E3000 and E3100 Critical Point Dryers
An explanation of the critical point drying process
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E3000 Critical Point Dryer |
E3100 "Jumbo" Critical Point Dryer |
Key Features
- Proven reliability - over 6,000 critical point dryer installations world-wide
- Simple robust construction - easy to maintain, many critical point dryer users carry out their own routine maintenance
- Horizontal chamber and large viewing window - gives unequalled visibility of the critical point drying process and an unsurpassed view of the fluid level in the chamber. Unlike many of the more complex critical point dryer designs it is much easier to see the phase change at the critical point.
- Large robust valves for ingress of CO2, draining of or fluids and venting of gas. Very durable. The rapid ingress of CO2 helps prevents pre-drying of samples.
- Safety - every unit critical point dryer is independently pressure tested to 2500psi. A certificate is issued. A pressure bursting disc is fitted to safeguard against misuse.
- Sample handling - optional sample holders for coverslips and TEM grids. Porous pots are available for very small samples.
- 3 year warranty
| E3000 Critical Point Dryer The design of the E3000 features a horizontal pressure chamber measuring 30.1mm internal diameter x 82mm in length. The chamber has a water jacket for temperature control and specimens are introduced via a removable rear door. The front of the chamber is fitted with a 25mm diameter window which permits easy viewing of the liquid level. Dial gauges display pressure in the chamber and the temperature of water circulating through the jacket. Three pressure valves permit easy connection to the liquid CO2 cylinder, liquid agitation and venting of the chamber. Sample boat An important feature is the design of the transfer boat. This permits samples in the intermediate fluid to be transferred to the critical point dryer. On sealing the chamber the intermediate fluid begins to drain and can be replaced with liquid CO2. In this way the samples are never allowed to dry out during the critical point drying processing. Safety Safety is of course an important consideration with all pressure vessels. Should critical pressure and temperature be inadvertently exceeded, a bursting disc is incorporated in the chamber support. The critical point drying chamber itself is tested to 2500 psi which is approximately twice the working pressure. A guard is also fitted over the window. |
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E3000 cross sectional diagram
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| E3100 "Jumbo" Critical Point
Dryer Where increased chamber volume is required for either the size of specimen or quantity of specimens to be dried, a large capacity model E3100 is available. The chamber dimensions are 63.5mm internal diameter x 82mm in length giving approximately three times the volume of the E3000. The transfer boat will also accept three times the number of samples or can be modified for holding up to 25mm diameter cover slips. All E3000 and E3100 Critical Point Dryers are supplied
with:
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E3100 Critical Point Dryer with
start up kit
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| Temperature control A source of hot running water is essential. Cooling is useful, especially for sequential process runs or in hot climates. The temperature of the E3000 and E3100 chamber is raised with a hot water supply. Mains water can be used but a more elegant method involves the use of Model E3500 water re-circulator which is connected directly to the inlet and outlet of the water jacket. The temperature of the circulatory fluid can be pre-set (e.g. at 37oC, just above the Critical Temperature). A second alternative is the model E4860 water chiller/heater which can be used to pre-cool the chamber to below ambient. |
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Sample "boats" and
holders
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E3100-01 standard E3100 tissue boat |
E3000-01 standard E3000 tissue boat
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| Holders for coverslips (option) Specially adapted boats allow glass coverslips to firmly held during drying. The E3000-02 is designed for the E3000 and has a maximum capacity of seven coverslips. Likewise the larger E3100-02 coverslip boat is available for the E31000 "Jumbo" CPD and has a carrying capacity of 21 coverslips. |
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E3100-02 coverslip holder (for E3100)
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| TEM grid holder (option) The E3000-1 holder for 3.05mm grids and the E3000-2 grid holder for 2.3mm grids can be used with any critical point dryer. Maximum number of grids is three. |
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E3100-1 holder for grids
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| Porous pots with lids (option) CPD800A Solvent resistant porous pots(12.7 x 15.7mm) with lids. These are ideal for very small or very delicate samples. |
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CPD800A Solvent resistant porous
specimen pots |
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