Analysis of the Probability of Centrifuge Accidents

Release time:

2012-06-26

Overview:

Centrifugal equipment is an indispensable and essential piece of apparatus in today’s research centers for life sciences and biochemistry. However, centrifuge accidents still occur from time to time due to improper instrument use or inadequate regular maintenance. To improve instrument utilization, extend its service life, ensure safe operation, and prevent accidents, this article analyzes potential accident scenarios involving laboratory centrifuges and outlines key maintenance points for these instruments.

Centrifugal equipment is an indispensable and essential tool in today’s research centers for life and chemical sciences. However, centrifuge accidents still occur from time to time due to improper instrument use or inadequate regular maintenance. To improve instrument utilization, extend its service life, ensure safe operation, and prevent accidents, this article analyzes potential accident scenarios involving laboratory centrifuges and outlines key maintenance points for these instruments.
　　
　　According to conventional theory, centrifuge malfunctions are caused by excessive rotor imbalance. The primary factors contributing to rotor imbalance include weighing errors in samples, spillage of centrifuged sample liquids during the centrifugation process, and rotor corrosion.
　　
　　The main reasons are as follows:
　　
　　1. During centrifuge tube balancing, due to prolonged use of the balance without calibration, the symmetrically placed centrifuge tubes became unbalanced by more than 0.1 to 1 gram.
　　
　　2. During sample loading into centrifuge tubes, if the tubes are overfilled with sample liquid or the tube caps are not tightly screwed shut, the high-vacuum environment within the centrifuge chamber during centrifugation can cause the tubes to flatten, rupture, and leak sample liquid. This imbalance can lead to rotor misalignment, shaft bending, or even shaft breakage.
　　
　　3. An accident occurred because the specific gravity of the original sample was not equal to that of the balancing liquid, causing rotor dynamic imbalance.
　　
　　4. When using a horizontal rotor, failing to carefully match the serial number of the bucket with the serial number on the rotor body can affect the rotor's dynamic balance.
　　
　　5. Accidents occur when aluminum alloy centrifuge tube caps and stainless steel centrifuge tube caps are used interchangeably (due to their differing densities).
　　
　　6. Improper use and inadequate sterilization of the rubber sealing rings inside the centrifuge tube caps and the rotor cover—such as prolonged use leading to internal fractures, or exposure to high-temperature sterilization (e.g., baking in a drying oven)—can cause these rings to age, crack, and lose their sealing effectiveness. As a result, samples may spill out during high-speed operation, causing the rotor to run in an unbalanced state.
　　
　　7. For centrifuge tubes made of various materials, failure to thoroughly understand the manufacturer’s specified usage limits and disinfection methods prior to use led to the improper handling of these tubes with chemical solvents and inappropriate disinfectants, resulting in swelling and rupture of the tubes during operation and subsequent accidents.
　　
　　8. Due to carelessness during work, the rotor cover was not tightened properly or the rotor cover was mistakenly swapped with the rotor shaft, resulting in mismatched screw threads. When the machine was started and operated, the rotor cover flew off, causing a severe shaft breakage accident.