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ITS-90 Isothermal Towers Iss.07 – 05/14
COMMISSIONING YOUR ISOTOWER
Switch on and set a temperature 5°C below the cell’s melt/freeze temperature.
Allow one or two hours for your Isotower to stabilise. Monitor the cell with a stable thermometer such as Isotech’s
670SQ/25 SPRT and microK bridge.
Once the system is stable, raise the monitor 100mm (4”), after a few minutes it will restabilise, the new temperature
reading should be the same, or slightly above the fully inserted temperature. If not, increase the top controller offset
in small steps until it is. It is worth spending some time getting this right.
If the monitor thermometer is already calibrated it can be used to calibrate the main controller.
Once this is done set the controller 1°C above the melt temperature and monitor the complete melt. When the melt
is complete increase the temperature a further 1°C so that the cell is 2°C above its melt temperature and allow one
hour for the liquid metal to fully melt and mix.
Next set the controller 1°C below the freeze point and use the monitor to follow the cells temperature as it drops
and then enters the super cool zone.
Carefully remove the monitor and insert a cold rod into the re-entrant tube for 2 minutes. Repeat with a second cold
rod before reinserting the cool monitor SPRT. Record the freeze of your Isotower.
You are now ready to calibrate thermometers either on the cells melt or its freeze.
