Annular Space – The space found between the wall of the inner fluid carrying/holding container and the outer insulating shell. In cryogenic systems, the annular space is typically filled with insulation material, and then the gas is evacuated.

APPS – An acronym for Adjustable Pressure Phase Separator. The APPS is a system that takes cryogenic liquid from a higher pressure source (120 psig for example), and reconditions it to a lower pressure (50 psig for example). An APPS unit makes it possible to utilize one bulk storage tank for two applications, one being a higher pressure than the other. This unique system often eliminates the need for two bulk storage tanks to serve the two different applications.

Cryovent – A device that allows removal of vaporized liquid from the cryogenic pipe system. Utilizing cryovents helps ensure good quality liquid is available as quick as possible at the use point (chamber) when needed.

Cryo-Switch – A system designed to automatically switch from one portable liquid nitrogen tank (often called a liquid cylinder or Dewar) to another when the first one gets empty. This automated system allows longer tests to continue running without having the interruption of changing out liquid supply tanks. The Cryo-Switch can be configured with different number of stations (tank connection points) and can switch from one tank to another based on pressure or temperature.

ESS – An acronym for Environmental Stress Screening. ESS is a process of subjecting products to rapid thermal changes. The stresses from this process will help find infant mortality in the product. Finding these failures before the product reaches the customer yields better quality, lower warranty expenses, and happier customers.

GN2 – A common abbreviation for gaseous nitrogen.

GRMS – A measure of acceleration (G) Root Mean Squared. This measurement accounts for all the energy across a frequency range.

HALT – An acronym for Highly Accelerated Life Test. HALT tests are designed to expose products to extreme levels of thermal, vibration and product specific stresses to precipitate failures as quickly as possible. The HALT process (typically done in the design/development stage of a new product), allows companies to find more failures in shorter amounts of time. As a result of this process, companies are able to develop more robust products, reduce warranty costs, and get to market quicker with their products.

HASS – An acronym for Highly Accelerated Stress Screen. HASS tests are less extreme versions of HALT tests that are conducted on manufactured product before it ships to the customer. The HASS test uses information learned in the HALT test to create the stress screen parameters. HASS testing may be performed on all production units, or on a sample basis.

LN2 – A common abbreviation for liquid nitrogen.

PLC – A common acronym for Programmable Logic Controller. A PLC is the heart of Chart's newest innovation, the CTI2000 chamber controller. PLCs have proven to be a very reliable, flexible, cost effective, high performance control solution in many diverse applications.

Power Spectral Density – A measure of the power of a random signal measured over a certain bandwidth. The dimensions are g*2 RMS/Hz. The square root of the area under the PSD curve over the frequency range is the RMS value over the same range.

RMS – Root Mean Square or the average intensity of all signals.

SCFH – An acronym for "Standard Cubic Feet per Hour." SCFH is a common measure of gaseous flow rate.

Six Degrees of Freedom Vibration – Vibration that has acceleration in three translation and three rotations axis, all simultaneously.

TC – Acronym for Thermal Chamber.

TVC – Acronym for Thermal Vibration Chamber.

Vacuum Insulation – A highly effective insulation system used in many cryogenic (ultra-cold) applications. The system is created by placing an outer "shell" around the object being insulated. Between the inner and outer shells are reflective shields separated by conduction barriers to eliminate heat transfer from radiation. The space between the inner and outer shells is then evacuated, removing all air and gas particles. The evacuation process eliminates heat transfer due to convection and conduction.