OK Walk-in Environmental Test Chamber OK-STH-12.88m²

Overview

The OK Walk-in Environmental Test Chamber OK-STH-12.88m² is a fully integrated, large-volume climatic simulation system engineered for precision replication of combined thermal and hygrometric stress profiles. It operates on the fundamental principles of forced-air convection, refrigerant-based cooling (including cascade refrigeration for sub-zero operation), resistive heating, and steam-based humidification—enabling simultaneous, independent control of temperature and relative humidity across a wide operational envelope. Unlike cabinet-style chambers, its walk-in architecture (12.88 m² floor area, 2.0 m height) supports full-system testing of automotive ECUs, avionics assemblies, server racks, and military-grade enclosures under standardized environmental stress conditions. The chamber complies with the physical modeling requirements of IEC 60068-2 series, ISO 16750-4, GB/T 2423, and GJB 150A—making it suitable for qualification-level reliability validation in R&D, manufacturing QA, and third-party certification laboratories.

Key Features

• Modular cascade refrigeration system with dual-stage compressors, enabling stable operation down to −70°C while maintaining dehumidification capability at low temperatures.
• High-capacity electrode-type steam humidifier coupled with reverse-osmosis purified water supply, delivering controlled humidity from 10% to 98% RH across the full temperature range (subject to physical saturation limits).
• Multi-zone air distribution system featuring heavy-duty centrifugal blowers and perforated plate diffusers, ensuring spatial temperature uniformity ≤ ±3°C and humidity uniformity ≤ ±3% RH (per IEC 60068-3-5).
• Programmable multi-segment controller with touchscreen HMI, supporting up to 999 cycles, 999 steps per program, and seamless linking between temperature/humidity ramps, dwells, and transitions.
• Integrated real-time data logging with audit trail functionality compliant with GLP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when paired with optional networked software packages.
• Structural insulation using high-density polyurethane foam (≥150 mm thickness) and double-skin stainless steel cladding, minimizing thermal bridging and energy consumption during prolonged dwell periods.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The OK-STH-12.88m² accommodates physically large or thermally massive test articles—including complete vehicle infotainment units, UAV power modules, telecom base station cabinets, and defense electronics chassis—without compromising environmental fidelity. Its internal volume (12.88 m² footprint × 2.0 m height = ~25.76 m³ net working space) allows for unrestricted airflow around samples, eliminating localized thermal shadowing effects common in smaller chambers. All operational modes—including constant temperature/humidity, linear ramping, step cycling, and complex multi-parameter profiles—are validated against international test standards including IEC 60068-2-30 (cyclic damp heat), IEC 60068-2-14 (temperature cycling), IEC 60068-2-78 (steady-state damp heat), and MIL-STD-810H Method 502.7. Calibration traceability follows ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines via NIST-traceable reference sensors mounted at nine predefined spatial locations.

Software & Data Management

The embedded controller provides local program creation, execution monitoring, and real-time trend visualization for temperature and humidity channels. Optional Ethernet- or RS485-enabled remote interface supports integration into centralized laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and MES platforms. Data export formats include CSV and PDF reports with timestamps, operator ID, alarm history, and deviation alerts. When configured with OK’s optional compliance software suite, the system delivers electronic signatures, user role-based access control, change history logs, and automated report generation aligned with ISO 17025 and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Annex 11 expectations. All logged data is stored redundantly—on-device SD card and external NAS—with configurable retention policies.

Applications

This chamber serves as a primary tool for environmental stress screening (ESS), accelerated life testing (ALT), and qualification-level environmental verification across regulated and high-reliability sectors. In automotive electronics, it executes ISO 16750-4 thermal shock and humidity cycling protocols for ADAS camera modules and battery management systems. Aerospace suppliers use it to replicate altitude-compensated thermal-hygric profiles per DO-160 Section 4 and 5. Telecommunications equipment manufacturers apply it for GR-63-CORE-compliant durability assessment of 5G radio units under tropical and arctic operating envelopes. Defense contractors rely on its −70°C capability and programmable condensation cycles to validate field readiness per MIL-STD-810H Method 507.5 (humidity) and Method 502.7 (temperature). Academic and national metrology labs deploy it for material aging studies involving polymer degradation kinetics and corrosion rate modeling under controlled hygrothermal exposure.

FAQ

What is the maximum achievable humidity at −40°C?
At −40°C, the saturation point of water vapor is approximately 0.13% RH; therefore, the practical lower limit of controllable humidity is ~5–10% RH, depending on chamber loading and sensor calibration.
Can the chamber perform rapid temperature transitions (e.g., >5°C/min)?
Standard configuration supports 1.0–4.0°C/min heating rates; faster ramping requires optional high-capacity heater banks and enhanced refrigeration capacity—available upon request with revised performance specifications.
Is remote monitoring and alarm notification supported?
Yes—via optional Modbus TCP or SNMP integration, enabling real-time status polling, SMS/email alerts on deviation events, and secure web-based dashboard access.
How is temperature uniformity verified during installation qualification (IQ)?
Per IEC 60068-3-5, a 9-point sensor mapping grid is deployed across the working volume; measurements are recorded over 30 minutes at three representative setpoints (−40°C, 25°C, +85°C) to confirm spatial compliance.
Does the system support custom profile import from Excel or MATLAB?
Yes—the controller accepts CSV-formatted time-series inputs for temperature and humidity targets, allowing direct translation of customer-defined environmental lifetime profiles into executable test sequences.