Tongzhou Weipu K-Series Circulating Chiller for Medium-to-Large Rotary Evaporators and Fermentation Bioreactors

Overview

The Tongzhou Weipu K-Series Circulating Chiller is an air-cooled, integrated refrigeration system engineered for stable, continuous thermal management of medium-to-large laboratory and pilot-scale process equipment. Designed around a robust vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with R-410A or R-134a refrigerant (model-dependent), the K-Series delivers precise temperature control across a wide operational envelope—from cryogenic support at −40 °C up to ambient-assisted cooling at +35 °C. Its primary engineering objective is to maintain consistent jacket or coil temperatures in demanding applications where thermal load fluctuates significantly—such as solvent removal in rotary evaporation, exothermic control in aerobic/anaerobic fermentation bioreactors, and high-duty-cycle laser or vacuum system cooling. The chiller’s thermodynamic architecture prioritizes heat rejection efficiency under variable ambient conditions, with airflow-optimized condenser layouts (front-intake for compact models; top-exhaust for mid-size units) minimizing recirculation and maximizing long-term reliability in shared lab environments.

Key Features

• Vertical structural design with electrostatic color powder coating—compact footprint, corrosion-resistant finish, and integrated mobility via heavy-duty locking casters.
• Tool-free removable front panel for unobstructed access to the condenser coil—enabling routine maintenance without disassembly or service downtime.
• High-efficiency stainless-steel centrifugal circulation pump delivering stable flow rates from 18 to 110 L/min and pressure head up to 4.5 bar—engineered for low cavitation risk and acoustic noise ≤62 dB(A) at 1 m.
• Dual-level liquid monitoring: translucent reservoir with calibrated level sight glass plus electronic float switch—provides real-time visual confirmation and automated low-level shutdown to prevent dry-run damage.
• Modular water treatment compatibility: optional inline PP sediment filter (5–10 µm rating) and mixed-bed ion exchange cartridge—reduces scaling, particulate ingress, and conductivity drift in closed-loop coolant circuits.
• Standardized hydraulic interface: multiple BSP/NPT thread options (¼″ to 1″) and quick-connect couplings—ensuring mechanical and sealing compatibility with common rotary evaporator manifolds, bioreactor jackets, and vacuum condenser coils.
• Comprehensive safety architecture: compressor soft-start delay (3-min minimum), overcurrent protection, flow-sensor-based water-loss detection, dual independent temperature limit switches (high/low), and non-volatile fault logging.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The K-Series is validated for continuous-duty operation with jacketed glassware systems (e.g., Buchi, IKA, Yamato rotary evaporators ≥20 L capacity), stirred-tank bioreactors (10–200 L working volume), and auxiliary thermal loads including CO₂ lasers, RF plasma sources, and vacuum deposition chill traps. All units comply with IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC emissions), IEC 61000-6-2 (immunity), and GB 4706.1-2005 (Chinese safety standard for electrical appliances). Optional CE marking is available upon request for EU shipment. While not certified to UL 61010-1 out-of-box, the chassis and wiring harness meet its creepage/clearance requirements—facilitating third-party certification for North American integration. Units support GLP/GMP-aligned operation through configurable alarm history retention (≥1,000 events) and password-protected parameter lockdown.

Software & Data Management

The K-Series features an embedded 4.3″ TFT LCD HMI with capacitive touch interface, supporting multilingual menu navigation (English, German, Chinese, Spanish) and real-time display of setpoint, actual temperature, flow rate, refrigerant suction pressure, and cumulative runtime. Local data logging records temperature and flow at user-defined intervals (1–60 min) for up to 30 days onboard. USB export (CSV format) enables traceable post-processing in Excel or LabArchives. Optional RS485 Modbus RTU or Ethernet TCP/IP interface permits integration into SCADA or LIMS platforms—supporting remote setpoint adjustment, status polling, and alarm forwarding per ISA-88/ISA-95 protocols. Audit trail functionality meets FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when paired with validated external authentication and electronic signature modules.

Applications

• Rotary evaporation: Maintaining condenser coil temperatures below dew point during high-boiling-point solvent recovery (e.g., DMSO, ethylene glycol) to maximize trapping efficiency and minimize vapor loss.
• Fermentation process control: Stabilizing bioreactor jacket temperature within ±0.5 °C during exponential growth phases—critical for recombinant protein expression consistency and metabolic pathway fidelity.
• Laser system thermal management: Sustaining diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser head temperature at 18–22 °C to prevent wavelength drift and mode instability.
• Vacuum system support: Cooling diffusion pump cold traps and turbo-molecular pump forelines to suppress backstreaming and extend oil life.
• Materials testing: Providing regulated coolant supply to environmental test chambers, dynamic mechanical analyzers (DMA), and rheometer Peltier stages requiring sub-ambient stability.

FAQ

What refrigerants are used in the K-Series, and are they compliant with current environmental regulations?
R-410A is standard in models rated ≥3 kW; R-134a is used in sub-3 kW variants. Both refrigerants are non-ozone-depleting (ODP = 0) and conform to EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 phase-down schedules.
Can the K-Series operate continuously at −40 °C ambient temperature?
Yes—the chiller’s low-temperature package includes crankcase heater, suction line accumulator, and enhanced insulation, enabling uninterrupted operation down to −40 °C ambient with full refrigeration capacity.
Is remote monitoring possible without third-party hardware?
Yes—via built-in Ethernet port using Modbus TCP or HTTP API endpoints; no gateway or converter required for basic telemetry and control.
How often should the optional water filtration cartridges be replaced?
PP sediment filters require replacement every 3–6 months depending on inlet water hardness and particulate load; ion exchange resin cartridges typically last 6–12 months under typical deionized water reuse conditions.
Does the unit include validation documentation for GxP environments?
Factory-installed IQ/OQ documentation packages (including calibration certificates traceable to NIST standards) are available as a configurable option—not included by default but fully supported upon order specification.