Accessible cooling system, especially for cryopreserving biological samples, and method for the operation thereof

Abstract

A cooling system ( 1 ), especially for cryopreserving biological samples ( 2 ), comprises a cooling chamber ( 100 ) delimited by a bottom area ( 110 ), side walls ( 120 ), and a top area ( 130 ), and a cooling device ( 200 ) for cooling the cooling chamber ( 100 ) using liquid nitrogen ( 220 ). The bottom area ( 110 ) is designed for direct cooling using the liquid nitrogen, and the cooling chamber ( 100 ) is dimensioned such that an operator ( 3 ) can access and move around in the cooling chamber ( 100 ). The bottom area ( 110 ) has a platform ( 111 ) which is permeable to vapor of the liquid nitrogen ( 220 ) and forms a support zone for the operator ( 3 ). Methods for operating the cooling system are also described.

1 . A cooling system for cryopreservation of biological samples, comprising:
 a cooling chamber, which is delimited by a floor area, side walls and a ceiling area, and   a first cooling device, which is provided for cooling of the cooling chamber with liquid nitrogen,   
       wherein:
 the floor area is configured for direct cooling with the liquid nitrogen, 
 the cooling chamber is dimensioned such that an operator can stay and move in the cooling chamber, and 
 the floor area has a platform, which is permeable to vapor of the liquid nitrogen and forms a support area for the operator. 
 
     
     
         2 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , which comprises:
 a second cooling device, which can be actuated independently of the first cooling device for cooling of the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , in which the second cooling device is configured for at least one of the following features:
 cooling of at least one of the side walls of the cooling chamber and   electrical cooling operation.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , in which the ceiling area has a ceiling opening, wherein at least one operation room is provided above the ceiling opening, wherein the at least one operation room comprises:
 a drive device with mechanical control elements,   a conveying device for insertion of the operator into the cooling chamber and/or   a lock device.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling system according to  claim 4 , including at least one of the following features
 the mechanical control elements can be inserted into the cooling chamber, wherein at least parts of the control elements can be heated, and   the conveying device comprises a rope hoist or a step device.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , in which
 the side walls have a multi-layer structure with several wall layers, which comprise at least one of at least one plastic layer, at least one vacuum component layer and at least one vapor locking layer.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , in which
 at least one of the side walls is constructed in a modular manner with at least one wall element, which is shiftable vertically with regard to the respective side wall and can be separated from the side wall.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling system according to  claim 7 , in which
 a docking device for an evacuation container is provided on an external side of the side wall with the at least one wall element.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , in which
 at least one of the side walls has a door opening with a door leaf.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling system according to  claim 9 , including at least one of the following features
 the door opening is arranged with a predefined distance above the floor area and   the door leaf is arranged movably parallel to a respective side wall.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , in which
 a sample receiving device with shelves is provided in the cooling chamber, which is adapted for receiving the samples.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling system according to  claim 11 , in which
 the sample receiving device is equipped with thermal bridges, which protrude into the floor area.   
     
     
         13 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least one of
 partition walls, which extend in at least one of a vertical and a horizontal direction in the cooling chamber,   a coolant auxiliary container, which is provided for receiving a reserve volume of liquid nitrogen,   a nitrogen liquefaction system,   condensate collection elements, which are arranged in the cooling chamber,   a nitrogen sprinkler system, which is arranged in an upper area of the cooling chamber, and   a helium supply system, which is configured for cooling of the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a cooling system according to  claim 1 , with the steps of:
 cooling of the cooling chamber with the first cooling device, and   positioning of biological samples in the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , in which
 an operator executes at least one of control, maintenance and operating steps in the cooling chamber.