Cryogenic liquid nitrogen tanks are used in a number of industries and processes – from medical research to food preservation. This specially designed storage container keeps liquid nitrogen at cryogenic temperatures, where it remains in a stable state and does not re-evaporate into the gas phase. In this blog, we are going to talk about the details related to liquid nitrogen containers, how they are made and used as well as some factors that need to be considered when choosing the supplier of Liquid Nitrogen containers.
What is Liquid Nitrogen?
Liquid nitrogen has a boiling point that is so close to absolute zero (-196 C, or -321 F) that even brief exposure can cause severe frostbite. Being colorless, odorless and non-toxic, it is a perfect refrigerant for a lot of applications. Liquid nitrogen is able to stay at very low temperatures, so it is widely used for the storage of biological samples, food frost, and even as an assistive substance in industrial procedures.
Liquid Nitrogen Containers Composition
A liquid nitrogen container usually has two walls, one of which is inside the tank and the other of which is around it. This is a vacuum zone just like we have in a thermos bottle where the space between both walls are emptied to evacuate all pressure. The vacuum insulation reduces heat transfer through the sides of the liquid nitrogen to maintain a low temperature( longer life).
What these containers are made of is the most important part to consider about how good they are. Stainless steel is often used to construct liquid nitrogen containers as it is tough and highly corrosion-resistant. This selection of materials will ensure that the tanks can withstand the harsh conditions associated with cryogenic storage.
Liquid Nitrogen Tanks: Understanding Different Categories
Liquified nitrogen is kept in liquid nitrogen containers. Let’s explore the different categories.
- Dewars: These are containers designed for short storage and transport of liquid nitrogen, with a very good insulating capacity. One of the most popular models are lab cyclone separators in different sizes.
- Bulk Tanks: On the other end of the spectrum are bulk tanks which are made to carry hundreds up to thousands of liters of liquid nitrogen. Used for larger scale industrial functions which require a continuous supply, they are often stored on-site.
- Portable tanks: These tanks are built smaller to allow for easy transport to the field or as a temporary measure. They are ideal for medical centers or research facilities on the go.
- Cryogenic Vessels: A specialty mode of tanks, cryogenic vessels are designed to store the samples at ultra-low temperatures for longer periods. Most times they come with a rack for samples and an alarm for when the nitro is running low.
Applications of Liquid Nitrogen Tanks
- Medical Research: In the labs, liquid nitrogen is primarily used to keep samples such as blood, tissues and cells at low temperatures hence conserving them from degradation.
- Food Transformation: The food industry prefers liquid nitrogen for flash cooking of their products. It ensures the texture and flavor are intact while securing the product on the shelves for longer.
- Industrial: Liquid nitrogen is used in industrial processes as a coolant, especially in metalwork and insulator to make electronics.
- Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used for freezing. During wart removal or precancerous cell removal in the medical field, the patient is usually anesthetized.
Safety Considerations
Liquid nitrogen is a cold substance and handling it involves strict safety protocols to prevent harm as injuries can occur from freezing due to the low temperature of this material.
- Personal Protective Gear: When handling liquid nitrogen, and its containers, always adhere to the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and goggles.
- Ventilation — Areas where liquid nitrogen is stored or used should be well-ventilated so as to prevent the accumulation of nitrogen gas (which can displace oxygen in air).
It will prevent you from a spill in the laboratory or hurt yourself from liquid nitrogen burns and injuries by knowing about emergency procedures and the safety of liquid nitrogen containers.
Conclusion
Industries that widely use this incredibly versatile substance, should also know about cryogenic liquid nitrogen tanks in order to get a complete understanding of it. Understanding the construction and types, applications, as well as safety concerns of these liquid nitrogen containers can mean the difference between cold operational efficiency and cold disaster.
The best comes when you are sourcing the tanks, since going to reputable liquid nitrogen container suppliers helps you to get high-quality tanks customized to your requirements. Cryogenic tanks allow for the safe storage that is required to address the pressures of modern industry and drive innovation once new scientific discoveries are made.