Precautions to be observed during the use of high-speed refrigerated centrifuges

Release time:

2011-12-26

Overview:

When the centrifuge is running, refrigeration causes moisture in the air to condense into frost inside the centrifuge chamber. After the machine is turned off, this frost melts into water. Most low-speed, high-capacity centrifuges from overseas do not have drain holes, so water gradually accumulates in the centrifuge chamber. In such cases, users should remove the rotor themselves and clear out the accumulated water. When reinstalling the rotor, be sure to secure it properly to prevent accidents.

Clean the accumulated water in the centrifuge chamber.

When the centrifuge is running, refrigeration causes moisture in the air to condense into frost inside the centrifuge chamber. After the machine is stopped, this frost melts into water. Most low-speed, high-capacity centrifuges from overseas are not equipped with drain holes, so water gradually accumulates in the centrifuge chamber. In such cases, users should remove the rotor themselves and clear out the accumulated water. When reinstalling the rotor, be sure to secure it properly to prevent accidents.

Aluminum alloys are not susceptible to corrosion.

Centrifuge rotors are typically made of aluminum alloy. Once corroded, their strength diminishes, making them prone to accidents. Aluminum alloys are susceptible to liquid corrosion; after cleaning, they should be dried thoroughly using a hair dryer or by turning them upside down for a period of time to ensure they’re completely dry before use. Some blood banks’ imported centrifuges lack the six plastic holders that should normally be included in the six aluminum cups. These plastic holders are meant to hold blood bags, preventing them from being placed directly into the aluminum cups. Also, pay close attention to check whether test tubes have any cracks. If a test tube—especially one that has been used repeatedly—shows even the slightest crack, it must never be used. Otherwise, during operation, a cracked test tube could cause an imbalance during rotor rotation, potentially leading to serious accidents such as shaft breakage.

Shaft failure accident

The rotor was not properly installed, or the sample loading was severely unbalanced. Once the centrifuge is started, even though modern imported centrifuges are equipped with imbalance protection—meaning they will automatically cut power and stop rotating if the imbalance exceeds a certain threshold—it’s already too late under the circumstances described above, and a serious accident could occur. One such severe accident is shaft failure: when the shaft suddenly breaks during high-speed rotation, the centrifuge rotor loses its support and starts spinning wildly, colliding randomly within the centrifuge chamber. This can cause the entire centrifuge unit to rotate by as much as 270 degrees. At this point, if there are personnel or equipment nearby, it could lead to injuries and damage to both people and machinery.

The above information is provided by Shanghai Luxiangyi Centrifuge Instrument Co., Ltd. Please cite the website source when reprinting.

The role of freezing in centrifugation during experiments.

Introduction to the Safe Use of Laboratory Medical Centrifuges