MKN GHP-160 Water-Jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator

Overview

The MKN GHP-160 Water-Jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator is engineered for precise, stable thermal environments required in microbiological culture, cell propagation, enzyme activity studies, and long-term biological storage. Unlike forced-air incubators, this unit employs a passive water-jacket heating system—where temperature-controlled water circulates uniformly around the inner chamber—delivering exceptional thermal uniformity (±0.3 °C at 37 °C), minimal temperature fluctuation (<±0.2 °C), and inherent buffering against external ambient disturbances. The design eliminates overshoot during setpoint transitions and prevents localized hot spots that may compromise sensitive cultures or reagents. Its stainless-steel water jacket, fabricated via argon arc welding, ensures structural integrity, corrosion resistance, and leak-free operation over extended service life—critical for GLP-compliant labs maintaining ISO/IEC 17025-accredited workflows.

Key Features

• Stainless-steel water jacket with seamless argon arc weld construction for durability and thermal inertia
• Dual-pane tempered glass observation door with silicone rubber gasket seal—maintains internal stability during visual inspection without thermal perturbation
• Microprocessor-based digital temperature controller with PID algorithm, offering ±0.1 °C setpoint accuracy and real-time display
• Integrated safety monitoring: audible/visual alarm triggers upon chamber temperature deviation >±2 °C from setpoint or water jacket level outside operational range
• Externally mounted heating elements—preventing direct radiant exposure to samples and eliminating risk of thermal shock or desiccation
• Chamber interior finished with electropolished stainless steel (304 grade), facilitating decontamination and minimizing microbial adhesion

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The GHP-160 accommodates standard Petri dishes (up to 150 mm), multi-well plates (6–96-well), Erlenmeyer flasks (up to 2 L), and stacked culture vessels within its 160 L working volume. It complies with IEC 61010-1:2010 for laboratory equipment safety and meets essential requirements of ISO 13485 for medical device-related research environments. While not certified for Class II biosafety applications, its sealed chamber and validated temperature homogeneity support protocols aligned with CLSI M22-A3 (microbiological culture), USP / (microbial enumeration), and ASTM E171 (standard conditions for conditioning and testing).

Software & Data Management

The incubator operates as a standalone instrument with no embedded data logging or network interface. All operational parameters—including setpoint, actual chamber temperature, and water jacket status—are displayed locally via a high-contrast LED interface. For regulated environments requiring audit trails, users may integrate external calibrated temperature data loggers (e.g., compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with validated software) to record time-stamped chamber profiles. MKN provides calibration certificates traceable to NIM (National Institute of Metrology, China) upon request, supporting laboratory quality systems under ISO/IEC 17025 or GMP Annex 11 documentation frameworks.

Applications

• Bacterial and fungal strain maintenance (ATCC, DSMZ, and clinical isolates)
• Mammalian and insect cell line propagation under non-CO₂ conditions
• Enzyme kinetics assays requiring thermal stability over 4–72 hour durations
• Seed germination and plant tissue culture in agricultural biotechnology labs
• Quality control incubation for pharmaceutical raw material sterility testing (USP )
• Environmental simulation studies where air turbulence must be minimized (e.g., biofilm formation assays)

FAQ

What is the thermal uniformity specification across the chamber volume?
At 37 °C, measured per ISO 15378 Annex D methodology, uniformity is ≤±0.3 °C (9-point grid, center + corners at mid-height).
Does the unit include water level auto-refill or remote monitoring capability?
No—water level must be manually checked and topped up using distilled/deionized water prior to operation; no IoT or Ethernet connectivity is provided.
Is the chamber humidity controlled?
No—this is a dry-chamber water-jacketed incubator; relative humidity is unregulated and typically stabilizes at 60–70% RH at 37 °C in ambient lab conditions.
Can the incubator be validated for IQ/OQ/PQ protocols?
Yes—MKN supplies factory calibration reports and dimensional drawings; users perform site-specific qualification using third-party thermocouple mapping systems per EU GMP Annex 15 guidelines.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for sustained performance?
Water jacket fluid should be replaced every 6 months; door gasket integrity and temperature sensor drift should be verified annually using NIST-traceable references.