BTU generation by microscope components

[mcammer]

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Hi microscopists,

Back in 2011 there was a discussion here about BTUs generated by a microscope (http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1107&L=CONFOCALMICROSCOPY&P=R5803&D=0 ) but I can't find an answer in the archives.

The question is, how many BTUs does a microscope system generate.  To be more specific, how many BTUs does each of these components generate?
1.  Forced air environmental chamber (Plexiglas box by Zeiss or Weatherstation) at 37 degrees C.
2.  EXFO lamp.
3.  AR laser (Lasos).
4.  Two computers and 24 inch screen.
5.  Scan box (Zeiss 710).
6.  MaiTai laser operating at 12 W.
7.  Two people (let's say 75 W each).

Does anybody have calculations for this?

Back in the mid 1990s I summed the maximum power draw into each microscope room and converted to BTUs, but this resulted in excessive cooling.  Does anyone have a source for actual measurements?

Thank you!!

________________________________________________________
Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist
Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]

[Chris Tully]

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Michael,

Electrical components have two critical characteristics. The Maximum Power
is the the maximum the instrument should ever draw, usually at start up or
under extreme load. Since most devices are designed to operate at somewhere
around 80% of maximum, to calculate the cooling necessary for a given set
of instruments you are better off measuring the average power draw over a
day or two of normal usage. The manufacturers should be able to supply this
number if it is not on the instruments info plate or in the manual.  If not
look for a "Kill A Watt" - this is a device that plugs into the wall and
has a plug for what ever device you wish to measure, and measures the
actual power drawn.

Keep in mind though that the heat you are concerned about is waste heat,
the more efficient a given device is the less waste heat it will produce,
and the more useful work you will get out of each watt consumed.

In all honesty, rather than trying to do the calculations myself, I would
call a few local commercial HVAC contractors and talk with them.  Anyone
who has done the cooling for a large server rrom should be able to give you
far better data than you can come up with on your own.

Chris Tully, MS Materials Science and Engineering
Microscopy and Image Analysis Expert
[hidden email]
240-475-9753 (c)

[image: View my profile on LinkedIn]<http://www.linkedin.com/in/christully/>


On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 9:49 AM, Cammer, Michael <[hidden email]
> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Hi microscopists,
>
> Back in 2011 there was a discussion here about BTUs generated by a
> microscope (
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1107&L=CONFOCALMICROSCOPY&P=R5803&D=0) but I can't find an answer in the archives.
>
> The question is, how many BTUs does a microscope system generate.  To be
> more specific, how many BTUs does each of these components generate?
> 1.  Forced air environmental chamber (Plexiglas box by Zeiss or
> Weatherstation) at 37 degrees C.
> 2.  EXFO lamp.
> 3.  AR laser (Lasos).
> 4.  Two computers and 24 inch screen.
> 5.  Scan box (Zeiss 710).
> 6.  MaiTai laser operating at 12 W.
> 7.  Two people (let's say 75 W each).
>
> Does anybody have calculations for this?
>
> Back in the mid 1990s I summed the maximum power draw into each microscope
> room and converted to BTUs, but this resulted in excessive cooling.  Does
> anyone have a source for actual measurements?
>
> Thank you!!
>
> ________________________________________________________
> Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist
> Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
> Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]
>

[Larson Jeffrey M.]

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Michael,

It's safe to assume that all power consumed turns into waste heat somewhere down the line.  It's possible that where you went wrong in the 1990's is counting the power available rather than the power consumed.  You are unlikely to consume all 2200 Watts available on each line.  Power consumption for individual components can usually be found in the instrument manual or sometimes on the back of the instrument.  For instance, a computer may have a 400W power supply.  Count that.  The other problem is that the HVAC in a laboratory or a suite has been designed to cool a room based on the heat load from expected laboratory equipment and personnel.  Find out from your building engineer what heat load the HVAC for the room was designed to handle, or for a new facility, make sure that the architect considers the only difference between a 'normal' load and the possibly higher expected load when adjusting capacity.  You may find you only have to consider the additional heat load from the Ti Sapphire laser.

Jeff Larson

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Cammer, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 9:49 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: BTU generation by microscope components

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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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Hi microscopists,

Back in 2011 there was a discussion here about BTUs generated by a microscope (http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1107&L=CONFOCALMICROSCOPY&P=R5803&D=0 ) but I can't find an answer in the archives.

The question is, how many BTUs does a microscope system generate.  To be more specific, how many BTUs does each of these components generate?
1.  Forced air environmental chamber (Plexiglas box by Zeiss or Weatherstation) at 37 degrees C.
2.  EXFO lamp.
3.  AR laser (Lasos).
4.  Two computers and 24 inch screen.
5.  Scan box (Zeiss 710).
6.  MaiTai laser operating at 12 W.
7.  Two people (let's say 75 W each).

Does anybody have calculations for this?

Back in the mid 1990s I summed the maximum power draw into each microscope room and converted to BTUs, but this resulted in excessive cooling.  Does anyone have a source for actual measurements?

Thank you!!

________________________________________________________
Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]


Jeffrey M Larson
Confocal Systems Product Manager

Nikon Instruments Inc.
1300 Walt Whitman Road
Melville NY 11747-3064

Office: 631-547-8540    Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
[hidden email]       www.nikoninstruments.com


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