The Great Wall HX-2015 Laboratory Circulating Chiller & Heater

Overview

The Great Wall HX-2015 Laboratory Circulating Chiller & Heater is a precision temperature control system engineered for stable thermal management of external equipment and reaction vessels in research and quality control laboratories. Designed around a dual-mode refrigeration-heating architecture, it integrates a hermetic compressor with R404A refrigerant, a high-efficiency 1.6 kW electric heating element, and a robust dual-impeller circulation pump. Its operational range spans from –20 °C to +99 °C, enabling both cryogenic support and high-temperature stabilization—critical for applications such as controlled polymerization, enzyme kinetics studies, calorimetric calibration, and electrophoresis buffer conditioning. Unlike basic water baths, the HX-2015 delivers active temperature regulation via closed-loop PID control with 0.1 °C setpoint resolution and ±0.2 °C stability over time, verified under ISO/IEC 17025-aligned internal validation protocols. The unit maintains thermal uniformity across its 15 L stainless-steel-lined bath and supports external load regulation through pressure- and flow-stable circulation (up to 10 L/min at 0.2 bar), making it suitable for integration with viscometers, rheometers, spectroscopic cells, and jacketed reactors.

Key Features

• Wide dual-range thermal operation: –20 °C to +99 °C, supported by optimized refrigerant charge and proportional heating control
• PID-based digital temperature controller with real-time deviation compensation and auto-tuning capability
• Dual-impeller centrifugal pump with self-priming function—enables reliable circulation into both open and pressurized systems
• High-uniformity bath design featuring internal baffle geometry and impeller-driven convection to minimize axial/radial gradients
• RS485 serial interface compliant with Modbus RTU protocol for integration into LabVIEW, SCADA, or LIMS environments
• IP20-rated enclosure with powder-coated cold-rolled steel housing; designed for long-term reliability in ISO Class 7–8 laboratory environments
• Comprehensive safety architecture including over-temperature cutoff, dry-run protection, refrigerant pressure monitoring, and ground-fault detection

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HX-2015 is compatible with aqueous and low-viscosity organic heat transfer media—including deionized water, ethylene glycol/water mixtures, and silicone oils up to 50 cSt—ensuring chemical inertness and thermal stability across its full operating range. Its 15 L bath volume and 180 × 130 mm opening accommodate standard immersion probes, jacketed glassware (e.g., 1–5 L reactors), and analytical instrumentation interfaces. The system meets CE marking requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EN 61326-1) and electrical safety (EN 61010-1). While not certified to FDA 21 CFR Part 11 out-of-the-box, its RS485 interface and audit-ready event logging (via optional software) support traceability frameworks required under GLP and GMP-regulated workflows in pharmaceutical QC labs and contract research organizations.

Software & Data Management

When paired with optional PC-based configuration software (sold separately), the HX-2015 enables remote setpoint scheduling, real-time temperature trending, alarm history export (CSV), and firmware updates. All temperature events—including power cycles, setpoint changes, and fault triggers—are timestamped and stored in non-volatile memory for ≥30 days. The RS485 interface supports multi-drop daisy-chaining, allowing centralized monitoring of up to 32 units within a single lab network. Data logs comply with ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available) when exported and archived per institutional SOPs.

Applications

• Thermal conditioning of electrophoresis tanks, capillary electrophoresis modules, and microfluidic platforms
• Temperature stabilization of UV-Vis spectrophotometer cuvette holders and FTIR sample compartments
• Cooling/heating support for rotary evaporators, vacuum ovens, and analytical balances requiring ambient drift mitigation
• Calibration of thermocouples, RTDs, and infrared pyrometers against NIST-traceable reference standards
• Process simulation in polymer science, catalysis screening, and formulation development where precise ΔT control is essential
• Support for ASTM D2196 (viscosity), ISO 2555 (solution viscosity), and USP environmental stability testing

FAQ

What types of external equipment can be connected to the HX-2015?
It interfaces with any device equipped with liquid-jacketed ports or external cooling coils—including viscometers, reaction calorimeters, GC oven chillers, and electron microscopy sample stages—using standard 12 mm OD tubing.

Is the unit suitable for continuous 24/7 operation in a production QC lab?
Yes. Its industrial-grade compressor, sealed bearing pump, and derated power electronics are rated for >10,000 hours MTBF under nominal load conditions at 25 °C ambient.

Can I use ethylene glycol or silicone oil as the circulating medium?
Yes. The system is validated for use with water-glycol blends (up to 50% v/v) and methylphenyl silicone oils (cSt ≤ 50); consult the operator manual for viscosity-dependent flow rate derating guidelines.

Does the HX-2015 support regulatory-compliant electronic records?
While the base unit lacks built-in 21 CFR Part 11 functionality, its RS485 output and timestamped log files enable compliant data capture when integrated with validated third-party acquisition software and access-controlled servers.

What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Refrigerant pressure verification and pump seal inspection every 12 months; bath fluid replacement every 6 months (water) or 12 months (silicone oil), depending on usage intensity and contamination risk.