ACR Journal

Preventing condensation in cryo-microscope Indoor climate solutions specialist Munters continues to support crucial research at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC LMB) in Cambridge. The MRC LMB is a world-class laboratory that is tackling major problems in human health and disease. Over the years, it has attracted 12 nobel prizes, as well as dozens of scientific awards and honours in molecular biology. The MRC LMB contains several cryo-laboratories, along with a world leading, electron cryo- microscope - a multi-million pound investment that is used for carrying out critical research into human health and disease. The microscope sees research specimens submerged into liquid ethane at -193°C. This process freezes them so quickly that it creates a glass, or water glass, which enhances the clarity of the molecules within the specimens. “In this instance, water is both the friend and the enemy” says Dr Chris Russo, MRC LMB group leader. “When submerging research samples into the ethane at liquid nitrogen temperatures, it is absolutely critical that other moisture is minimised, otherwise the sample could be ruined.” It is for this reason that dehumidification is so crucial. “Without dehumidification, even the slightest amount of excess moisture will cause ice to build on the specimens. If the resolution is poor, we won’t get the image and won’t solve what we need to,” said Dr Russo. The microscope itself is also susceptible to moisture damage. Strong electrodes and iron magnets can corrode and decay if relative humidity is not e ectively controlled within the cryo-laboratories. Munters has supplied several ML plus temperature and humidity control systems to maintain a temperature of 20°C at 20% relative humidity. Unusually, the plant room where the dehumidifiers are installed is situated above the laboratories on a floating plant room floor to prevent vibration. The temperature and humidity control systems were uniquely designed so that they could be broken down into modules, enabling them to fit through small gaps during installation. Cold stores upgrade hospital food storage ICS Cool Energy has supplied two cold store units for food preparation at a hospital in the east of England. Originally designed for global marine transport of temperature sensitive perishables, the container units can be used for planned and unplanned cold storage requirements. The hospital needed an upgrade as its two existing containers were reaching the end of their life and the cost of repairs was too expensive to be cost-e ective. The hospital used these remote cold storage units to store food in preparation for cooking to deliver to patients around the hospital. ICS Cool Energy provided the hospital with two new Cold Store 20 units prepared for food storage. The delivery and installation in the desired location was smooth, with the units set to maintain temperature of -20°C. The Cold Stores deliver high cooling capacity in combination with precise temperature control (possible from fresh to deep frozen) even in the most severe applications with high ambient temperatures, frequent door openings and long running hours. The units ensure a more e cient and cost-e ective solution for the hospital's food storage needs, allowing the hospital to continue delivering fresh food to their patients without any disruptions or delays. NEWS 08 April | May 2023 Volume 9 No.3 Glide data added to CU selection tool ASERCOM, the Association of European Refrigeration Component Manufacturers, has updated its condensing unit selection tool to take glide data into account. The list of certified condensing units is one of the most frequently accessed sections and the revision aims to make the tool even more user friendly. Due to the growing number of refrigerants with higher glide, an exact indication of the evaporation condition has now been added. "The evaporating temperature specification has an impact on the performance data. That is why we now specify what the evaporating temperature refers to. This allows our users to make a fair comparison of the listed condensing units", said ASERCOM president Marco Masini. The list of condensing units contains 2,996 units for refrigerants with a GWP <2,500 and o ers extensive filtering and sorting functions. Direct links to Ecodesign data provide more detailed information. www.ASERCOM.org The plant roomwhere the dehumidifiers are installed is situated above the laboratories on a floating plant room floor to prevent vibration