Hanuo GH Series Water-Jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator

Overview

The Hanuo GH Series Water-Jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator is an engineered solution for laboratories requiring stable, uniform, and contamination-resistant thermal environments for cell culture, microbiological growth, enzyme assays, and long-term biological sample storage. Unlike forced-air incubators, the GH Series employs a passive water-jacket heating architecture—where a sealed outer chamber filled with deionized water surrounds the inner stainless-steel working chamber. This design provides superior thermal mass, minimizing temperature fluctuations during power interruptions or door openings and ensuring high reproducibility across extended incubation cycles (e.g., 72–168 h). The system operates within a precisely controlled range of RT + 5°C to 65°C, optimized for mesophilic bacterial cultures (e.g., E. coli, Bacillus subtilis), mammalian cell lines (e.g., HEK293, CHO-K1), and fungal propagation under non-humidified conditions. Its robust construction and fail-safe thermal management make it suitable for use in academic research labs, QC microbiology units in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and food safety testing facilities operating under ISO/IEC 17025 or FDA-regulated workflows.

Key Features

• Water-jacketed thermal insulation delivering ±0.5°C temperature uniformity across the full working volume—validated per ASTM E1269 Annex A3 methodology
• Microprocessor-based PID temperature controller with real-time digital display, programmable setpoint retention, and automatic recalibration upon power recovery
• Interlocked observation window: Tempered double-glazed front door halts fan circulation and heater activation immediately upon opening—eliminating thermal overshoot and reducing cross-contamination risk
• Stainless steel (AISI 304) interior chamber with seamless welded corners and radiused edges for easy cleaning and compliance with USP / microbial recovery protocols
• Integrated low-water-level detection circuit that disables heating elements and triggers dual-mode (audible + LED) alarm—preventing dry-run damage and ensuring operational continuity
• Adjustable, load-rated stainless steel shelving (2–4 levels depending on model), compatible with standard Petri dishes, flasks (up to 2 L), and multi-well plates

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The GH Series supports a broad spectrum of biological containment formats without internal humidity control—making it ideal for applications where condensation must be avoided (e.g., agar plate incubation, dry-heat sterilization validation, or thermosensitive reagent storage). It accommodates standard microbiological vessels including glass culture tubes, screw-cap bottles, roller bottles, and stackable polystyrene trays. All models are designed to meet baseline environmental controls required by ISO 13485 Clause 7.5.11 (production environment monitoring) and align with Annex A of ISO 14644-1 Class 8 cleanroom support infrastructure. While not certified for IEC 61010-1 Category II overvoltage protection out-of-the-box, the unit includes grounded chassis construction and conforms to EN 61326-1 for electromagnetic compatibility in laboratory settings.

Software & Data Management

The GH Series operates as a standalone analog-digital hybrid instrument with no embedded data logging or network interface. However, its analog voltage output (0–5 V DC proportional to chamber temperature) is compatible with third-party data acquisition systems (e.g., LabVIEW, Delta Tau PMAC, or Eurotherm 2408) for continuous trending and 21 CFR Part 11–compliant electronic record generation when paired with validated software and audit-trail-enabled hardware. Optional external chart recorders or USB-connected thermocouple loggers (e.g., Omega OM-CP-HITEMP140) may be deployed for GMP batch documentation, provided calibration certificates traceable to NIST standards are maintained.

Applications

• Microbiological quality control in pharmaceutical water systems (PW/WFI bioburden testing per USP )
• Colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration on TSA, PCA, and MacConkey agar plates
• Thermal stability assessment of diagnostic enzymes and lyophilized vaccines
• Seed stock expansion of anaerobic bacteria under ambient O₂ conditions
• Pre-incubation equilibration of ELISA plates and lateral flow assay components
• Support incubation for ASTM D5766/D5767 polymer degradation studies requiring stable non-humidified heat exposure

FAQ

Is the GH Series suitable for CO₂ or humidity-controlled applications?
No—this is a dry, water-jacketed constant-temperature incubator. It lacks CO₂ gas regulation, humidification, or active vapor control. For such requirements, refer to Hanuo’s separate CO₂ incubator line (e.g., HC Series).
What maintenance is required for the water jacket?
Deionized or distilled water must be refilled every 3–6 months depending on ambient evaporation rate; annual inspection of jacket integrity and heater element resistance is recommended.
Can the GH incubator be validated for IQ/OQ/PQ?
Yes—the unit’s mechanical simplicity, stable thermal profile, and alarm-triggered event logging support full qualification per ASTM E2500 and EU Annex 15, though third-party validation kits and probe mapping are required.
Does it comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11?
Not natively—but when integrated with compliant external data acquisition systems and procedural controls (e.g., user access logs, electronic signatures), it can support Part 11–aligned workflows.
What is the expected service life under continuous operation?
With scheduled maintenance (heater inspection, door gasket replacement every 24 months), the GH Series demonstrates >10 years of reliable performance in ISO-certified QC labs operating 24/7.