DRETOP ZHS-100SC Temperature and Humidity Controlled Incubator

Overview

The DRETOP ZHS-100SC Temperature and Humidity Controlled Incubator is a precision-engineered environmental chamber designed for long-term, stable simulation of controlled temperature and relative humidity conditions. It employs a dual-mode thermal management architecture—water-jacketed heating for thermal inertia and uniformity, combined with a hermetically sealed, eco-friendly R134a or R600a compressor-based refrigeration system for active cooling. This hybrid approach ensures minimal thermal overshoot and high reproducibility across extended operational cycles, making it suitable for stability testing per ICH Q1 guidelines, accelerated aging studies, and microbiological growth validation in GLP-compliant laboratories. The unit operates within a validated working envelope of 15–45 °C with humidification and 10–45 °C without, maintaining ±0.1 °C spatial uniformity and ±1 %RH humidity accuracy—critical parameters for pharmaceutical excipient characterization, textile hygrothermal aging, and food packaging barrier performance evaluation.

Key Features

• Water-jacketed heating system provides superior thermal stability and reduced temperature gradient across the chamber volume, minimizing localized condensation during high-humidity operation.
• Compressor-based cooling with programmable duty-cycle control enables precise sub-ambient temperature modulation while extending compressor service life through built-in start-delay and stop-interval safeguards.
• External humidification reservoir decouples water supply from internal airflow dynamics, reducing contamination risk and enabling uninterrupted operation during refilling.
• 30-stage programmable P.I.D controller supports complex multi-step environmental profiles—including ramp-soak sequences and cyclic humidity cycling—for compliance with ASTM D4332, ISO 22309, and USP <1151> protocols.
• Stainless steel interior (SUS304) with fully removable, autoclavable shelves and seamless corner welds facilitates ISO 14644-1 Class 5 cleanroom-compatible cleaning and sterilization procedures.
• Dual-door observation window: inner tempered glass panel with anti-fog coating and outer magnetic door seal ensures optical clarity while minimizing heat and moisture loss during routine monitoring.
• Microprocessor-based integrated温湿度 (temperature/humidity) control system with real-time logging, parameter memory, and automatic power-loss recovery preserves experimental integrity during grid instability or scheduled maintenance outages.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The ZHS-100SC accommodates standard ISO/IEC 17025-accredited sample configurations including Petri dishes, vials, stability chambers trays, and packaged product test units up to 100 L total volume. Its internal geometry supports uniform air distribution via optimized axial-flow fan placement and laminar baffle-guided circulation, meeting the airflow homogeneity requirements of WHO Technical Report Series No. 992 Annex 6 for stability storage. The incubator complies with CE marking directives (2014/30/EU EMC, 2014/35/EU LVD), conforms to GB/T 2423.3-2016 (equivalent to IEC 60068-2-78) for damp heat testing, and supports 21 CFR Part 11-compliant data integrity when equipped with optional RS485 interface and external audit-trail-capable SCADA integration.

Software & Data Management

While the base unit features an embedded touch-LCD HMI with local event logging (alarm history, setpoint changes, runtime statistics), optional connectivity modules enable seamless integration into centralized laboratory informatics systems. The RS485 port supports Modbus RTU protocol for bidirectional communication with LIMS or ELN platforms, allowing remote configuration, real-time telemetry streaming, and automated report generation. When paired with DRETOP’s optional color touchscreen upgrade, users gain access to graphical trend visualization, CSV export functionality, and configurable email/SMS alerting for critical deviation events—facilitating adherence to ALCOA+ data governance principles in regulated environments.

Applications

• ICH Q1A–Q1E stability studies for pharmaceutical dosage forms under long-term, intermediate, and accelerated conditions.
• Hygrothermal aging of polymer-based medical device packaging per ISO 11607-1.
• Textile fiber moisture regain testing in accordance with AATCC Test Method 20A.
• Microbial growth kinetics assessment for QC/QA in bioprocess development labs.
• Accelerated corrosion testing of electronic components per IPC-TM-650 2.6.25.
• Seed germination and plant tissue culture under defined abiotic stress regimes.

FAQ

Does the ZHS-100SC support continuous unattended operation for 30-day stability runs?
Yes—its water-jacketed thermal mass, compressor protection logic, and non-volatile parameter memory ensure reliable execution of extended protocols without manual intervention.
Can humidity be maintained below 50% RH on the SC-series model?
No—the ZHS-100SC (SC-series) is calibrated and validated for 50–95%RH; for sub-50% applications, the HC-series variant (40–95%RH) is recommended.
Is the internal stainless steel chamber electropolished for enhanced corrosion resistance?
The interior uses standard 304-grade stainless steel with passivated surface finish; electropolishing is available as a custom option upon request.
What validation documentation is supplied with the unit?
Each shipment includes Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) report, calibration certificate traceable to NIM (China National Institute of Metrology), and IQ/OQ template documentation aligned with GAMP5 guidance.
Can third-party temperature and humidity probes be integrated via the RS485 interface?
Yes—the Modbus RTU implementation allows readout of externally mounted PT100 and capacitive RH sensors when configured as slave devices in the network topology.