Shanghai Youyi LRH-100BL Low-Temperature Incubator

Overview

The Shanghai Youyi LRH-100BL Low-Temperature Incubator is an engineered environmental control system designed for precise, stable, and reproducible temperature regulation across a wide operational range—from −20 °C to +65 °C. Unlike general-purpose refrigerated storage units, this incubator integrates active air circulation, microprocessor-based PID temperature control, and thermal insulation architecture specifically optimized for biological and material stability testing. Its core function is to maintain consistent thermal conditions for sensitive applications including microbial culture at sub-ambient temperatures, long-term serum or reagent preservation, accelerated stability studies of pharmaceuticals, and low-temperature validation of electronic components. The unit employs a dual-stage thermal management strategy: a high-efficiency hermetic compressor with environmentally compliant R134a/R406a refrigerant blend ensures rapid cooldown and energy-efficient steady-state operation, while a calibrated axial fan and asymmetric airflow duct design minimize thermal gradients—critical for assay reproducibility in GLP-compliant laboratories.

Key Features

• Robust structural construction: Cold-rolled steel outer cabinet with electrostatic epoxy powder coating; mirror-finish stainless-steel interior chamber with radius-corner geometry for seamless cleaning and contamination control.
• Optimized thermal access: Double-glazed inner door with low-emissivity glass and magnetic seal preserves internal uniformity during visual inspection—no external air intrusion or temperature perturbation.
• Intelligent control system: 5.7-inch backlit LCD interface supports multi-parameter real-time display—including setpoint, actual chamber temperature, elapsed time, and countdown timer—with intuitive menu navigation and password-protected parameter locking.
• Reliability safeguards: Power-loss recovery logic retains all user-defined settings and runtime history; auto-restart functionality resumes operation at pre-interruption parameters upon grid restoration.
• Mobility & stability: Four-position omnidirectional casters with independent locking mechanisms enable both flexible repositioning and rigid anchoring—essential for vibration-sensitive protocols.
• Eco-conscious engineering: Compliant with international refrigerant phase-out directives; uses zero-ozone-depletion-potential (ODP) refrigerants and achieves >25% lower specific energy consumption (kWh/L/year) versus legacy models in the same class.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The LRH-100BL accommodates standard laboratory vessels—including 50 mL conical tubes, 15 mL centrifuge tubes, Petri dishes, multi-well plates, and 1–2 L media bottles—on three adjustable stainless-steel shelves (standard configuration). Its chamber geometry (450 × 380 × 590 mm W×D×H) allows unobstructed airflow even at full load. The incubator meets baseline mechanical safety requirements per IEC 61010-1 and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) per EN 61326-1. While not certified to ISO 13485 or FDA 21 CFR Part 11 out-of-the-box, its optional RS485/USB interfaces support integration into validated data acquisition systems that comply with ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available) for audit-ready traceability.

Software & Data Management

The base controller logs internal temperature at 1-minute intervals with timestamping and stores up to 30 days of continuous data in non-volatile memory. Optional communication modules (RS485 or USB) enable bidirectional protocol exchange with third-party SCADA or LIMS platforms using Modbus RTU or ASCII command sets. The included PC software provides graphical trend analysis, export to CSV/PDF, alarm event tagging, and configurable email/SNMP alerts. When paired with the optional programmable temperature controller (up to 30 segments), users can define complex thermal profiles for stress testing—e.g., ramp-hold-cool cycles simulating shipping logistics or seasonal environmental exposure.

Applications

• Low-temperature microbiology: Maintenance of psychrotrophic strains, cryopreserved cell stocks, and cold-adapted enzyme assays.
• Clinical sample integrity: Storage of human serum, plasma, CSF, and tissue homogenates prior to ELISA, PCR, or mass spectrometry analysis.
• Pharmaceutical stability: ICH Q1A-compliant long-term (25 °C/60% RH) and intermediate (30 °C/65% RH) condition simulation—when combined with humidity-controlled ancillaries.
• Materials science: Thermal aging of polymers, adhesives, and printed circuit boards under controlled sub-zero thermal cycling.
• Vaccine logistics validation: Mapping of cold chain performance across −20 °C holding phases in pre-distribution staging environments.

FAQ

What is the minimum achievable temperature and how quickly does it stabilize?
The LRH-100BL reaches −20 °C from ambient (25 °C) in approximately 95 minutes under no-load conditions; stabilization within ±0.5 °C tolerance occurs within 15 minutes post-reach.
Can the unit operate continuously at −20 °C without defrost interruption?
Yes—the compressor and evaporator assembly are rated for uninterrupted operation at −20 °C, with automatic adaptive defrost triggered only when frost accumulation exceeds thermal efficiency thresholds.
Is calibration certificate included with shipment?
A factory-issued calibration report (traceable to NIM, China) is provided; on-site ISO/IEC 17025-accredited calibration services are available as a separate engagement.
Are shelves removable for sterilization or custom fixture mounting?
All stainless-steel shelves are fully detachable and autoclavable (up to 121 °C, 2 bar); mounting holes conform to ISO 2768-mK general tolerances for third-party bracket integration.
Does the incubator meet UL or CSA safety certification standards?
It complies with GB 4793.1–2019 (Chinese national equivalent to IEC 61010-1); UL/CSA listing requires additional regional type-testing and is offered as a customization option.