Excedr’s leasing program is designed for labs. Request a lease estimate today and see how leasing can save you time and money.
Cold traps, also known as condensers or condenser chillers, protect vacuum pumps from contamination and damage by sublimating or condensing vapors released during evaporation processes.
Simply put, these devices work to collect harmful vapors, or gas molecules, that are released during laboratory evaporation before they enter a vacuum pump. Cold traps are also designed to prevent pump back streaming, a process where oil vapors from the pump can enter back into the vacuum pumping system and affect its performance.
Because vapors naturally migrate to the coldest spot in an evaporation or concentration system, a cold trap—the coldest part of a system—essentially operate as a vapor trap, collecting any released vapors before they contaminate and damager your vacuum pump. Without a cold trap, your equipment and your team are at risk of being exposed to harmful vapors released during lab evaporation of various solvents.
Cold traps are typically lowered into a vacuum flask and placed before the mouth of a vacuum pump to force the stream of air through the mechanism. In order to capture vapors effectively, they typically use a coolant to chill a stainless steel or glass surface or baffle, where the vapors condense or sublimate on.
Cold traps are generally used in any high vacuum pumping system, and are especially useful in freeze dryers and cryopump systems.
Simply put, these devices work to collect harmful vapors, or gas molecules, that are released during laboratory evaporation before they enter a vacuum pump. Cold traps are also designed to prevent pump back streaming, a process where oil vapors from the pump can enter back into the vacuum pumping system and affect its performance.
Because vapors naturally migrate to the coldest spot in an evaporation or concentration system, a cold trap—the coldest part of a system—essentially operate as a vapor trap, collecting any released vapors before they contaminate and damager your vacuum pump. Without a cold trap, your equipment and your team are at risk of being exposed to harmful vapors released during lab evaporation of various solvents.
Cold traps are typically lowered into a vacuum flask and placed before the mouth of a vacuum pump to force the stream of air through the mechanism. In order to capture vapors effectively, they typically use a coolant to chill a stainless steel or glass surface or baffle, where the vapors condense or sublimate on.
Cold traps are generally used in any high vacuum pumping system, and are especially useful in freeze dryers and cryopump systems.
There are a variety of vacuum cold traps available. You will need a specific trap or condenser depending on which type of pump or pumps you use, whether it’s a rotary vane, diaphragm, or diffusion pump.
It is also important to choose a cold trap that will reach lower freezing temperatures than the freezing point of your sample being used. Cold traps are generally offered in three different temperature levels: -50°C, -85°C, -105°C.
In essence, a mechanical cold trap is a small refrigeration unit, and varies in size depending on the amount of air that needs to be processed. Mechanical cold traps can achieve a range of temperatures, from -40°C to upwards of -80°C. They offer a variety of cooling methods, which include auto defrost cycles and multi-stage cascade styles.
This device is designed to operate with pumps such as a rotary vane mechanical pump. It is a demountable, reservoir-type trap that utilizes liquid nitrogen temperatures to capture water and oil vapors. Because the trapping is so intense, an extremely high rate of vacuum can be achieved and maintained. The reservoir can be easily removed for cleaning.
This trap uses a mixture of dry ice and alcohol that is placed at the bottom of the trap well, which allows the device to reach temperatures of -75°C, which is low enough to condense most volatile materials. The trapping well can be lifted out of the trap, enabling easy removal, cleaning and defrosting once venting is complete. These traps are typically more affordable than their cold trap counterparts.
A cryopump, also known as a cryogenic pump, is a type of vacuum pump that traps gases and vapors. This is achieved using a cold surface, in tandem with a pumping system that condenses the gas or vapor onto the cold surface. These devices are often used for cryotrapping, a technique that involves cooling gases without actually freezing them.
By increasing the residence time on a cooled surface, the gases are “trapped”, and thus removed from the vacuum environment. These devices are usually cooled using compressed helium, and are utilized in high or ultrahigh vacuum systems.
Cold traps are commonly used during short-path distillation, a form of fractional distillation that is used to separate an oleoresin into its active compounds, including essential oils, resin, and more. The process creates a distillate, or a liquid product that has been stripped of many of its active components.
A short path distillation system includes several components, such as a chiller, vacuum pump, cold trap, and a short path, or a combination of multiple glassware.
The chiller acts as a condenser and condenses any vapors that travel towards it during the distilling process. A chiller’s suggest temperature range is between 40°C and 60°C, or 104°F to 140°C, because vapor can generally be condensed at any temperature that’s at least 20 degrees below the temperature the sample was boiled off at.
The vacuum pump is, as you can guess, used to create a vacuum in the system. Many professionals use an oil-based rotary vane pump, which provides excellent vacuum depth. The cold trap prevents any vapors from passing through the condenser, protecting your vacuum system and prolonging its lifespan.
Lastly, the glass components include a boiling flask, a distillation head, a receiving flask (or cow), and one more receiving flask specifically used for the “tail” of the distillate.
Our lease agreements are founder-friendly and flexible, helping you preserve working capital, strengthen the cash flow of your business, and keep business credit lines open for expansions, staffing, and other crucial operational expenses and business development opportunities.
Leases range from 2 to 5 years. Length will depend on several factors, including how long you want to use the equipment, equipment type, and your company’s financial position. These are standard factors leasing companies consider and help us tailor a lease agreement to fit your needs.
We don’t carry an inventory. This means you’re not limited to a specific set of manufacturers. Instead, you can pick the equipment that aligns with your business goals and preferences. We’ll work with the manufacturer of your choice to get the equipment in your facility as quickly as possible.
Bundle preventive maintenance and repair coverage with your lease agreement. You can spread those payments over time. Easily maintain your equipment, minimize the chances something will break down, repair instrumentation quickly, and simplify your payment processes.
At the end of your lease, you have multiple options. You can either renew the lease at a significantly lower price, purchase the machine outright based on the fair market value of the original pricing, or call it a day and we’ll come the pick up the equipment for you free of charge.
Our leases do not include loan-like terms, which can be restrictive or harmful in certain situations. We do not require debt covenants, IP pledges, collateral, or equity participation. Our goal is to maximize your flexibility. When you lease with us, you’re collaborating with a true business partner.
Our underwriting is done in-house. You can expect quicker turnaround, allowing you respond to your equipment needs as they arise. We require less documentation than traditional lenders and financiers and can get the equipment you need in operation more quickly.
