LabCompanion UWTH-21 Walk-in Alternating Temperature & Humidity Test Chamber

Overview

The LabCompanion UWTH-21 Walk-in Alternating Temperature & Humidity Test Chamber is an engineered environmental simulation system designed for large-scale reliability validation of industrial components, electronic assemblies, automotive modules, aerospace subsystems, and medical devices under dynamically controlled climatic stress conditions. It operates on the principle of balanced heating/humidification and cooling/dehumidification—where independent refrigeration, steam humidification, and electric heating subsystems are precisely modulated in real time to maintain target temperature and relative humidity (RH) setpoints without overshoot or thermal lag. This thermodynamic equilibrium approach ensures stable, repeatable, and traceable environmental profiles across its full operational envelope: −55 °C to +85 °C and 20–95 %RH. The chamber meets the structural, performance, and metrological requirements defined in GB/T 10592 (Technical Specifications for Temperature Test Chambers), GB/T 10586 (Technical Specifications for Humidity Test Chambers), and supports test execution per GB/T 2423.1 (Cold), GB/T 2423.2 (Dry Heat), GB/T 2423.3 (Constant Damp Heat), and GB/T 2423.4 (Cyclic Damp Heat)—all aligned with international equivalents including IEC 60068-2-1, IEC 60068-2-2, IEC 60068-2-78, and IEC 60068-2-30.

Key Features

• 21 m³ internal volume (2500 × 3500 × 2400 mm W×D×H), enabling simultaneous conditioning of oversized equipment, vehicle ECUs, battery packs, or batched production units;
• Dual-stage cascade refrigeration system with imported hermetic compressors and water-cooled condensers—optimized for sustained operation at extreme low temperatures (−55 °C) while maintaining energy efficiency and long-term compressor reliability;
• Steam-based humidification using stainless-steel electric boilers and integrated soft-water pretreatment to prevent scale buildup and ensure RH stability and repeatability;
• Intelligent touchscreen controller with programmable multi-step test profiles, real-time trend visualization, and on-screen curve overlay for temperature and humidity channels;
• Double-layer insulated chamber structure: outer skin of electrostatically sprayed steel, inner liner of 304 stainless steel, and high-density rigid polyurethane foam (≥150 mm thickness, λ ≤ 0.022 W/m·K);
• Redundant safety architecture—including overtemperature cutoff, phase failure detection, ground-fault interruption, refrigerant high-pressure shutdown, and automatic observation window defrost activation below −20 °C;
• Modular mechanical compartment housing refrigeration plant, desiccant rotor dehumidifier (for deep-dry capability), humidification boiler, and water treatment unit—facilitating service access and component-level maintenance.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The UWTH-21 accommodates heterogeneous sample types—from sealed enclosures and rack-mounted telecom hardware to unpackaged PCBAs and structural composites—without requiring internal fixtures or airflow obstructions. Its forced-air circulation system (ducted axial fans with adjustable velocity profile) delivers uniform thermal distribution (≤2 °C spatial deviation) and humidity homogeneity (±5 %RH) per ISO 16750-4 and MIL-STD-810H Section 501/502. All control logic, data logging, and alarm events comply with GLP/GMP documentation standards; optional audit trail and user access control modules support FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for regulated pharmaceutical and biotech applications. Calibration certificates traceable to NIM (National Institute of Metrology, China) or equivalent national metrology institutes are available upon request.

Software & Data Management

The embedded controller runs a deterministic real-time OS with non-volatile memory for up to 100 stored test programs (each supporting ≥99 segments with ramp/soak logic). Logged data—including chamber setpoints, actual readings, alarm timestamps, and actuator status—is exportable via USB or Ethernet as CSV or XML files. Optional PC-based software (LabCompanion EnviroLog Pro) provides remote monitoring, multi-chamber fleet management, statistical process control (SPC) charting, and automated report generation compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 7.8. Data integrity safeguards include write-protected archives, cyclic redundancy checksums, and configurable retention policies.

Applications

• Accelerated life testing of lithium-ion battery modules under combined thermal cycling and humidity exposure;
• Environmental stress screening (ESS) of avionics cabinets prior to flight qualification;
• Validation of IP67-rated enclosures per IEC 60529 under cyclic condensation and thermal shock;
• Long-duration storage simulation for medical diagnostics instruments under tropical climatic profiles;
• Material compatibility testing of adhesives, conformal coatings, and elastomeric seals exposed to alternating wet/dry phases;
• Pre-compliance verification for automotive electronics per AEC-Q200 and ISO 16750-4 temperature/humidity endurance requirements.

FAQ

What is the minimum achievable dew point in the UWTH-21 at low temperature?
The chamber achieves a practical dew point of approximately −40 °C at −55 °C ambient, enabled by the integrated desiccant rotor dehumidifier operating in parallel with the refrigeration system.
Can the UWTH-21 be integrated into an existing facility’s BMS or SCADA network?
Yes—standard Modbus TCP and optional Profibus-DP or EtherNet/IP interfaces allow bidirectional communication with building management systems for centralized monitoring and alarm forwarding.
Is external chilled water required for the water-cooled condenser?
Yes; the system requires a continuous supply of clean, deionized water at 18–32 °C inlet temperature and 3–5 bar pressure, with flow rate ≥12 m³/h.
How is calibration verification performed for temperature and humidity sensors?
The chamber includes dual calibrated PT100 sensors (Class A) and capacitive RH transducers (±1.5 %RH accuracy), both mounted on removable sensor arms for periodic third-party recalibration against reference standards.
Does the controller support custom test profiles compliant with JEDEC JESD22-A110?
Yes—the programming interface allows definition of non-linear ramps, dwell times, and humidity modulation synchronized to temperature transitions, fully compatible with JEDEC thermal cycling specifications.