IKA HBC 5 Basic Heating Circulator

Overview

The IKA® HBC 5 Basic Heating Circulator is a precision-engineered, DIN 12876-compliant thermal management system designed for stable, controllable heating of external devices and reaction vessels in research and quality control laboratories. Operating on the principle of forced convection via an integrated circulation pump, it delivers uniform thermal energy to external jackets, reactors, or analytical instrumentation through a closed-loop fluid circuit. Its stainless-steel bath construction ensures chemical resistance and long-term structural integrity, while the optimized heat exchanger geometry and high-efficiency insulation enable rapid thermal ramping and minimal power consumption. Unlike open-bath systems, the HBC 5’s sealed circulation architecture eliminates evaporative loss and enables precise temperature maintenance across extended durations — critical for kinetic studies, polymerization protocols, and calibration traceability.

Key Features

• Stainless-steel bath chamber (7 L capacity) with integrated drain valve and hose connection for safe, tool-free medium disposal — eliminating operator exposure to hot or hazardous fluids.
• DIN 12876 Class III (FL) certification for use with flammable liquids up to 260 °C, validated under rigorous thermal runaway and ignition resistance testing.
• High-stability temperature control with ±0.1 °C stability at setpoint and ±0.02 K accuracy (traceable to PT100 reference standard).
• Adjustable dual-mode circulation pump: independently controllable pressure and suction output to match viscosity and head-loss requirements of diverse external systems.
• Integrated cooling coil for passive heat dissipation during cooldown phases — reducing thermal overshoot and extending bath fluid service life.
• UL-listed electrical architecture with redundant safety circuitry, including overtemperature cutoff, dry-run protection, and optical/audible alarm activation on fault detection.
• Intuitive user interface featuring a large backlit LED display showing real-time temperature and pump speed, rotary encoder navigation, and tactile push-button controls.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HBC 5 Basic supports silicone oil, glycerol, and other DIN-compliant heat transfer media within its full operational range (0–260 °C). Its design conforms to ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for equipment qualification in accredited testing labs. The unit meets EN 61010-1 for laboratory electrical safety and carries UL recognition for North American markets. For regulated environments, the device supports GLP-compliant operation when paired with labworldsoft® software: all temperature logs, pump events, and alarm timestamps are time-stamped, non-erasable, and exportable in CSV or PDF formats — satisfying FDA 21 CFR Part 11 audit trail requirements when configured with user authentication and electronic signature modules.

Software & Data Management

Via native USB or RS232 connectivity, the HBC 5 Basic interfaces directly with IKA’s labworldsoft® platform — a validated laboratory control suite supporting remote parameter setting, real-time graphing, automated ramp/soak profiles, and event-triggered data capture. Firmware updates are performed securely over the same interface without hardware modification. All communication adheres to Modbus RTU protocol for interoperability with SCADA and LIMS ecosystems. Data files include metadata such as instrument ID, sensor calibration date, operator login, and environmental timestamp — enabling full traceability per ISO 17025 clause 7.7 and ASTM E2500-13 guidelines for equipment qualification.

Applications

• Temperature control of jacketed glass reactors and pilot-scale synthesis vessels.
• Calibration of thermocouples, RTDs, and infrared sensors against NIST-traceable references.
• Viscometry and rheometry sample conditioning in ASTM D445 and ISO 3104 compliant workflows.
• Accelerated stability testing of pharmaceutical formulations per ICH Q1A(R2) thermal stress protocols.
• Pre-heating and thermal equilibration of HPLC columns, GC injectors, and sample introduction modules.
• Material testing setups requiring sustained thermal loading under ASTM D696 (coefficient of linear expansion) or ISO 11357 (DSC calibration).

FAQ

What heat transfer fluids are compatible with the HBC 5 Basic?

Silicone oils (e.g., DC200 series), polyalkylene glycols, and high-flash-point glycerol-water mixtures meeting DIN 51502 and ASTM D3405 specifications are recommended. Mineral oils are not advised above 150 °C due to oxidation risk.
Is external temperature sensing supported?

Yes — the unit accepts external PT100 inputs via dedicated analog input terminals; labworldsoft® allows simultaneous display and control using either internal or external sensor feedback.
Can the HBC 5 Basic operate unattended overnight?

It is engineered for continuous operation with built-in safeguards: overtemperature lockout, low-level fluid detection, and automatic pump shutdown on thermal fault — all logged with timestamps for compliance review.
Does the unit support programmable temperature ramps?

Ramp/soak programming is available exclusively through labworldsoft®; the front panel supports only fixed-setpoint operation.
What is the maximum allowable external system pressure drop?

The pump delivers up to 0.6 bar differential pressure at 1.2 L/min flow rate — sufficient for most jacketed reactors and heat exchangers with ≤3 m tubing length and standard fittings.