A rapid cooling system for processing food is disclosed which includes a heat exchanger adapted to receive a first coolant (Coolant-I) at a first temperature and eject Coolant-I at a second temperature, a cooling chamber disposed within the heat exchanger in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, the cooling chamber includes a first inlet adapted to receive a product at an elevated temperature (T1), a second inlet adapted to receive a second coolant (Coolant-II) at a low temperature (T2), and an outlet adapted to release a combination of the product and Coolant-II at a low temperature (T.sub.out) and pressure (P.sub.out), wherein cooling of the product from T1 to T.sub.out does not cause a phase change in the product.

The present invention involves using either liquid nitrogen, dry ice, a gel-like solution of water and alcohol in an ice pack, or a combination of these in a method or device for rapidly lowering the temperature of multiple food and beverage products at the same time. The gel-like ice pack may be shaped around the food or beverage product to increase the surface area resulting in faster cooling. The device may also contain a scale, infrared temperature sensor, and bar code scanner for determining the initial weight, temperature, density, and type of food or beverage product to be cooled.

A cryogenic device for storing biological material containers comprises: a sealed cryogenic Dewar vessel; (b) a matrix of receptacles disposed in an inner space of the cryogenic Dewar vessel and configured for receiving and storing biological material containers; (c) means for loading and retrieving the biological material containers. The loading/retrieving means comprises a telescopic cane manipulator configured for loading and retrieving the biological material containers within the matrix. The receptacles are carried by a carousel member rotatable around an axis thereof. The receptacles are arranged into a number of groups distributed over the carousel member. Each group of the receptacles has a central point positioned at distance R.sub.1 from the rotation axis of the carousel member. a center of each receptacle within the group is positioned around a central point thereof at distance R.sub.2.

An exemplary method protects a delicate device from potential damage from shock or vibration. A material in a liquid state is placed in contact with the delicate device. The liquid material is cooled causing it to transition to a solid state which stabilizes the delicate device in contact with the solid material against shock and vibration. The solid state material is heated causing it to sublimate into a gas thus releasing the delicate device for operation.

Refrigeration system comprising: a first cryogenic chamber defined by at least a first wall, the first cryogenic chamber being thermally connected to at least a first cold source; a second cryogenic chamber defined by at least a second wall which extends at least partially facing the first wall, the second chamber being contained inside the first chamber and thermally connected to at least a second cold source; wherein the refrigeration system comprises at least a first door made in the first wall substantially facing a second door made in the second wall, the first door and the second door being arranged in such a way that the opening of the first door allows the opening of the second door.

Aspects of the present invention provide a cryogenic fluid delivery system configured to provide a predetermined amount of liquid cryogenic fluid from a reservoir to an apparatus (e.g., a vapor ring of a cryogenic chiller system). A controlled high pressure gas burst is applied to the reservoir to push a predetermined amount of cryogenic fluid from the reservoir to the apparatus.

The present disclosure relates to a cryocooling system and method. The system includes a sample well and a sample chamber, each of which having an interior that is sized and shaped to hold a cryocooling gas at cryogenic temperatures and a pressure below 1 atm. The sample chamber is also sized and shaped to hold a sample substance to be cryocooled. An impedance tube connects the interior of the sample well to the interior of the sample chamber to allow cryocooling gas to move from the sample well to the sample chamber. A vacuum tube is connected to the interior of the sample chamber on one side and to a vacuum pump via a vacuum port on the other. The vacuum tube is sized and shaped to allow cryocooling gas within the sample chamber to be pumped out of the sample chamber by the vacuum pump.

Systems and/or methods provided herein relate to cooling of a component within a chamber of a cryostat. A system can comprise a cryostat having a cooling plate disposed within the cryostat, and a cooling feed line extending into the cryostat from external to the cryostat, which cooling feed line is thermally coupled to the cooling plate by a heat exchanger. In one or more embodiments, the system further can comprise a bulk cooling system that employs a liquifiable gas to provide cooling, wherein the bulk cooling system is fluidly coupled to the cooling feed line. In one or more embodiments, the system further can comprise a vacuum pump disposed at the cooling return line and external to the cryostat and physically decoupled from the cryostat by a section of the cooling return line disposed between the cryostat and the vacuum pump.

A sample cooling and storage mechanism includes a refrigeration device and a gradient cooling device. The refrigeration device is configured to perform temperature-controlled refrigeration on storage vials. The gradient cooling device is configured to perform programmed gradient cooling on the storage vials. The refrigeration device includes at least one refrigeration zone. A nitrogen spraying component, a heating component and a storage vial rack are provided in the refrigeration zone. The nitrogen spraying component is configured to spray nitrogen in the refrigeration zone. The heating component heats the interior of the refrigeration zone. The sample cooling and storage mechanism achieves a gradient cooling function for biological samples through the gradient cooling device, thereby preventing damage to the biological samples caused by rapid cooling. In addition, the sample cooling and storage mechanism achieves a temperature-controlled refrigeration function for the biological samples through the refrigeration device.

A freezer includes a plurality of shelves in an insulated payload bay; a plurality of evaporators coupled to the payload bay with a multiplicity of coolant tubes in each evaporator, wherein each tube enters and then exits the payload bay, further comprising one or more cryogenic valves coupled to the coolant tubes; a pump to force coolant flowing through the evaporators with a pressure of at least 90 psi to supply the coolant at each evaporator with at least 80 gallons per hour of coolant; and a plurality of fans to circulate cooled air in the payload bay.