MEMMERT HCP108 / HCP153 / HCP246 High-Temperature and Humidity Controlled Chamber

Overview

The MEMMERT HCP108, HCP153, and HCP246 are precision-engineered high-temperature and humidity-controlled chambers designed for demanding applications in materials science, pharmaceutical stability testing, biomedical research, and corrosion resistance evaluation. These chambers operate on a dual-mode thermal management principle: fully integrated humidification and dehumidification control within the +20 °C to +90 °C range, and dry high-temperature operation up to +160 °C—enabling both physiological simulation and terminal sterilization protocols without hardware modification. Each unit features six-sided heating with an aluminum thermal jacket, ensuring exceptional temperature homogeneity and minimizing condensation risk during rapid humidity transitions. The chamber architecture complies with DIN 12880:2007-05 for laboratory climate equipment, delivering ≤ ±0.3 °C spatial uniformity and ≤ ±0.1 °C temporal stability at +50 °C—validated at the chamber center using a certified Pt100 sensor.

Key Features

• Six-face heating system with aluminum thermal jacket for optimized heat distribution and passive thermal inertia during power interruption
• Capacitive humidity sensor rated for repeated sterilization at +160 °C for 4 hours—fully compatible with GMP/GLP cleanroom maintenance requirements
• Dual-sensor Pt100 temperature monitoring (4-wire configuration) with real-time fault diagnostics; automatic alarm and continued operation if one sensor fails
• Microprocessor-based Celsius controller with self-diagnostic firmware, ASF (Automatic Setpoint Following), and mechanical temperature limiter (TB) as independent safety layer
• Integrated steam generator (distilled water supply via external bottle + internal pump) and sterile-filtered air dehumidification pathway—preventing droplet formation and cross-contamination
• Smooth, laminar air exchange system with HEPA-grade inlet filtration and no airflow turbulence—critical for cell culture, polymer aging, and hygroscopic material testing

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HCP series accommodates diverse sample types—from coated metal coupons for ASTM B117 salt-spray preconditioning to lyophilized biologics undergoing ICH Q1A(R3) long-term stability assessment. All internal surfaces are electropolished stainless steel (1.4301), non-porous and autoclavable. Humidity and temperature profiles are traceable per ISO/IEC 17025 when used with MEMMERT’s factory-calibrated reference probes. The chambers support full audit trails under FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with Celsius software v5.0 or later (user-configurable electronic signatures, immutable data logging, and role-based access control). Sterilization cycles are validated using MEMMERT’s integrated sterilization card, meeting EN 285 requirements for chamber-level thermal validation—not intended for sample sterilization.

Software & Data Management

Celsius software (included) provides full remote supervision via Ethernet or USB, enabling multi-stage program definition (up to 40 segments per week), real-time graphing of T/RH trends, and automated export to CSV/PDF. Internal memory stores 1024 KB of cyclic data—including setpoints, actual values, timestamps, error codes, and diagnostic logs—at 1-minute intervals for up to 3 months. Parallel printer interface supports PCL3-compatible inkjet devices (USB adapter optional). Calibration is performed in situ: three-point temperature adjustment and two-point (20%/90% RH) humidity verification require no external PC. Language options include English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish—configured directly on the front panel.

Applications

• Accelerated aging of packaging materials (ISO 11607-1) under controlled hygrothermal stress
• Corrosion testing of aerospace alloys per ASTM G85 Annex A5 (modified SO₂ salt spray)
• Stability studies of mRNA vaccines and protein therapeutics per ICH Q5C guidelines
• Pre-conditioning of concrete specimens prior to compressive strength testing (ASTM C31/C39)
• Long-term viability assays of primary neuronal cultures requiring precise +37 °C / 95% RH environments
• Thermal validation of medical device sterilization packaging (EN ISO 11140-1)

FAQ

Can the HCP chamber perform simultaneous temperature and humidity ramping?
Yes—Celsius software supports independent or coupled ramp/soak profiles for both parameters, with programmable rates down to 0.1 °C/min and 0.5% RH/min.
Is the humidity sensor replaceable without recalibration?
No—the capacitive sensor is factory-matched and requires full system recalibration (including temperature offset verification) after replacement.
Does the +160 °C dry mode affect chamber longevity?
No—continuous operation at +160 °C is permitted; the aluminum thermal jacket and ceramic-insulated heating elements are rated for indefinite exposure at this temperature.
How is data integrity ensured during extended unattended runs?
Internal flash memory uses wear-leveling algorithms and write-protection flags; all logged entries include CRC-32 checksums and timestamped firmware version stamps.
Are third-party validation services supported?
Yes—MEMMERT provides IQ/OQ documentation templates compliant with ASTM E2500 and EU Annex 15; field service engineers can perform on-site PQ with NIST-traceable references.