I would encourage you to elicit the services of the HV/AC company in your
area. Perhaps the one that already services your university. We has some
work done on our BCU extreme after receiving a similar very generous offer
from Bruker (sarcasm). They were able to diagnose and repair our issue
(certainly not the same as yours) for VASTLY less money. The BCU Xtreme is
in essence a very fancy AC unit.
Likely there is a break in the tubing at the end of the heat exchanger hose
where it connects to the probe. Do you see a similar greenish substance
there? It's probably toxic so beware. The AC guy could tell you exactly
what it is. If your unit is still chilling to anywhere near -80C, then you
may be on the wrong track. I can't imagine is working probably leaking
cooling fluid.
On another note, I very much appreciate finding others in the community
with an entertaining sense of humor!
Thanks
Ken Knott
On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 5:42 PM, Rajan Paranji <rajanp_at_uw.edu> wrote:
> Dear Fraternity
>
> I don't know how many of you have gone to the extreme and commissioned
> one of these the BCU-Xtreme chiller units that takes the sample straight
> down to -80 C without the need for LN2 exchanger or evaporator setup. So
> far so good. I do have one here, with an AVance III unit that is a solids
> and solutions hybrid.
>
> We were rudely awakened by the realization recently that, some yet
> unknown/mysterious greenish substance (could be called Alien blood !) has
> been sprayed all through the probe body, into the RF coil area and it even
> dripped into the passive component location below the RF/gradient coil
> chamber.
>
> Whatever investigation we have done only points to the possibility
> that this Xtreme chiller is the one that sprayed this gunky and stinky
> material and ruined the probe. With due apologies if I am not supposed to
> attach anything (sorry ! Walt), I am tempted to include just this one
> picture of the RF coil of my beloved probe.
>
> Now, all my long winded explanations and pictures did not elicit any
> useful response from Bruker other than the comment that they have never
> seen anything like this before [of course, they did send a quote for $20K/-
> to replace the BCU-Xtreme ! One shouldn't be surprised I guess, as the
> price is implied from the name itself :-( ]. Every setback is a
> learning experience, but I also learnt a new English word in this process.
> The BCU05 technical manual (section 1.3) mentions a 'frigorific' fluid that
> circulates and transfers heat from the dry gas away - eerily the term
> rhymes with 'horrific' ! I am not sure if this is the fluid that took the
> extreme step of escaping its confines to explore the outside world !
>
> Other than weeping on the collective shoulders, I also wanted to
> invite any/all of you who might have gone through this experience and who
> have been hesitating to open up about this traumatic experience - here is
> your chance for catharsis ! Please share your experience and in the process
> enlighten me as to what this Alien blood is made of.
>
> Thank you as always. Already feeling better...:-)
>
> Best Regards
>
> Rajan
>
>
> --
>
> ____________________________________
>
> Rajan K Paranji, Ph.D.NMR Facility Manager
> *Department of Chemistry**Room 65, Bagley Hall*
> University of WashingtonSeattle, WA 98195
> phone : 206 685 2581 <(206)%20685-2581> fax: 206 685 8665 <(206)%20685-8665>email: rajanp_at_uw.edu
> ____________________________________
>
>
--
Ken Knott
Department of Chemistry
Analytical Services
Virginia Tech
(540)267-6502 (Cell)
(540)231-0885 (Office)
Received on Thu May 11 2017 - 08:59:42 MST