ETAC Environmental Test Chamber – Temperature & Humidity Controlled Chamber (Model GA-100 Series)

Overview

The ETAC Environmental Test Chamber (GA-100 Series) is a precision-engineered upright temperature and humidity controlled chamber designed for rigorous reliability validation in photovoltaic (PV) module qualification, secondary battery safety evaluation, and laminated architectural glass testing. Built to meet the stringent environmental simulation requirements of international standards—including IEC 61215-2 (crystalline silicon PV modules), UL 1642 (lithium batteries), and JIS R 3212 (heat-and-light resistance of laminated glass)—this chamber employs a dual-loop PID-controlled refrigeration/humidification system coupled with high-static-pressure axial airflow to ensure spatial uniformity and temporal repeatability across extended test cycles. Its structural architecture integrates stainless-steel inner chambers, double-wall insulation with vacuum-sealed polyurethane foam (λ ≤ 0.022 W/m·K), and a hermetically sealed door gasket system—ensuring thermal integrity under dynamic load conditions ranging from −40 °C to +150 °C and 10–98 % RH.

Key Features

• High-uniformity air distribution via a 360° radial airflow manifold and high-static-pressure centrifugal fan (static pressure ≥ 220 Pa at 1.2 m³/min), enabling consistent thermal/hygrometric exposure across full-size PV modules (up to 2.4 m × 1.3 m) and multi-cell battery packs.
• Intelligent LCD operator interface with real-time graphical display of setpoint vs. actual temperature/humidity profiles, cycle counter, elapsed time, and alarm history—with configurable user access levels and password-protected parameter editing.
• Dedicated safety subsystems for battery testing: integrated optical smoke detector (response time < 30 s), pressure-actuated burst panel (rated for ≥ 0.8 bar overpressure), FM-200®-compatible automatic suppression module with dual-stage discharge logic, and fail-safe exhaust interlock that triggers upon thermal runaway detection.
• JIS-compliant laminated glass testing configuration (GA-100 variant): includes UV-A fluorescent lamp array (340 nm peak), programmable cold-hot cycling ramp rates (0.5–5 °C/min), and condensation control algorithm compliant with JIS A 5759 Annex B for fogging resistance assessment.
• Comprehensive data integrity framework: embedded 16-channel analog/digital I/O supports external sensor integration (e.g., cell voltage, surface thermocouples); all logged parameters timestamped to UTC with SHA-256 hash verification and GLP/GMP-compliant audit trail (21 CFR Part 11 ready with optional electronic signature module).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The GA-100 series accommodates diverse sample geometries—from monolithic solar panels (IEC 61215-2 MQT 11, MQT 13) and prismatic lithium-ion pouch cells (UL 1642 Section 9) to 1200 mm × 2400 mm laminated glazing specimens (JIS R 3212 Clause 6.3). Chamber interior dimensions (W × D × H: 1000 × 900 × 1200 mm) support vertical mounting of full-scale PV arrays with integrated current/voltage monitoring ports. All configurations comply with ISO/IEC 17025 calibration traceability requirements; factory-certified temperature uniformity mapping reports (per IEC 60068-3-5) and humidity homogeneity validation (per ISO 6270-2 Annex A) are supplied with each unit. Optional third-party IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages are available for pharmaceutical and automotive Tier-1 manufacturing environments.

Software & Data Management

ETAC’s proprietary E-Logix™ Control Suite (v4.2) provides PC-based remote operation, multi-chamber synchronization, and automated test sequencing—including conditional branching (e.g., “if internal temp > 85 °C for >60 s, initiate suppression”). Raw data streams are stored locally on industrial-grade SSD with RAID-1 redundancy and simultaneously mirrored to network-attached storage via TLS 1.3 encrypted SMB3 protocol. Export formats include CSV (with metadata headers), PDF test reports (NIST-traceable calibration certificates embedded), and XML-compatible datasets for LIMS integration (ASTM E1482, IEEE 11073-10201). Audit logs record every parameter change, user login/logout, alarm event, and hardware fault—retained for ≥ 10 years with immutable digital signatures.

Applications

• Photovoltaic industry: Thermal cycling (MQT 13), damp heat (MQT 11), and humidity freeze (MQT 17) per IEC 61215-2 Ed. 2; PID stress testing at 85 °C / 85 % RH for 1000+ hours.
• Battery safety labs: Abuse testing per UN 38.3 (T1–T5), overcharge/overdischarge thermal propagation studies, and nail penetration simulation under controlled ambient conditions.
• Building materials R&D: Accelerated weathering of laminated glass per JIS R 3212; cyclic thermal shock (−20 °C ↔ +70 °C) with simultaneous UV exposure for interlayer adhesion evaluation.
• Automotive electronics: Environmental stress screening (ESS) of ADAS sensors and infotainment ECUs per AEC-Q200 and GMW3172 requirements.
• Medical device packaging: Accelerated aging per ISO 11607-1 using Arrhenius modeling with real-time RH compensation.

FAQ

Does the GA-100 series support custom test profiles beyond preloaded standards?

Yes—users can define multi-segment ramp/soak sequences with up to 999 steps, variable ramp rates, and conditional triggers linked to internal or external sensor inputs.
Is remote monitoring possible without compromising data security?

All remote access uses TLS 1.3 encryption with certificate-based authentication; no inbound ports are exposed to public IP ranges by default.
What calibration services are included at installation?

Factory-installed NIST-traceable PT100 sensors are verified per ISO/IEC 17025; full chamber mapping (15-point temperature, 9-point RH) and report delivery occur during commissioning.
Can the chamber be integrated into an existing MES or SCADA infrastructure?

Yes—Modbus TCP, OPC UA, and RESTful API interfaces are standard; protocol-specific drivers for Siemens PCS7, Rockwell FactoryTalk, and Yokogawa CENTUM VP are available on request.
Are replacement parts and firmware updates available globally?

ETAC maintains regional spares hubs in Singapore, Frankfurt, and Detroit; firmware releases undergo IEC 62304 Class B software lifecycle validation and are distributed via secure customer portal with version-controlled changelogs.