Why production-oriented enterprises andlarge-scaleIt is not recommended to use liquid nitrogen machine in the sample library

For cost sensitive production-oriented enterprises or large enterprisesbiologySample library,smallLiquid nitrogen machine（includeGMRefrigeration machine, mixed working fluid compressor、Stirling coolerNeither (such as) nor small air separation equipment are ideal choices.These types of devices may be limited by1001000rise/The fixed daily production capacity of Tian may face difficulties in adapting to different scenarios such as site and operation, which significantly conflicts with the actual liquid supply needs of enterprises and sample libraries. Coupled with multiple cost disadvantages such as energy consumption and depreciation, it is ultimately difficult to meet the demand in terms of economy and practicality. The specific reasons are as follows:

1、 The rigidity of production and the complexity of scenarios result in significantly insufficient adaptability

Enterprises andlarge-scaleThe consumption of liquid nitrogen in the sample library is“Continuous high load+Periodic fluctuations”Features: such asCrayfish processingDaily consumption during peak season for enterprises800Rising sharply to1500When the sample library is centralized and stored, there are also upgrades300-500Peak supply of liquid.

But the production capacity of liquid nitrogen machines is rigid, while conventional models have a daily production capacity120-500Rising, unable to cope with the surge in demand. Advance reserve requires additional storage tanks (adding space and safety costs); Failure to reserve will result in production shutdown or sample loss of control.On the other hand, an increase in the number of devices will significantly expand the occupied area of the site, and each device requires independent ventilation, explosion-proof space, and cooling water interfaces, making it difficult for hospital buildings or conventional workshops in enterprises to meet layout requirements.

Especially for the sample library, it has extremely strict control over the temperature, humidity, noise, and vibration of the storage environment70-80Decibel noise and continuous vibration may affect the quality of sample preservation; However, hospital settings generally lack professional equipment operation and maintenance teams like factories, requiring additional recruitment or outsourcing of professional personnel, resulting in an increase in annual labor costs8-10Ten thousand yuan, further driving up overall operating expenses.

2、 The unit manufacturing cost far exceeds the average purchase price

Among various types of liquid nitrogen machines, the energy consumption performance of the mixed working fluid cascade refrigerant compressor model is relatively better, although compared toGMThe unit energy consumption of the refrigeration machine is slightly lower by about10%-15%However, the unit energy consumption is still as high as5.29kW·h/kgIt is the energy consumption of large-scale nitrogen production in the air conditioning plant7-9Twice. According to the average domestic industrial electricity consumption price0.6yuan/kW·hCalculation, only electricity cost, liquid nitrogen machine production1The cost of raising liquid nitrogen is as high as2.5Yuan; If the consumption of auxiliary materials during the operation of the stacked equipment (such asAir compressor maintenancePrecision filter replacement, with an annual average of about5000-1ten thousandEnergy consumption of equipment cooling system (approximately% of total energy consumption)10%）And the cost of water and electricity supporting facilities,**The comprehensive production cost per liter of liquid nitrogen is approximately3.03yuan**The cost structure is clear and high.

On the other hand, in the market for purchased liquid nitrogen, the current average price of industrial grade liquid nitrogen in China is generally around0.8-3yuan/LInterval, for annual purchases exceeding10For production-oriented enterprises or large-scale sample warehouses with a capacity of 10000 liters, the air conditioning plant will also provide long-term cooperation agreement prices, which can even be as low as in some regions0.8yuan/Lfollowing. By comparison, it can be seen that the unit manufacturing cost of liquid nitrogen machines has far exceeded the upper limit of external purchase prices. From the perspective of energy consumption cost alone, they have lost market competitiveness, let alone other fixed costs.

3、 Lack of economies of scale and difficulty in diluting fixed costs

The liquid supply demand of enterprises and sample libraries has significant scaling characteristics, and unit costs could have been diluted through bulk procurement or centralized production, but liquid nitrogen machines“Small batch, decentralized”The production mode makes it impossible to achieve this goal, specifically manifested as:

•High equipment depreciation and insufficient production capacityUsing cheap options in the market120rise/For example, the unit price of a liquid nitrogen machine with a mixture of working fluids is about40Ten thousand yuan, the daily production capacity can only meet the basic fluid replenishment needs of small sample libraries. If the enterprise suddenly300Temporary liquid supply demand for upgrading, single equipment needs to operate continuously2-3Genius can gather the required quantity, which can easily delay production progress or sample processing efficiency.According to the service life of the equipment5Calculated annually, the average annual depreciation cost for a single unit is approximately8Ten thousand yuan,8The annual average depreciation amount of the equipment reaches64Ten thousand yuan. In the outsourcing mode, enterprises do not need to bear any equipment depreciation costs, only need to pay for procurement costs based on actual usage, and can quickly respond to temporary liquid supply demands of hundreds or even thousands of liters through emergency allocation of air separation plants.

•Maintenance cost overlayThe maintenance cost of liquid nitrogen machines increases synchronously with the number of equipment. Each individual device needs to replace the filter element, calibrate the instrument, and repair the refrigeration system on an annual basis, with maintenance costs of approximately2-3ten thousand yuanAt the same time, equipment maintenance requires technical personnel with professional knowledge in low-temperature refrigeration, pressure vessel operation, etc. If the enterprise forms its own team, the average annual salary per person is about10-15Ten thousand yuan, outsourcing services require high fees to be paid per transaction, further increasing operation and maintenance expenses.

Under the outsourcing mode, large air conditioning plants can achieve large-scale production of tens of thousands of tons, which can dilute the unit costs of equipment depreciation, energy consumption, labor, etc. to a low level, and then provide enterprises and sample libraries with low-temperature storage tanks through direct delivery by tank trucks or on-site installation24Hourly stable liquid supply service, without requiring enterprises to bear fixed equipment costs, while ensuring the continuity and reliability of liquid supply.

It should be noted that even the smallest sized air separation equipment (approximately)20L/There are also obvious shortcomings in the use of liquid nitrogen for enterprises or sample libraries, such as the separation tower height, which is the core component of the equipment10Rice requires independent and tall factories, which cannot be accommodated in hospital buildings or enterprise standard workshops; Secondly, air separation equipment needs to24Continuous start-up and operation for hours, unable to flexibly start and stop according to fluctuations in usage. If it operates at low load for a long time, the unit energy consumption will actually increase compared to when it is at full load20%-30%Thirdly, the noise generated by the device during operation exceeds85Decibel level, additional professional sound insulation facilities need to be installed and equipped2-3Certified professionals24Hourly shift monitoring and operation is extremely unfriendly to scenarios such as hospitals that lack industrial support.

4、 Long term economic disadvantage solidification, weak risk resistance ability

From a long-term operational perspective, the cost disadvantage of liquid nitrogen machines will continue to increase with the service life, and their risk resistance will be weak, mainly reflected in the following three aspects:

1. Strong cost rigidityThe energy consumption and maintenance costs of liquid nitrogen machines are relatively fixed and directly affected by upstream electricity price increases and fluctuations in precision spare parts prices, such as every increase in industrial electricity prices0.1yuan/kW·hThe average annual electricity cost for a single device will increase by about2.2Ten thousand yuan; In the outsourcing mode, enterprises can sign contracts with air conditioning plants1-3Long term supply agreement for the year, locking in the purchase price of liquid nitrogen in advance, effectively avoiding the risk of market price fluctuations.

2. Short lifespan of core componentsAs the core component of the liquid nitrogen machine, the nitrogen liquefier is usually operated under low temperature conditions and mechanical wear3After the year, there will be problems such as decreased refrigeration efficiency and leakage of seals, which need to be replaced in advance. The cost of replacing a single unit can reach up to the total equipment price30%-50%(With)40Taking the 10000 yuan model as an example, the replacement cost is about12-20Ten thousand yuan); Even if there are no core component failures, the equipment can still be used as a whole5-6After the New Year, there will also be a need to face updates and replacements, and invest large amounts of capital again. In the outsourcing mode, the equipment upgrade and technology iteration costs of the air separation plant are not related to the enterprise, and the enterprise can always enjoy stable and efficient liquid supply services.

3. Uncontrollable emergency costsIf the liquid nitrogen machine suddenly malfunctions (such as damage to the refrigeration compressor, control system failure, etc.), the enterprise needs to urgently contact the air conditioning plant to purchase liquid nitrogen from outside to avoid production shutdown or sample damage. At this time, the price of temporary procurement is usually higher than the regular agreement price30%-50%A single emergency procurement may incur additional expenses of thousands of yuan; Large scale air separation plants, relying on mature supply chain networks such as multi regional production bases and backup transportation fleets, can2-4Respond to emergency liquid supply demand within hours, significantly reducing the risk of supply interruption and emergency costs.

summary

Overall, liquid nitrogen machine“Small output, high energy consumption, high fixed costs”Inherent attributes of production enterprises and large sample libraries“Large scale, low-cost, and stable liquid supply”The core requirements are highly mismatched. Whether it is short-term unit manufacturing costs or long-term operational risks and capital investment, the performance of liquid nitrogen machines and small air separation equipment is far inferior to the outsourcing model. Therefore, for cost sensitive enterprises and sample libraries that require stable liquid supply, relying on large-scale air separation plants for large-scale supply is a more economical and reliable choice.