Storage of Sensitive Sensors in Nitrogen inside a Vacuum and Pressure Chamber

There are many components which react adversely to air. Silicon Wafers are one example. Other examples include Silicon Based Sensors or Gallium Based Detectors. Conversely, medical devices and products may also have a need to be stored either in a vacuum environment or an oxygen free environment.

This particular system was envisioned, designed, and made for a Medical Device Manufacturer who also builds Sensitive Sensors. Our Acrylic Vacuum Chamber had to be a multi-use chamber. The requirements were for our chamber to have full vacuum capabilities of less than 5 Torr and capable of 5 psi of overpressure. The chamber was used to vacuum store medical device components between manufacturing process steps between batches. Conversely, there was also a need to store Silicon Based Nano sensors inside a pressurized chamber filled with nitrogen only. The vacuum chamber was evacuated several times and filled with nitrogen. Finally, the Silicon Based Nano-sensors were placed into the chamber. Finally, the chamber was now pressurized up to 5psig. The overpressure prevented any gas permeation from the outside towards the inside because the air was pushed out. This eliminated the risk of contamination.

What you are looking at is a small vacuum chamber (about 12 inch wide x 12inch deep x 6 inch high) that is able to go to 5 Torr of absolute pressure during vacuum operations and 5 psi of positive pressure during overpressure nitrogen storage. You can see the thumb screws that are used to clamp the O-Ring against the acrylic chamber in order to keep an air tight seal. You can also see the vacuum dial gauge and vacuum valves. It’s a bit harder to see, but there is an Oil Free Vacuum Pump present below the vacuum chamber. There is also another valve that is present on the bottom wall of the chamber. This system is often used as a multi purposed system because it allows vacuum and pressure applications simultaneously.

Are you looking to store your products inside a vacuum or an oxygen free chamber? What about overpressure nitrogen storage? Contact Us today to discover how we can be of service to you.

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Acrylic Pressure and Vacuum Chambers
Acrylic Pressure and Vacuum Chambers are Pressure chambers that are capable of vacuum ratings that are the same vacuum rating of acrylic vacuum chambers. Keep in mind that Acrylic Pressure and Vacuum Chambers have a pressure limit of 15PSIG
BNC Vacuum Feedthroughs
Coaxial Vacuum Feedthroughs are vacuum rated BNC connectors that enable you to run BNC from outside of vacuum chamber towards inside of the vacuum chamber without disturbing the vacuum. Triaxial Vacuum Feedthroughs, just like coax vacuum feedthroughs, will enable you to run Triax Connections from outside towards the inside of the vacuum chamber without disturbing the vacuum levels inside the vacuum chamber.
Our Work: Altitude Testing in a Vacuum Chamber
It is not a secret that you can simulate a certain altitude in a vacuum chamber. The good thing about Acrylic Vacuum Chambers is not only that you can simulate an altitude of up to 250,000 feet, you can also fully view your test specimen during your testing operation.
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Force Decay Leak Testing is a very popular quantitative leak testing method used to quality test package and product integrity due to its ability to detect small leaks which cannot be seen through visual inspection. In this method, the test specimen is internally inflated by either internal pressurization or vacuum force. The inflated test specimen will, in turn, apply a force on a pressure transducer. Finally, the change in force applied by the inflated specimen over a specified time is observed.