How Ultra-Low Temperature Freezes Work & How Leasing One Helps Your Bottom Line
Excedr’s lease program can accommodate your clinical lab’s instrument needs and model preferences, regardless of brand or model. Get in touch with us today and learn how leasing a ULT freezer can save you time and money.
All equipment brands/models are available
The Advantages of Excedr’s ULT Freezer Leasing Program:
- Eliminates the upfront cost of purchasing equipment by spreading its cost over time
- Minimizes equipment downtime with included complete repair coverage and preventive maintenance
- Takes advantage of potentially 100% tax deductible* payments, providing you significant cash-savings
- Expedites the administrative work needed for instrument procurement and logistics
- Conserves working capital, enabling you to reinvest in your core business and operations (staffing, inventory, marketing/sales, etc.)
- Accommodates all manufacturer and model preferences
*Please consult your tax advisor to determine the full tax implications of leasing equipment.
Refrigerators and freezers keep items at low temperatures, reducing the rate of spoilage by reducing the rate of bacteria reproduction.
Refrigerators and freezers work by pulling heat out of a thermally-insulated compartment providing cold storage conditions. Heat pumps, either mechanical, electrical, or chemical, are used to move hot air out, cooling the inside of the refrigerator or freezer unit. Freezers function the same as refrigerators, except they work at a much lower cryogenic temperature.
Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers are meant to provide long-term storage for biological samples like viruses, bacteria, enzymes, RNA, and cell cultures, but also works perfectly for reagent and vaccine storage. As the name implies, these models work at much lower temperatures than commercial freezers, ranging from -45 to -150 C depending on their intended purpose, and come in four main configurations to accommodate different lab spaces:
- Upright
- Chest
- Tabletop or benchtop
- Under-counter
You’ll find ULT freezers almost any laboratory environment, from hospitals (where cold storage facilities are often essential), biomedical facilities, and blood banks to research institutes; anywhere temperature control is paramount. That’s because sample storage at a specific temperature range is almost always a necessity when working with biological products.
Whether you are looking for a high-performance stainless steel lab freezer or are more focused on energy efficient models that provide excellent sustainability or ergonomics, there are a wide range of manufacturer choices and features options that are easy-to-use and fit your needs.
ULT Freezer Refrigeration Cycle Explained
Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers are essential in any lab environment. They play a critical role in helping to ensure the safe storage of precious samples. Operating within the -46°C to -86°C range, ULTs are the perfect equipment for any lab storing analytes and products, from enzymes and drugs to biospecimen samples (such as urine, blood, tissue, cells, DNA, RNA, or protein, from humans, animals, or plants).
A ULT freezer can store hundreds of thousands of dollars in product, playing a vital role in modern laboratories by protecting samples critical to the future of their research. While lab professionals demand reliability, they must also consider storage capacity, energy usage, noise considerations and other factors that can impact their daily workflows and operational costs.
ULT freezers’ capabilities cannot be measured by one attribute alone, given the wide range of factors to consider. Instead, optimal performance is a cumulative measure of every consideration. With so many different, and highly valuable, products today, it’s critical that you research everything you need to know about ULT freezers when selecting one for your lab.
Heat Pump and Refrigeration Cycle
Refrigerators and chest freezers are able to maintain a cool interior by using a heat pump cycle or refrigeration cycle.
These cycles take heat from a source and are able to transfer it to a second location referred to as a heat sink. Depending on how it is used, a heat pump can be considered a heater if you are aiming to warm the heat sink, or be considered a refrigerator if you wish to cool the heat source.
In the case of a commercial freezer, the heat source would be the inside of the laboratory freezer unit and the heat sink would be the surrounding room that the freezer is in. The second law of thermodynamics states that in order to transfer heat work must be done.
The Carnot cycle is a theoretical cycle that demonstrates a perfect heat engine where 100% of the heat is maintained in the heat cycle system. This means that the change in temperature of the system is exactly equal to the work done by the system.
The Carnot cycle is an important tool used to determine the efficiency of freezers and refrigerators.
Vapor-Compression Cycle
The actual transfer of heat from one location to another can be done by using a working fluid to move the heat. This technique is called the vapor-compression cycle. The working fluid is cycled through a series of tubes and undergoes phase changes to absorb the heat from inside the freezer.
The fluid, commonly referred to as the refrigerant, goes through an expansion or throttle valve at high pressure and temperature. The expansion valve causes a rapid drop in pressure which results in a rapid drop in temperature.
The now cooled fluid is then cycled into the freezer compartment. A fan is used to pass air inside the freezer over the cold refrigerant which absorbs the heat, leaving behind a colder freezer compartment. The now warmer fluid is passed into a compressor that superheats the fluid and increases its pressure and the cycle starts again.
ULT freezers work in a similar fashion, only they use two cooling stages and the refrigerant used can achieve much lower temperatures than commercial refrigerants. Examples of natural refrigerants used in upright ULT freezers are methane and nitrogen.
The Carnot Cycle
Born in 1796, Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot was a French physicist and considered the father of thermodynamics.
Carnot’s fascination with heat and engines started early when he and his father had witnessed a steam engine in Germany. Though at the time steam engines had become widely used in the world, there had been no real scientific study done to explain how they worked.
The current theory at the time was called the caloric theory, and it stated that heat was due to an invisible liquid called caloric. This liquid would move from a hotter body to a colder body which accounted for changes in temperature.
In 1824, Carnot would publish his first and only work on the matter of heat. It was titled Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire. In it, he detailed his research on a theoretically perfect heat engine which is today referred to as the Carnot Cycle.
Carnot’s work continues to be important today as it is the basis for which much of our understanding of refrigeration and heating comes from.
We Offer Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Leases to Fit Every Need
ULT freezers ensure high-performance, temperature stability, and temperature uniformity, and are essential to any research or clinical lab, as they play a critical role in helping store precious samples or products. Operating within the -46°C to -86°C range, ULTs can safely store a wide range of samples and products, from biological samples to enzymes and drugs.
While ULT freezers can bring forward questions of energy consumption or energy efficiency, leasing a freezer that is Energy Star certified can ensure your machine meets exceptional energy efficiencies. If you want to lease a ULT freezer or cryostat, let us know by getting in touch or requesting a lease estimate.
Operating Lease
This off-balance sheet financing structure provides three options at the end of the term. The lessee has the option to return the equipment to the lessor, renew at a discounted rate, or purchase the instrument for the fair market value. Monthly payments are also 100% tax deductible which yields additional monetary savings.
Sale-Leaseback
If you recently bought equipment, Excedr can offer you cash for your device and convert your purchase into a long-term rental. This is called a sale leaseback. If you’ve paid for equipment within the last ninety days, we can help you recoup your investment and allow you to make low monthly payments. This also frees up money in your budget rather than tying it down to a fixed asset.
ULT Freezer Manufacturers & Models
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Thermo Fisher & Applied Biosystems:
Revco RLE series, Revco RLE package with HID access key lock, Revco ExF -86C Upright, Revco DxF -40C Upright, Revco CxF series -86C Chest, TSX package with HID access key, TSD series -40C Upright, TSE series -86C Upright,, Forma 7000 series -40 Upright, Forma 8600 series -40C Chest, Forma 8600 series -86C Chest, HERAFreeze HFU B series -40C Upright, HERAFreeze HFU B series -86C Upright, HERAFreeze HFC series -40C Chest, HERAFreeze HFC series -86C Chest,
PHCbi:
TwinGuard ULT freezers, MDF-MU, MDF-U, MPR Pharmaceutical Refrigerator with Freezer, VIP ECO, VIP, PRO
Eppendorf:
CryoCube FC660, CryoCube FC660h, Innova C585, Innova C760, Innova U101, Innova U360, ULT U4010 series, Premium U410, HEF U410, Innova U535, CryoCube F570, CryoCube F570h, CryoCube F740 series, CryoCube F740hi, CryoCube F740hiw, CryoCube F740h
BINDER Inc.:
Series UFV, UF V 500, UF V 700
Biobase
Nuaire:
Blizzard HC VIP NU-99828J, NU-99728J, NU-99578J, NU-99338J, NU-99420J
Thalheimer Kühlung:
NADEE-N series, CRYO series, TPSU series, Pharmo-R/F series, FREZOLAB series, FREZO Med Line
Z-Sc1:
Twincore, Twincore Petit, IKKII, IKKII Petit, Mini series, Minicore, Unicore, TWIN-EVP
Helmer Scientific:
iUF116, iUF118, iUF124, iUF126, I.Series, Horizon Series,
ESCO Life Sciences:
Lexicon II (Gold Controller), Lexicon II (Silver Controller)
Kaltis International:
Prime series, Merit series, Hydrocarbon Green HC series, High Environment HE Series
Lneya:
SLJ series, LC series, LJ series, LN series, LD series, CDLJ series, DW series, GX series, GY series
HighRes Biosolutions:
TundraStore, TundraStore D, TundraStore M
Aegis Scientific
American BioTech Supply (ABS)
B Medical Systems:
U Range, U 401, U 501, U 701, U 901
So-Low:
C40-2, C85-2, C85-5, MV85-2, MV85-1, MV85-3, U85-13, U85-22, U80-28, U80-30D, U85-18, U85-25, U80-30, C-85-3, C85-9, C85-14, C80-21, C80-27, C85-5, C85-12, C85-17, C85-22, NU85-13, NU85-22, NU80-28, NU85-18, NU85-25, NU80-30, NC85-3, NC85-9, NC85-14, NC85-22, NC85-5, NC85-12, NC85-17, NC80-27
Norlake Scientific:
White Diamond Series Ultra Low Temperature Freezer
Scientific:
S1R models, S2R models, S3R models, S1RX models, S1F models, S2F models, S3F models, S1FX models, S1RF models, S2RF models, S3RRF models, S3RFF models, CH1R models, CH2R models, CH3R models, Standard Models, Suffix “SA” Model , Suffix “SS” Models
ScienTemp:
Ultra Cold Series -85C, Super Cold Series -45C
Froilabo:
Evolution-86°C, BM 175, BMT 175, BMP 175, BM 1000, BMT 1000, BMH 340, BMH 515, Trust -86°C
NÜVE:
DF 290, DF 490, DF 590
Vision Scientific Co. Ltd.:
VS-90DF-35U, VS-90DF-74C, VS-90DF-C series, VS-90DF-U series
OVAN:
OVER 765, OVEVF 535/40, OVCVF600-45, OVCVFCR9982-30, OVER 344
Vestfrost Solutions:
VTS series, VT series
ENVAIR Eco
LabCold
Labtop Instruments:
LUBF series, LUPF series
EQUITEC
Arctiko A/S:
Arctiko ULUF 15, ULUF 65, ULUF 125, ULUF 450, ULUF 550, Arctiko SUF 100, SUF 500, Arctiko SF 150, SF 500
EVERmed:
ULF 120, ULF 240, ULF 360, ULF 480, ULF 600, ULF 170, ULCF 400, ULCF 570
