OK-TH Series Walk-In Environmental Test Chamber (Temperature & Humidity Controlled)

Overview

The OK-TH Series Walk-In Environmental Test Chamber is an industrial-grade, large-volume climatic simulation system engineered for precise and reproducible evaluation of material behavior under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Based on the principle of balanced temperature and humidity control (BTHC), the chamber employs a dual-loop PID regulation architecture—separately governing refrigeration, heating, and steam-based humidification—to maintain stable setpoints across wide operational ranges. Designed for long-duration, high-fidelity environmental stress testing, it supports both steady-state (constant) and dynamic (ramp-soak-cycle) test profiles per international standards including IEC 60068-2, ISO 16750-4, MIL-STD-810D Method 502/507, and GB/T 2423.1–2423.4. Its walk-in configuration enables full-scale component validation—such as automotive ECUs, aerospace subassemblies, battery modules, or packaged food products—without disassembly or size limitation.

Key Features

• Modular chamber capacities from 80 L to 1000 L, supporting single-unit testing of large prototypes or batched production samples.
• Wide operational envelope: selectable temperature ranges down to –70°C (F-series) with humidity control from 20% to 98% RH at temperatures ≥+10°C.
• High-accuracy sensing: platinum RTD (PT-100) sensors with traceable calibration, integrated into a redundant monitoring circuit for real-time thermal/hygrometric feedback.
• BTHC (Balanced Temperature and Humidity Control) algorithm ensures minimal overshoot and cross-coupling between thermal and moisture loops during transitions.
• Forced-air circulation via centrifugal blower with broadband upward-outlet/downward-intake airflow pattern—validated to achieve ±1.5°C temperature uniformity and ±3% RH uniformity per IEC 60068-3-5.
• Dual-stage refrigeration system using environmentally compliant refrigerants (R404A or R507), paired with nickel-chromium alloy heaters and surface-evaporation humidifier for low-maintenance operation.
• Robust thermal insulation: 100–150 mm composite wall construction comprising rigid polyurethane foam (λ ≈ 0.022 W/m·K) and layered glass wool, minimizing external heat gain and energy consumption.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The OK-TH chamber accommodates diverse sample geometries—including assembled electronics, coated metallic panels, polymer composites, pharmaceutical packaging, and sealed consumer goods—via adjustable stainless-steel sample racks and standardized 50 mm diameter access port (ISO 2859-1 compliant). All models conform to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements per EN 61326-1 and safety standards per IEC 61010-1. Test protocols executed on this platform satisfy regulatory evidence requirements for GLP-compliant laboratories and support audit readiness for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (when used with validated TEMI880 firmware v3.2+ and optional electronic signature module). Calibration documentation follows ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines, and factory verification reports include NIST-traceable temperature/humidity mapping data across three vertical planes.

Software & Data Management

Equipped with the TEMI880 color touchscreen controller, the system provides intuitive programming of multi-step temperature-humidity profiles—including ramp rates, dwell times, and cyclic sequences—with up to 100 segments per program. The embedded controller logs timestamped sensor data at user-defined intervals (1–600 seconds), stores ≥10,000 hours of historical records internally, and exports CSV-formatted datasets via RS-232/RS-485 or optional Ethernet interface. Optional PC software (OK-Link v4.1) enables remote supervision, real-time graphing, alarm event correlation, and automated report generation aligned with ASTM E2922 and ISO 17025 Annex A. Audit trail functionality captures operator ID, parameter changes, and system status transitions—meeting FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when deployed with Windows-based domain authentication and digital certificate signing.

Applications

• Accelerated aging of elastomers and thermoplastics per ASTM D3045 and ISO 188 to quantify tensile strength loss, dimensional shrinkage, and discoloration under combined thermal-hygrometric stress.
• Environmental stress screening (ESS) of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) per JEDEC JESD22-A104 and IPC-9701, including temperature cycling with humidity bias to detect latent solder joint defects.
• Validation of hermetic seal integrity in medical device packaging per ISO 11607-2 using high-humidity soak tests followed by dye penetration analysis.
• Automotive component qualification per ISO 16750-4 (climate resistance) and SAE J2334 (corrosion resistance under cyclic humidity), particularly for infotainment housings and ADAS sensor enclosures.
• Stability testing of hygroscopic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and final dosage forms under ICH Q1A(R2) and USP conditions.

FAQ

What is the standard warranty coverage for the OK-TH chamber?

Standard warranty includes 24 months parts-and-labor coverage for all mechanical, electrical, and control components, excluding consumables (e.g., humidifier tanks, filters) and damage resulting from improper installation or ambient condition violations.

Can the chamber be integrated into an existing laboratory LIMS or MES?

Yes—the RS-485 Modbus RTU interface and optional OPC UA server enable bidirectional communication with major LIMS platforms (e.g., LabVantage, Thermo Fisher SampleManager) and manufacturing execution systems (e.g., Siemens Opcenter, Rockwell FactoryTalk). Custom API integration support is available upon request.

Is third-party calibration certification available?

Certified calibration services—including full-volume thermal mapping and humidity uniformity verification per ISO/IEC 17025—are offered by OK’s accredited metrology partners. Certificates include uncertainty budgets and traceability to national standards (NIM, NIST, PTB).

Does the system meet noise emission limits for Class A laboratory environments?

Operational sound pressure level is ≤68 dB(A) at 1 m distance under full-load conditions, complying with ISO 7779 and EU Directive 2000/14/EC for indoor laboratory deployment without additional acoustic enclosures.