| Many people think that a lab refrigerator is just a | | | | maximum of 45 degrees C. However, in high room |
| larger version of the domestic refrigerator. But there | | | | temperatures the pressure on the freezer |
| is more to a lab freezer than what a novice knows. | | | | compressor is higher. Allowing proper air circulation is |
| Lab refrigerators are specifically designed to store | | | | very important so that the refrigerators keep |
| critical materials over extended periods of time. The | | | | functioning well. |
| temperatures of these refrigerators is maintained and | | | | Cramming the room with too many refrigerators will |
| kept constant at all times so that the many | | | | increase the heat emission from the refrigerators and |
| specimens and samples that are kept in it can be | | | | increase the overall temperature of the room |
| preserved in a stable environment. | | | | thereby putting pressure on the compressor. Lab |
| There are mainly two types of lab refrigerators. One | | | | refrigerators cannot be auto defrosted because this |
| is called the chest freezer and the other called the | | | | cycle normally destroys the biological samples as this |
| upright freezer. The main difference between the | | | | method thaws and then re freezes the samples. |
| two is the footprint space that they take. The | | | | Laboratory refrigerators are designed bearing in mind |
| upright refrigerator, in comparison to the chest | | | | that a number of volatile or flammable objects will be |
| refrigerators, has a far smaller footprint without | | | | stored in them. At times specially designed |
| having to compromise on the storage capacity. | | | | refrigerators are used just for the purpose of storing |
| Chest refrigerators are also more effective in cooling | | | | these samples. Such refrigerators are CFC free, have |
| and maintaining the temperatures by retaining the | | | | compressors that are thematically sealed and have an |
| cool air in a more efficient manner than the upright | | | | insulation that is foamed in place. The design of these |
| refrigerator. These chest refrigerators also have the | | | | refrigerators also allows them to tolerate explosions. |
| capacity of recovering and going back to the original | | | | Another very important aspect of the lab fridge is |
| regulated temperature even when the door of the | | | | the alarm system. Most laboratory refrigerator |
| freezer is kept open for longer durations. However, | | | | manufacturing companies install an alarm in the |
| the biggest advantage that upright refrigerators have | | | | refrigerator that is programmed to go off the |
| over chest refrigerators is that the samples kept in | | | | moment there is a change in the temperature or if |
| them are much easier to locate. | | | | the door to the freezer has been left open. A |
| Laboratory refrigerators work most efficiently when | | | | number of refrigerators are also being manufactured |
| the temperature of the room in which they are kept | | | | with alarm systems, password protection and |
| is also regulated and maintained. Very high | | | | temperature graphs that allow 24X7 monitoring. Since |
| temperatures hamper the performance of the | | | | the advent of the computer fridges can be specially |
| refrigerator, and therefore it is best to keep them in | | | | designed keeping in mind its functionality and |
| rooms which have a temperature going up to a | | | | requirements, making life in the lab a whole lot easier. |