Daily Maintenance Tasks for Refrigerated Centrifuges

Maintenance of centrifuges requires daily vigilance. Before a failure occurs, pay close attention to whether the machine exhibits any abnormalities or unusual odors emanating from inside the casing (such as the smell of burnt wires). Also, consider whether similar phenomena have occurred in the past, when the last failure happened, and whether any violations of operating procedures took place during the machine’s operation. Inspect the equipment’s exterior for any signs of damage—such as scorch marks on the casing, evidence of water exposure, or traces of physical impact. Check whether the machine’s outer shell has been subjected to violent force. Examine the power cord for integrity and ensure that the grounding connection is sound. Then, open the equipment’s casing and carefully inspect the interior components. Perform a thorough, systematic examination of the machine, following a sequence that progresses from simple to complex, from external to internal, and employs a process of elimination: gradually rule out good components one by one, thereby progressively identifying and isolating the faulty parts.

Here are a few special points to note when maintaining a refrigerated centrifuge:

1. If this instrument has not been used or maintained for a long period of time, disconnect the power plug. Otherwise, the instrument may remain energized, posing a significant safety risk, especially during maintenance work.

2. To protect the refrigeration compressor, the interval between turning the instrument off and on must be greater than 3 minutes; otherwise, the compressor may be damaged.

3. When the rotor is not in use, its centrifugal cavity should be thoroughly cleaned and promptly wiped dry with a neutral cleaning cloth to prevent chemical corrosion. Store the rotor in a dry, well-ventilated area. Do not use neutral detergents to scrub the rotor, nor dry it with hot air or by electric (baking) means. The central hole of the rotor and any small protective areas should be lubricated with grease.

4. When using a centrifuge rotor, it is essential to confirm that the rotor number set is correct. If the wrong rotor is selected, it could lead to overspeed operation or failure to achieve the desired centrifugal effect. In particular, operating a rotor at excessive speed may result in a serious accident, such as rotor rupture; this must never be overlooked.

5. To ensure optimal freezing performance, when the ambient temperature exceeds 30℃, the rotor and centrifugal chamber should be pre-cooled. Additionally, the rotor speed should be reduced by 15% during operation.

6. Centrifuge tubes need to be replaced regularly, and the use of any damaged centrifuge tube is strictly prohibited.

7. Polypropylene (PP) centrifuge tubes (bottles) must not be used in conjunction with nitric acid (95%), aqua regia, toluene, benzene, gasoline, kerosene, or ethers. Polycarbonate (PC) centrifuge tubes (bottles) must not be used in contact with hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid (30% and 50%), sulfuric acid (10%), nitric acid (95%), aqua regia, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, fluorine, aluminum ammonium sulfate, ammonium acetate, ammonium nitrate, chromic acid (50%), toluene, benzene, gasoline, acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, various butanols, diethyl ether, cresol, or any other substances listed above. Polyethylene (PE) centrifuge tubes (bottles) must not be used in conjunction with sulfuric acid (50% and 75%), benzene, gasoline, kerosene, or ethers.