LAUDA PRO Refrigerated Circulating Bath RE240

Overview

The LAUDA PRO Refrigerated Circulating Bath RE240 is a high-performance, dual-mode temperature control system engineered for precision thermal management in demanding laboratory and pilot-scale applications. Based on LAUDA’s proven thermodynamic architecture, the RE240 employs a closed-loop refrigeration cycle combined with resistive heating and advanced PID-driven digital temperature regulation. Its core operating principle relies on forced convection via a high-efficiency circulation pump, delivering stable, uniform thermal transfer to external devices—such as reactors, spectrometers, calorimeters, or material testing fixtures—through insulated fluid lines. With an extended operational range from −90 °C to +250 °C and exceptional stability of ±0.01 K, the RE240 meets stringent requirements for kinetic studies, polymer processing, pharmaceutical stability testing, and calibration traceability under ISO/IEC 17025 environments.

Key Features

• Ultra-wide temperature range (−90 °C to +250 °C) enabled by optimized refrigerant blend and high-temperature heat transfer fluid compatibility (e.g., silicone oil, ethylene glycol/water mixtures)
• LAUDA Varioflex multi-stage circulation pump with eight discrete power levels—providing precise flow control from 0.5 to 22 L/min without mechanical throttling
• SmartCool digital compressor control system dynamically adjusts refrigeration output based on real-time load demand, reducing energy consumption and thermal overshoot during ramping
• Tower-style compact chassis (300 × 430 × 675 mm) minimizes footprint while maintaining full-service accessibility to all maintenance points
• Integrated counter-current cooling coil supports rapid cooldown of external systems without requiring auxiliary chillers
• Hybrid cooling architecture: standard ambient-air condenser with optional water-cooled condenser kit for continuous operation in high-ambient or confined spaces
• Pressure-boosting pump configuration ensures reliable delivery against backpressure up to 0.7 bar discharge and 0.4 bar suction—critical for jacketed reactor integration

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The RE240 is compatible with a broad spectrum of external thermal loads, including glass-jacketed reactors (up to 50 L), UV-Vis spectrophotometer cells, differential scanning calorimeters (DSC), and rheometry accessories. It supports both water- and oil-based heat transfer media, with chemical resistance verified for common solvents (e.g., acetone, methanol, toluene) when used with LAUDA-certified fluid pathways. The unit complies with IEC 61010-1 (Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use) and carries CE marking. Its firmware architecture supports audit-ready operation per GLP and GMP guidelines, including configurable event logging, user access levels, and timestamped temperature history export—facilitating compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 where paired with validated data acquisition software.

Software & Data Management

The RE240 operates via an integrated 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen interface with intuitive navigation and multilingual support (English, German, French, Chinese). All setpoints, ramp rates, hold durations, and pump speeds are programmable via on-device scheduler or remote control through RS232/RS485 and optional Ethernet (Modbus TCP). LAUDA’s PC-based software, Thermostat Control Center (TCC), enables synchronized multi-unit orchestration, real-time graphing, automated report generation (PDF/CSV), and integration into LabVantage or Thermo Fisher SampleManager LIMS platforms. Raw temperature and flow data are logged at 1 Hz resolution with embedded checksum validation to ensure data integrity across long-duration experiments.

Applications

• Kinetic profiling of exothermic/endothermic reactions in glass or stainless-steel reactors
• Temperature-dependent viscosity measurements using rotational or capillary viscometers
• Calibration of platinum resistance thermometers (PRTs), thermocouples, and IR sensors across extended ranges
• Stability testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) per ICH Q1A(R2) guidelines
• Thermal cycling of composite materials during DMA or TMA characterization
• Preconditioning of optical components prior to interferometric or ellipsometric analysis

FAQ

What heat transfer fluids are recommended for operation below −40 °C?
LAUDA recommends using LAUDA Therminol LT or Shell S2 PAG 10 synthetic oils for sub-zero operation; aqueous glycol solutions are not suitable below −20 °C due to freezing point limitations.
Can the RE240 be integrated into a PLC-controlled process line?
Yes—the device supports Modbus RTU (RS485) and Modbus TCP protocols with fully documented register maps, enabling direct integration into Siemens S7, Rockwell ControlLogix, or Beckhoff TwinCAT systems.
Is external pressure relief required when connecting to a sealed reactor system?
Yes—LAUDA mandates installation of a certified pressure-relief valve on the external circuit side, sized per ASME B31.3, to prevent over-pressurization during thermal expansion of the heat transfer medium.
How often does the refrigeration system require maintenance?
Under normal lab use, the hermetic compressor and sealed refrigerant circuit require no scheduled maintenance for 10,000 operating hours; annual inspection of pump seals, fluid level, and condenser cleanliness is recommended.
Does the RE240 support external temperature feedback for cascade control?
Yes—via optional PT100 input channel (LAUDA accessory part #821014), the unit can accept external sensor signals to implement process-temperature cascade control with improved dynamic response.