LabCompanion PS Series Temperature and Humidity Controlled Chamber

Overview

The LabCompanion PS Series Temperature and Humidity Controlled Chamber is an upright environmental test system engineered for precision simulation of climatic stress conditions in laboratory, quality assurance, and R&D environments. It operates on a dual-loop controlled refrigeration and humidification architecture, combining a water-cooled cascade refrigeration system with a steam-based humidification module to achieve stable, repeatable control across extreme thermal and hygrometric ranges. Designed to meet the operational demands of accelerated aging, reliability validation, and material stability testing, the PS Series supports standardized test protocols under ISO 16750-4, IEC 60068-2-1 (cold), IEC 60068-2-2 (dry heat), IEC 60068-2-30 (damp heat cyclic), and ASTM D4332. Its chamber construction features high-density polyurethane insulation (100 mm thick), double-glazed observation window with anti-fog heating, and seamless stainless-steel interior (SUS304) for corrosion resistance and cleanroom-compatible operation.

Key Features

• Wide operational envelope: -70 °C to +150 °C temperature range with 20–98% RH humidity control, enabling full-spectrum environmental stress screening
• Water-cooled condensing system ensures consistent performance under continuous operation and high ambient temperatures (up to 35 °C)
• Precision PID-controlled heating and refrigeration loops with independent humidity regulation via saturated steam injection
• Temperature uniformity ≤ ±2.0 °C and humidity uniformity ±2.5% RH across the working volume (verified per IEC 60068-3-5)
• Standard heating rate of ~3 °C/min (20 °C to +150 °C, non-linear, no-load); optional fast-thermal-transition configurations available upon request
• Robust structural design: 800 × 850 × 600 mm internal chamber dimensions (W × D × H), accommodating standard test specimens and fixtures up to 50 kg load capacity
• Integrated safety systems including over-temperature protection, compressor high-pressure cut-off, humidity sensor fault detection, and door interlock switch

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The PS chamber accommodates a broad range of sample types—including electronic assemblies, polymer components, pharmaceutical packaging, automotive ECUs, and aerospace composites—without requiring modification to test specimens. Internal chamber geometry allows unobstructed airflow distribution verified by thermal mapping (per ISO/IEC 17025-accredited procedures). All models comply with CE marking requirements (2014/30/EU EMC Directive and 2014/35/EU LVD Directive) and are compatible with GLP/GMP documentation workflows. Optional calibration certificates traceable to NIM (China National Institute of Metrology) or UKAS-accredited labs are available. The system supports audit-ready data integrity when paired with compliant software (see Software & Data Management section).

Software & Data Management

The chamber is equipped with a 7-inch color touchscreen HMI running embedded real-time OS, supporting up to 100 programmable test profiles with 99 segments each (ramp/halt/soak cycles). Data logging occurs at user-defined intervals (1s–60 min) and is stored internally (≥1 year at 1-min intervals) with USB export capability. Optional LabCompanion TestSuite™ software enables remote monitoring via Ethernet/Wi-Fi, automated report generation (PDF/CSV), and full compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements—including electronic signatures, audit trails, role-based access control, and data immutability verification. All logged parameters (chamber setpoint, actual temperature/humidity, alarm status, runtime) are timestamped and checksum-validated.

Applications

• Accelerated life testing of lithium-ion battery modules under combined thermal-hygrometric stress
• Validation of moisture barrier integrity in blister packaging per USP and ISO 11607-1
• Environmental qualification of avionics hardware per DO-160G Section 4 (temperature) and Section 5 (humidity)
• Stability assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) under ICH Q1A(R2) long-term and accelerated storage conditions
• Thermal cycling endurance evaluation of solder joints in PCB assemblies (IPC-9701)
• Material coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) characterization using dimensional metrology integration

FAQ

What is the standard calibration interval recommended for this chamber?
LabCompanion recommends annual calibration using NIST-traceable reference sensors; full system verification (temperature/humidity uniformity and stability) should be performed every six months in GxP-regulated environments.
Can the PS chamber be integrated into a facility’s BMS or SCADA system?
Yes—via Modbus RTU (RS-485) or optional Ethernet/IP interface, enabling real-time setpoint synchronization, alarm forwarding, and centralized event logging.
Is low-humidity operation down to 5% RH supported on the PS model?
The standard PS configuration supports 20–98% RH; for extended low-humidity capability (5–98% RH), the PDL or PDR variants are recommended—both share identical mechanical architecture but integrate desiccant-assisted dehumidification.
Does the chamber support thermal shock testing?
While the PS series is optimized for steady-state and ramped environmental profiles, it is not designed for two-zone thermal shock per MIL-STD-810H Method 503. For rapid transition applications, LabCompanion offers dedicated TSC-series thermal shock chambers.
What maintenance is required for the water-cooled refrigeration system?
Annual inspection of cooling water quality (conductivity ≤ 100 µS/cm, pH 6.5–8.0), condenser coil cleaning, and refrigerant charge verification are advised. LabCompanion provides preventive maintenance kits and certified field service support globally.