Low-temperature storage of bone marrow in nitrogen vapor-phase refrigerators: decreased temperature gradients with an...

Large temperature gradients may exist in nitrogen vapor-phase refrigerators. Cryopreserved cells stored at higher levels may be considerably warmer than those stored closer to the liquid nitrogen reservoir. To decrease this temperature gradient, racking systems constructed of aluminum were placed in marrow storage refrigerators. The higher heat conductivity of aluminum resulted in a vapor-phase temperature gradient of only 5.9 degrees C at 22.5 inches above the liquid, as compared to the gradient of 86 degrees C seen with steel frames in a similar refrigerator. Temperature fluxes were minimal with lid opening or nitrogen filling. The thicker frame size and loss of the lowest storage level resulted in a storage capacity 63 percent of that achievable with steel frames and liquid immersion. Consumption of nitrogen was estimated to be 174 to 220 percent of the static usage in this model of refrigerator with 6 inches of nitrogen, but comparable to the consumption expected with full immersion of the racking system, regardless of frame construction. These data demonstrate the feasibility of achieving very low, stable, cryogenic temperatures in a vapor-phase refrigerator.