Union Carbide LR-310 Liquid Nitrogen Refrigerator Cryogenic Freezer 115V 1.5A

Union Carbide LR-310 Liquid Nitrogen Refrigerator Cryogenic Freezer 115V 1.5A

The Union Carbide LR-310 is a top-loading liquid nitrogen refrigerator designed for long-term cryogenic storage of biological samples, cell cultures, and other temperature-sensitive materials. Built with a vacuum-insulated, stainless steel exterior, it uses liquid nitrogen (LN2) as the refrigerant to maintain ultra-low temperatures well below -150°C without mechanical refrigeration components. This unit was distributed and serviced by VBA-Cryogenics, a division of V.B. Anderson Co. of Santa Ana, California, a regional supplier of cryogenic liquids and specialty gases.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Union Carbide Corporation — Cryogenic Products Division
• Model: LR-310
• Serial Number: 290-002-N3 (internal reference)
• Loading Type: Top-loading with circular insulating lid
• Interior Chamber: Blue-lined cryogenic vessel; approximately 30 × 30 inches usable area (per seller measurement)
• Interior Divider: Metal shelf/divider visible in chamber
• Voltage: 115V AC
• Frequency: 60 Hz (CPS)
• Amperage: 1.5A
• Working Pressure: Atmospheric
• Country of Manufacture: USA
• Exterior Construction: Stainless steel, vacuum-insulated
• LN2 Plumbing: Rear-mounted supply/fill fittings with couplings visible
• Front Control Panel: Normal, Alarm, Refill, Auto Fill, and Power indicator lights; audible alarm/buzzer; Manual/Off/Auto fill selector switch; Off/On power switch
• Fill Modes: Manual fill and Auto-fill (switchable from front panel)
• Power Cord: Attached, visible at rear

Applications

Liquid nitrogen refrigerators like the Union Carbide LR-310 are standard equipment in biological research, clinical, and industrial laboratory settings for the long-term preservation of biological specimens — including cell lines, tissue samples, blood products, embryos, and semen — at cryogenic temperatures. Union Carbide's Cryogenic Products Division was one of the most prominent manufacturers of LN2 storage equipment through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and the LR-310 represents a workhorse design from that era: top-loading for easy access, vacuum-insulated for efficient LN2 retention, and equipped with an automatic fill system to maintain the LN2 level without constant manual attention. These units are still actively sought for laboratories and biorepositories that need reliable bulk cryogenic storage, and replacement parts and LN2 supply lines remain widely available through cryogenic suppliers. The auto-fill control system allows the freezer to be connected to an external LN2 supply dewar and refill automatically when the level drops, reducing manual labor and the risk of temperature excursions.