Cold Storage Matters: Is Your Freezer Technology Setting You Up to Fail? 

Approved LM-Farrar Cold Storage Infographic-24 (1) KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR FORCED AIR VERSUS NATURAL CONVECTION COLD STORAGE Learn how cold storage design innovations drive efficient, scalable, and quality controlled sample management. Industries such as biopharma and biobanking face challenges with cold storage, particularly with cold wall ultra-low temperature freezers (ULTs). These challenges include scalability, process enablement, quality, and sustainability, especially when these freezers are frequently accessed. Such constraints can create bottlenecks, hindering the efficiency of high-volume workflows. Cold wall ULTs excel in scenarios where long-term storage with minimal access is required, such as in long-term biorepository storage, providing a stable environment for preserving samples over extended periods. To address the issues associated with frequent access, forced air ultra-low-temperature freezers offer a solution. These freezers circulate air at a set point, ensuring even temperature distribution, greater capacity, and lower energy costs. They deliver improved flexibility and energy efficiency, making them ideal for high-access environments. When choosing the appropriate storage solution, lab managers must evaluate their specific needs. Considering factors such as access frequency, energy use, and scalability is crucial for optimizing efficiency and maintaining sample integrity. UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF ENHANCED FORCED AIR CIRCULATION TECHNOLOGY COLD WALL TECHNOLOGY ULTS FORCED AIR CONVECTION FREEZERS Cold wall ULTs rely on natural convection and energy flow principles to slowly drive temperature equilibrium in the chamber. In a forced air convection ULT, energy flow paths are actively moved and mixed to quickly achieve equilibrium. Product energy is drawn to its surface: Samples initially have a higher thermal energy than the freezer environment. This energy naturally flows from within the warmer samples to their cooled container surfaces. Energy transfers to chamber air: Energy flows from the containers to the surrounding air inside the freezer chamber through natural convection as warm air rises. Energy moves toward chamber walls: The energy in the chamber air is drawn to the cooler chamber walls in contact with the evaporator coils. Energy transferred to refrigerant: Natural convection draws energy from the air to the refrigerant in the evaporator coils. Blower forced convection moves energy from container surface to air: Inside the freezer, a blower actively circulates air, efficiently transferring thermal energy from the container surface to the surrounding air. Forced air circulation moves energy to the evaporator coil: The warm air (carrying the thermal energy from the containers) is directed towards the evaporator coil, moving the warm air over the evaporator coil, facilitating continual heat transfer. Forced convection moves energy from air to the refrigerant in the evaporator: As the warm air passes over the evaporator coil, heat is transferred from the air to the refrigerant inside the coil through forced convection. The blower-driven airflow maximizes contact between the warm air and the cold evaporator coil, enhancing the efficiency of the heat exchange. Refrigerant carries absorbed heat energy away from the freezer chamber, lowering the temperature inside the ULT freezer. This continuous cycle of energy transfer and convection stabilizes the internal temperature of the freezer, maintaining the samples at ultra-low temperatures. Refrigerant, heated by the absorbed energy, is cycled out of the evaporator to be cooled again, while the air inside the freezer is recirculated by the blower. The continuous forced air movement maintains a uniform, ultra- low temperature environment, ensuring optimal preservation conditions. UNDERSTANDING THE PROS AND CONS OF COLD WALL AND FORCED AIR CONVECTION SYSTEMS CAN HELP STAKEHOLDERS EVALUATE WHICH COLD STORAGE SYSTEM BEST MEETS THEIR LAB'S UNIQUE NEEDS. COLD WALL TECHNOLOGY FREEZERS PROS: Energy efficiency: Thick wall insulation offers energy efficient long-term low-temperature storage with few door openings Lower initial costs: Generally less expensive per unit to purchase and install Long-term use: Known for robust and stable performance over long periods of storage, with best practices on use and maintenance CONS: x Some models can be prone to uneven temperature distribution: Temperature variations within the chamber can risk sample integrity x Slower cooling and recovery times: Longer cool down and recovery times after door openings x More manual maintenance: Annual defrosts and backup storage for use during the defrost are required VS FORCED AIR CONVECTION FREEZERS PROS: Uniform temperature distribution: Ensures consistent temperatures throughout the chamber, protecting sample integrity and quality compliance Faster cooling and recovery times: Rapid cooling restores temperatures quickly, minimizing exposure to suboptimal conditions Greater flexibility and scalability potential: Enables adaptation to diverse storage needs and dynamic applications, making it suitable for a wider range of uses Increased long-term energy efficiency: Improved energy efficiency for frequent door openings aligns with sustainability goals for frequently accessed storage, and reducing operational costs Increased capacity: Storage capacity for a higher volume of material reduces the overall footprint, further adding to the cost and scalability benefits CONS: x Higher initial costs: Higher capital expenditure per unit to purchase and install due to advanced components and technology x More vertical space: Added forced air fans and compressor increase the vertical space required for the unit x Increased energy use: Powering the circulation fan requires added power compared to cold wall units, though the added efficiency from actively mixing air to quickly achieve equilibrium may cancel out this additional power DECIDING ON THE RIGHT ULTRA-LOW TEMPERATURE COLD STORAGE INVOLVES CONSIDERING AN ABUNDANCE OF FACTORS. EACH LAB HAS UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS AND FACES THE CHALLENGE OF BALANCING THESE NEEDS TO ENSURE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE. COLD WALL ULT FORCED AIR ULC SCALABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY PROCESS AND MAINTENANCE EFFICIENCY QUALITY SUSTAINABILITY FARRAR® pioneered forced air convection cooling to tackle the challenge of preserving and storing biological and tissue donor samples, addressing key issues faced by biopharma labs. Their Ultra-Low Chamber Series models are the only forced air ultra-low-temperature freezers available in the +2 to +8°C and -20 to -80°C range (with options for -40°C storage), offering a unique solution for high-access scenarios. FARRAR® also provides completely redundant refrigeration systems with automatic defrost to maintain sample integrity. In contrast, cold wall ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, like FARRAR's Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer, are designed for infrequent access and long-term storage. These freezers offer low energy consumption using a low global warming potential (GWP) natural hydrocarbon refrigerant. With a temperature range of -50°C to -86°C and <+/-5°C uniformity, and a 26ft3 (737L) capacity, they provide a stable environment ideal for preserving samples over extended periods with minimal access. ULC SERIES FORCED AIR CONVECTION SYSTEMS OFFER MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND STABILITY OF COLD STORAGE. BENEFITS OF THE FARRAR® ULC SERIES INCLUDE: Optional racking, shelving, drawers, and carts optimizes process and workflow. ULC-190 ULC-259 ULC-328 Remove bottlenecks with forced air convection ULC units, offering customizable options and a range of energy- and space-saving features to meet the specific needs of your lab. THE SERIES FEATURES THREE CHAMBER SIZES EACH WITH DIFFERENT RACKING OPTIONS AND TRANSPORTATION ACCESSORIES: Custom shelving for reagents and smaller materials Midsized bins (for boxes) Large racks for larger boxes, bins, or pallets High-density sliding racks with inner doors Cart options to minimize material handling for bulk or pull, pack, and ship processes using bottles, bags, or boxes ULT FREEZER COLD WALL SYSTEMS ARE OPTIMIZED FOR INFREQUENTLY ACCESSED STORAGE WITH A SMALLER OVERALL FOOTPRINT. CO2 backup system protects inventory in the event of equipment failure due to power loss using carbon dioxide. LN2 backup system protects inventory in the event of an equipment failure due to loss of power using liquid nitrogen. Optimize your infrequently accessed storage with -86°C ULT units, featuring an integrated Smart Access Panel with integrated, exportable temperature logs, a PIN controlled electronic door lock, and maximum protection for your samples with standard 5 inner doors. 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