Trucks put “on ice” in army refrigerator

• Book ID: 104133862
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1944
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 147 KB
• Volume: 238
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/s0016-0032(44)90818-5

✦ Synopsis

CURRENT TOPICS.

22 9 through freeze-drying, a process in which the penicillin solution is caused to evaporate in a high vacuum at below-freezing temperatures. Dr. Brown's electronic bulk-reducer employs radio-frequency current to concentrate the penicillin solution. His system consists of three large glass bulbs, connected in vertical series, and attached to a pump that maintains a relatively low vacuum. In this vacuum, the solution boils at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that does no harm to the drug during the brief period of its exposure.

To the setup is connected a 2,ooo-watt radio-frequency generator. Electrodes carrying the output of the electronic generator are attached to the base of the lowest glass bulb which, when the unit is in operation, holds about 2oo cubic centimeters of liquid. From the base of the bulb, a glass tube extends downward for several inches, so that when a beaker of penicillin broth is placed on a platform beneath, it almost reaches the bottom of the beaker.

As the vacuum pump starts, the suction draws the solution into the base of the lower bulb. The radio current is turned on and, as the current passes through the solution, heat up to 5o degrees is created and the liquid boils. This causes an evaporation at the rate of two litres an hour.

Dr. Brown recalled some of the problems with which he contended as he sought to perfect his invention. One of the difficulties that had to be overcome in the original setup of two connected glass cylinders was excessive foaming, which slowed up the process. The thought occurred to him that glass marbles placed in the connecting necks of the cylinders might be effective.

The scientist sent out a messenger, who visited all of the shops in the town of Princeton without so much as finding a marble. Dr. Brown called his home and enlisted his wife to search his children's belongings. Still no marbles. Finally, his wife reported that one of the neighbor's children, who "played for keeps," had a shoe-box containing I,ooo glassies. This supply was tapped and science moved ahead.

Dr. Brown's final solution, however, was to replace the two glass cylinders and marbles with the three glass bulbs of his model, adding a water coil. Further, the penicillin was "degassed" before placing it in the containers. Dr. Brown explained that boiling occurs in the bottom bulb, the next bulb takes care of excessive foaming, and the third is "just for good measure."

In succeeding with his electronic bulk-reducer, Dr. Brown has added an important chapter to the history of radiothermics, the application of radio heat, which is speeding and improving many vital processes in war industry. Achievements of radiothermics now run the gamut from gluing, annealing, sewing and dehydrating to drying, case hardening, riveting, detonating, welding and soldering. In fact, more electronic power in kilowatts is being used in the United States for industrial purposes than by all radio transmitters in broadcasting and communications. R.H.O.

Trucks Put " On Ice " in Army Reffigerator,--(Refrigerating Engineering, Vol. 48, No. I.) A refrigerator large enough to put an entire fuel servicing truck "on ice" is now being used by Equipment Laboratory of the Engineering Division research engineers at Wright Field, Ohio, to test the ability of Air Forces equipment to take the punishment of arctic weather.