RFQ - Glove Boxes

Location:	Tennessee
Posted:	Aug 11, 2026
Due:	Aug 17, 2026
Agency:	Tennessee Tech University
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	80 - Brushes, Paints, Sealers, and Adhesives
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Questions & Answers

1. What is the intended purpose and required operating temperature or cooling load for the

2.5 kW chiller on System 1 and the 10 kW chiller on System 2?

The chillers/coolers are intended to keep the interiors of the boxes at or near room

temperature if the boxes contain a signiﬁcant source of heat (such as a kiln, a block

of material internally heated to 1173 K, or the hot well in System 2).

2. What types of solvents and approximate quantities are expected to be used inside each

glovebox?

Exact solvents are not known, but the activities in the boxes are not expected to

include large amounts of solvents. The main activities will involve liquid metals

(sodium and potassium) and molten salts, as well as some ceramic production

activities. Solvents would primarily be present as cleaning or carrier agents.

Denatured alcohol and isopropanol are expected to be present on a fairly regular

basis, but not in large quantities (a couple of laboratory squirt bottles)

3. Is the tube-furnace manufacturer/model or any additional drawing available for the

required water-cooled ﬂange, removable reactor, and pneumatic lift?

Tube furnace has not been selected beyond sizing. The reactor should consist of a

sealed stainless tube of the required dimensions (~7” OD, 24” long) that can be

surrounded by a tube furnace to provide a temperature up to 1123 K. This is

basically a ﬂoor mounted hot well for heat treating or providing a reservoir of molten

salt/molten metal (we will provide our own retorts). The water-cooled ﬂange is to

keep the ﬂoor of the box outside the reactor cool. The pneumatic lift is to raise or

lower the tube furnace around the hot well.

4. System 1 calls out 6 gloves in the front, I assume this is two boxes bolted together? Are

the two systems both 3 gloves, or one is a 4 glove and the other a 2 glove?

System 1 consists of two 3-port boxes.

5. Do you want QC windows for both of these modules for glovebox 1, or which box?

All box windows should be in a quick-change conﬁguration.

6. What kinds of quick release window is needed, one held on by star knobs, or one held

on by destaco clamps?

Star knobs or similar. The main requirement is that the windows can be removed

and replaced for equipment installation/service, without requiring major work

and/or service calls to restore the operating seal.

7. The pump wanted is a xds 15, and not a xds 10? This is not common, so I just wanted to

make sure.

The speciﬁcation is correct.

8. Box 2, is 10kw box cooling unit correct? If so, is this a chiller or a fan with refrigeration

unit?

See response to Question 1, above.

9. Are more details available for the reactor? Is this just a stainless steel tube, or what

does it consist of?

See response to Question 3, above.

10. Are more details available for the pneumatic tube furnace lift? Or details of the tube

furnace that will be purchased and how you want it lifted?

See response to Question 3, above.

11. Are the regulators requested for the glovebox working gas? If not can you specify the

pressure range needed. Also, do you need regeneration regulators?

Two of the regulators are for the working gas (argon). A regen gas regulator is also

required (listed under Other/Common Items).

12. Is a front mounted LED light acceptable? Roof mounted can cause access issues and

seems like there may be interference on the roof with the items requested that would

cause possible shadowing.

Internally mounted lighting is part of the speciﬁcation. This should be done in a way

that minimizes glare/obstructions.

13. Could your team provide any technical documentation or drawings for the system

conﬁgurations, speciﬁcally regarding the tube furnace, water-cooled ﬂange, removable

reactor, and pneumatic lift assembly? Having those details would be highly beneﬁcial for

our manufacturer to ensure full alignment with your requirements.

The tube furnace, water-cooled ﬂange, removable reactor, and pneumatic lift

comprise a hot well attached to the ﬂoor of Box 2. The hot well should consist of a

removable stainless-steel tube/cavity of the required dimensions (~7” OD, 24” long)

bolted to the ﬂoor of the glovebox that can be surrounded by a tube furnace located

outside the box to provide a cavity temperature of up to 1123 K. The hot well is

intended to support heat treating or maintaining a reservoir of molten salt/molten

metal (we will provide our own retorts for the inside of the cavity). The water-cooled

ﬂange is to keep the ﬂoor of the box outside the reactor cool. The pneumatic lift is

to raise or lower the tube furnace around the hot well. We will purchase the tube

furnace separately.

We cannot provide speciﬁc technical drawing of the hot-well system, as we expect

the design to be vendor speciﬁc.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Due Date	Description	Purchasing Contact
8/17/2026	RFQ - Glove Boxes - Q & A	Janice Scarlett

RFQ - Glove Boxes - Q & A

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See also