Project: Laboratory Equipment Cooling
Cooling Approach: Cold plate direct-cooled
Cooling Approach: Sakura (USA), a reputable player in histology and pathology laboratory equipment, is seeking Arctic's expertise for a compact and efficient cooling solution. Their project involves developing a compact paraffin block embedding station and requires a condensing unit capable of maintaining a -10°C temperature on a custom-designed aluminum plate under challenging ambient conditions.
Recommended products: DC Condensing Unit, DV2820

DC Condensing Unit, DV2820, includes drive board and temperature display.

Background

Sakura Finetek USA, a leader in histology and pathology lab equipment, has approached ARCTIC to support the development of a compact paraffin block embedding station. Aiming to create a smaller, efficient cooling system, Sakura Finetek requires a custom thermal solution that cools a rectangular aluminum plate (25cm x 16cm x 10mm) to -10°C under ambient conditions of up to 35°C. Arctic has recommended its compact DV2820 condensing unit, a 24V DC-powered system delivering a cooling capacity of 250W, which meets both size and performance requirements for this application.

Arctic’s thermal solution includes options for custom cold plate integration, with embedded evaporator tubing and insulation to optimize cooling efficiency and reduce energy consumption. With this solution, Arctic addresses the high-precision cooling needs of laboratory equipment, supporting Sakura Finetek’s mission to advance automation in histology and cytology, ultimately enabling lab personnel to focus on complex tasks while relying on efficient, automated systems.

Solution

Cold plate direct cooling

DC Condensing Unit

The DC Condensing Unit allows the end user to use a refrigerant that directly cools the desired payload via a cold plate or evaporator.

• 12V /24V /48V DC
• R134a /R290 Refrigerant
• Adopts miniature DC compressor
• Capacity: 100~550W (360~1,880Btu)
• Temperature Range: ±20℃ (-4~68℉)
• 2,000~6,500 rpm variable speeds drive board
• Features: Small, reliable, efficient, and affordable cost.

What's Artic DC Condensing Unit?

The DC Condensing Unit is designed to work directly with the user’s evaporator or cold plate, eliminating the need for secondary coolants or complex setups. This streamlined design bypasses the need for extra fans or pumps to circulate cool air or coolant, reducing both system complexity and energy loss. By removing much of the traditional ductwork and piping, this DC Condensing Unit integrates easily into user equipment, making it an ideal choice for compact systems.

Known as a direct expansion system, the unit achieves excellent heat transfer by using R134a or R290 refrigerant. The mini DC compressor circulates refrigerant directly through the evaporator, absorbing heat efficiently at the source. Without the need for a water cooling loop, the system avoids additional components like water pumps, reservoirs, and tubing, resulting in a simplified, ultra-compact cooling solution. The Arctic Active Cooling unit is one of the smallest air-based systems globally, ideal for applications demanding high heat flux at the source.

The Project

The client seeks a compact cooling solution for a paraffin embedding station. They require a system that can cool a 25cm x 16cm aluminum plate to -10°C under ambient conditions up to 35°C, with integrated evaporator tubing, minimal power usage (<1A at 115VAC or DC 24V), and efficient thermal contact for precise temperature control.

The condensing unit with cold plate diagram.

The cold plate for direct refrigeration

Key Features of DC Condensing Unit

1. Compact Design: Fits into small spaces with a footprint of 7.48x6.3x5.43 inches, ideal for tight equipment integration.
2. High Cooling Capacity: Provides 250W of cooling power, maintaining -10°C on the aluminum plate even at 35°C ambient.
3. Direct Expansion System: Uses R134a or R290 refrigerant to cool directly at the source, maximizing efficiency.
4. Energy Efficient: Operates on 24V DC power, with low energy demand (<1A at 115VAC or DC).
5. Easy Integration: Eliminates the need for secondary coolant, fans, or pumps, reducing complexity and enhancing reliability.
6. Customizable Cold Plate: Allows evaporator tubing to be embedded directly into the plate for optimal thermal contact.

Benefits of DC Condensing Unit

1. Space-Saving Design: Compact size fits into limited spaces, enabling smaller, streamlined equipment.
2. Efficient Direct Cooling: The direct expansion system cools the target area precisely without needing secondary coolant, reducing thermal losses.
3. Simplified System: Eliminates the need for extra fans, pumps, or coolant circulation, minimizing maintenance and potential failure points.
4. High Cooling Performance: Provides reliable cooling capacity to reach and maintain -10°C under challenging ambient conditions, essential for accurate sample processing.
5. Energy Efficiency: Low power consumption, suitable for laboratory environments focused on energy management.
6. Quick Integration: Directly integrates with custom cold plates or evaporators, speeding up setup and reducing installation costs.
7. Reliability and Durability: Fewer components and moving parts reduce wear, making it a robust choice for continuous lab use.
8. Enhanced Workflow: Reliable cooling allows lab personnel to focus on analytical tasks without concerns about temperature stability or equipment downtime.

Arctic's R&D Team

Arctic’s R&D team plays a pivotal role in customizing the DC Condensing Unit for Sakura’s application, offering tailored thermal analysis, cold plate design, and optimized cooling performance. Our expertise ensures precise temperature control and efficient integration, directly supporting the client's goal of compact, reliable laboratory equipment with streamlined functionality.

ARCTIC excels in providing compact, energy-efficient cooling solutions, with a strong focus on custom designs that meet specific application needs. Their powerful DC Condensing Unit combines high-performance cooling, minimal energy usage, and easy integration, making it ideal for precision lab equipment. Discover how ARCTIC’s expertise can enhance your equipment’s performance—contact ARCTIC today for a tailored thermal solution!