To keep the air pure, the equipment for purification must operate under unusual conditions. Cleaning using cold traps is another device that is needed for cleaning. Valves are another device that must be specially designed to manage the extremes of a gas in a liquid state.

Specially designed cryogenic equipment is necessary when handling liquid gases. When accuracy and safety of the handler is needed, defining the specific requirements of the environment is a first step. The highest quality devices ensures protection against damages and harm to the researcher.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment