Guide for
selecting equipment

The process of choosing a centrifuge can be complex, as there are many basic variables to consider if you want to make a good choice.

The simplification of this task is essential to allow the user to identify the equipment needed based on not just some variables, but also considering their preferences. To facilitate this work, we have defined this guide for choosing centrifuges, taking into consideration some of the characteristics of the equipment to serve as guides to refine the search based on manners of working.

The basic information needed to start is the following:

• Characteristics and properties of the tubes to be processed: length, diameter and RCF tolerance.
• Maximum required speed and max. RCF: what do the max. RPM or RCF (xg) you want to work with depend on?
• Number of tubes to be processed per cycle: also called number of positions.
• Type of centrifuge according to temperature control: refrigerated, heated, ventilated.
• Type of rotor required: angle fixed o swing out, decisive for obtaining the separation result.
• Other technical characteristics: the combination of all of them will define the equipment required.
• Type of equipment control: type of screen included in the centrifuge.

You can get more information about any of these parameters checking the menu on the left.

Centrifugation is an exothermic process which produces heat by friction with the air in the centrifuge chamber and the different parts of the rotor. This heat depends on multiple factors such as the type of rotor, room temperature or set speed. Thus meaning, the sample can be affected by temperature changes. As experts in centrifugation Ortoalresa provides all its refrigerated centrifuges with an efficient cooling system that permits:

• Improving the turn on – turn off to reduce the consumption.
• Using only the gases allowed according regulation for F-gas 517/2014 for your peace of mind.
• Reaching a very low temperature even at max speed, with values bellow 0ºC, because not all samples must be frozen below 4ºC.
• Reaching the max accuracy, in steps of 0,5ºC.
• Assuring the stability of temperature along your process.
• Preparing the device at working temperature bellow room temperature, by applying the pre-cooling.

Even without any cooling or heating, the temperature can increase due to the centrifugation process. Despite the lack of temperature regulation, our centrifuges are provided with a ventilation system that avoids the accumulation of heat within the chamber of centrifugation, thus reducing the temperature increase.

Characteristics and properties of the tubes to be processed: length, diameter and RCF tolerance.

The support for the sample must be able to bear the centrifugal force it will be subjected to. In general, there are materials that due to their properties are more resistant, such as some plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, Teflon) and other materials that are less resistant, such as glass, which generally does not support RCF values above 4.000 xg.

The size of the tubes is totally decisive for choosing the centrifuge, as it will determine the choice of the equipment you need. The following chart gives more information about our tube references.

The versatility of a centrifuge comes from the configuration of its accessories. Each series of equipment has a chart of rotors containing information about the adaptors available for them. In addition, we can enlarge this feature even more by designing multiple adaptors to process tubes with different bottoms with a single set of adaptors.

We also offer the supports  for our general applications centrifuges:

Number of tubes to be processed per cycle.

One of the requirements in making the right choice is to know the number of samples to be processed per cycle. This value, combined with the volume of the tube required, will define the size of equipment needed.

As a guide please refer to the following chart, where you will find the maximum number of tubes that can be placed in each of our equipment, according to their volume.

Maximum required speed and max. RCF

A centrifuge operates by applying force to the sample that will produce separation of elements according to density. The different kinds of samples processed and their properties, as well as the different types of results needed by the users makes it indispensable to know this value in order to obtain the desired results.

When choosing equipment, it is necessary to consider the maximum RCF values, or if lacking, the RPM needed for the work.

To compare maximum RCF and RPM values of our equipment.

LED

• Speed programing RPM/RCF in 50 RPM/10xg steps.
• Acceleration control in 2 steps and deceleration in 3 steps.
• Timer: 1 – 99 minutes and indefinite time, programmable in 1 min intervals.
• Programmed values maintained in the memory.
• Possibility to block/change RPM/RCF during the cycle.
• Timer from 0 or “at set RPM”, count up or countdown.
• Acoustic and optical warnings showing the status of the equipment.
• Available in models: Microcen 24, Biocen 22, Unicen 21 and Vetcen.

 

LCD

• Speed programing RPM/RCF in 10 RPM/10xg steps.
• Timer: 5 sec. – 99 minutes and indefinite time, programmable in 5 sec. intervals.
• Possibility to lock/change RPM/RCF during the cycle.
• Timer from 0 or “at set RPM”, count up or countdown.
• 16 memories.
• Acoustic and optical warnings showing the status of the equipment.
• PCBS: Progressive controlled braking system up to 175 selectable ramps that prevents sample homogenization after separation.
• Temperature control: range -20ºC – 40ºC (only refrigerated models) and up to 80ºC (only in heated models).
• Available in models: Biocen 22R, Bioprocen 22 R, Lacter 21, and Plasma 22.

 

TFT color touch screen

• Speed programing RPM/RCF in 10 RPM/10xg steps.
• Timer: 1 sec. to 99 hours and indefinite time, programmable in 1 sec. intervals.
• Possibility to block or modify the speed during the cycle.
• Timer from 0 or “at set RPM”, count up or countdown.
• 40 memories / 100 memories.*
• Acoustic and optical warnings showing the status of equipment.
• Connect the centrifuge, via WiFi, with a PC, tablet or mobile phone, showing all the working information of the equipment through the Ortoalresa SmartConnect app.*
• PCBS: Progressive controlled acceleration and braking system up to 175 selectable ramps that prevents sample homogenization after separation.
• ULS: system for locating imbalance, indicating the area of the imbalance on screen.
• Easy reading, selection and programming of values in an intuitive way thanks to the screen dimensions (7”).*
• Start delay:  To program the moment the cycle is to begin.
• Linked program:  Permit the linking up to 8 consecutive programmes without the need for user intervention.
• Temperature control: range -20ºC – 40ºC (only refrigerated models) and 5ºC – 80ºC (only in heated models).
• Available in models: Series Digicen 22, series Consul 22, series Digtor 22, Dilitcen 22 R, series Magnus 22, series Digtor 22 C, Digtor 22 Col and Cyto 22.

*available depending on the model

Other technical characteristics.

What will really define the equipment you need is the combination of all of them. To facilitate the choice, you can compare equipment based on the features considered more important to your processes.

GRS: Gas Release System

The petroleum testing laboratories environment presents a number of risks inherent to the type of sample. The devices for the analysis of samples should ensure minimal risk conditions at work, a critical premise in the development of devices for this application in Ortoalresa.

Centrifugation processes for the determination of water and sediment in petroleum, require an organic solvent which, reacting with the sample and caloric intake of the equipment, generates aerosols. In order to remove this gas from the centrifuge and take it to a safe area, Ortoalresa has designed GRS (Gas Release System) as an accessory for all of the Digtor 22 C series centrifuges. This accessory creates inside the centrifuge chamber, concretely on its top, when locked, that allows the suction of the atmosphere high in aerosols. This atmosphere is piped through the GRS up to its exit, where it can be treated in isolation. The whole circuit is continuously monitored by the equipment, which will lead the right moment to operate the system. Moreover, it only requires the presence of a compressed air supply of 2 bar pressure, in order  to create a 10l/min suction, sufficient to perform the suction of the centrifuge inside chamber volume every 5 min.

GRS main functions are:

• Decreasing gas concentration during operation, and therefore the risk of explosion.
• Eliminating the user’s health risk by inhalation of produced vapors
• Avoiding gas dispersion into laboratory environment.

Easy to use

• It only requires a compressed air supply.
• It has 4 connections: A compressed air inlet, an air inlet for air removed from the equipment, an atmosphere outlet to a safe area, and the control input from the equipment.
• Operation pilot light.
• Air inlet pressure regulator.
• Inlet pressure gauge.
• Operation controlled by core equipment.

Features

• Setting up at a 2 bar pressure, creates a 10 l/min suction.
• 0.2 bar gauge accuracy.
• Max 8 bar inlet pressure.
• Fast inlet and outlet connections.
• Suction capacity: minimum twice total chamber volume in 10 min.

Safety

• Hazardous gases input is not required.
• Low noise level <40 dB.
• Powered only by rotor in motion and lid blocked.
• Low power consumption.

EU Directives: 2011/65/EU, 2012/19/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2014/35/EU.
Standards: EN 61010-1, EN 61010-2-020, EN 61326-2-6,  EN 61326-1,EN 61010-2-010, EN 61326-2-6.

Versions

	Dimensions (mm)(w x d x h)			Net weight (kg)	Voltage (v)	Frecuency (Hz)	Consumption (w)
CP 001	140	220	120	2	220-240	50-60	20
CP 004	140	220	120	2	110-120	50-60	20