The Great Wall VT-5000H Cryogenic Vapor Trap

Overview

The Great Wall VT-5000H Cryogenic Vapor Trap is an engineered cold trap system designed for high-efficiency condensation and removal of water vapor and volatile process byproducts from vacuum lines in laboratory and pilot-scale drying, concentration, and degassing applications. Unlike passive desiccant or refrigerated coil traps, the VT-5000H employs direct cylinder cooling—where the stainless steel trap body itself serves as the primary condensing surface—enabling rapid thermal equilibration and high-mass-capacity capture without intermediate heat exchangers. This architecture minimizes thermal lag and maximizes condensate retention during extended vacuum cycles, particularly critical in freeze-drying pre-conditioning, battery electrode drying, and low-pressure solvent recovery workflows. Its −40 °C minimum operating temperature ensures reliable capture of water, ethanol, acetone, and other moderately volatile solvents under typical lab vacuum conditions (1–100 Pa), significantly reducing vapor load on downstream rotary vane or diaphragm vacuum pumps and mitigating oil contamination, corrosion, and premature pump failure.

Key Features

• Integrated SUS304 stainless steel trap chamber with seamless welds and electropolished interior—resistant to corrosion from aqueous, alcoholic, acidic (when used with optional borosilicate glass condenser), and common organic solvent vapors.
• Direct-cylinder cooling design eliminates thermal interface resistance, delivering faster cooldown (<30 min to −40 °C from ambient) and stable temperature maintenance under continuous vapor influx.
• Digital LED temperature display with ±0.5 °C accuracy enables precise coordination of vacuum pump activation timing—preventing backstreaming of condensed moisture into pump oil or mechanical components.
• Rated condensation capacity of up to 4 kg per cycle for water vapor, validated under ISO 2160-compliant test conditions (100% RH, 25 °C inlet air, 30-min exposure at 5 Pa absolute pressure).
• Equipped with bottom-mounted drain valve (1/4″ NPT) for safe, residue-free evacuation of liquefied condensates after operation—compatible with standard lab waste collection protocols.
• Multi-role functionality: serves not only as a vapor trap but also as a pre-freezing bath or low-temperature holding槽 (−40 °C stability ±0.3 °C over 8 h) for sample conditioning prior to lyophilization or vacuum impregnation.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The VT-5000H supports broad chemical compatibility across three operational configurations: (1) standalone stainless steel mode for water and ethanol-based systems; (2) glass-condenser-integrated mode (optional accessory) for HCl, HNO₃, acetic acid, THF, DCM, and DMF vapors; and (3) dry nitrogen-purged configuration for oxygen-sensitive or pyrophoric condensates. All wetted parts comply with ASTM A240/A240M for 304 stainless steel and ASTM E438 Type I, Class A for borosilicate glass (when installed). Unit construction adheres to IEC 61010-1:2010 safety standards for electrical equipment in laboratory use. No regulatory certifications (e.g., CE, UL) are claimed for export outside China unless explicitly specified in contractual documentation.

Software & Data Management

The VT-5000H operates as a stand-alone analog-electronic device with no embedded firmware or digital control interface. Temperature monitoring is performed via calibrated PT100 sensor integrated into the chamber wall, feeding directly to the front-panel digital display. For integration into GLP/GMP environments, external data logging is supported via 0–10 V analog output (configurable as temperature signal) compatible with third-party SCADA, LabVIEW, or DeltaV systems. Audit trails, user access control, and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance require external software-layer implementation—not provided by the unit itself.

Applications

• Vacuum drying of lithium-ion battery cathode/anode foils and wound cell cores—reducing residual moisture to <50 ppm prior to electrolyte filling.
• Rotary evaporation and Kuderna-Danish concentration of environmental water samples (EPA Method 508/525), minimizing solvent loss and improving analyte recovery.
• Pre-freezing stage in pharmaceutical lyophilization cycles, where controlled −40 °C hold stabilizes amorphous structures before primary drying.
• Protection of turbomolecular and diffusion pumps in thin-film deposition systems handling hygroscopic precursors (e.g., TiCl₄, Al(CH₃)₃).
• Cold trapping of off-gas streams from catalytic hydrogenation reactors to recover unreacted solvents and prevent catalyst poisoning.

FAQ

Can the VT-5000H be used continuously under full vacuum without defrost cycles?

Yes—its direct-cooling architecture and 4 kg condensation capacity support uninterrupted operation for up to 8 hours at 10 Pa with ≤1.5 g/min water vapor load. Manual defrost is recommended after each batch or when condensate volume exceeds 3.2 kg.

Is the optional glass condenser supplied with O-rings and mounting hardware?

Yes—the standard glass condenser kit includes fluorocarbon (FKM) O-rings, PTFE-coated stainless steel clamps, and vacuum-rated ground-glass joints (ISO-KF 25 compatible).

Does the unit meet FDA requirements for use in pharmaceutical manufacturing?

The VT-5000H complies with material biocompatibility (USP Class VI) and extractables testing per USP for its stainless steel and glass components. However, final validation for GMP production must be conducted per site-specific IQ/OQ protocols.

What is the expected service life of the compressor under typical lab usage?

Based on accelerated life testing per GB/T 8059-2016, the hermetic compressor maintains ≥95% cooling efficiency after 20,000 operating hours (≈8 years at 7 h/day, 5 days/week), assuming ambient temperature ≤25 °C and adequate ventilation.