Zhongke Aobo HH-SA Advanced Circulating Oil Bath

Overview

The Zhongke Aobo HH-SA Advanced Circulating Oil Bath is a precision-engineered temperature control system designed for stable, uniform thermal environments in laboratory-scale chemical, pharmaceutical, and materials science applications. Operating on the principle of forced convection via an integrated circulation pump, the HH-SA maintains consistent thermal distribution across the bath chamber—critical for reproducible reaction kinetics, solvent removal, sample drying, and thermal stability testing. Unlike basic immersion heaters or static oil baths, this unit delivers enhanced thermal homogeneity through dual-mode circulation (internal recirculation or external loop connection), enabling both closed-system heating and integration with external apparatus such as condensers, reactors, or analytical instrumentation. Its operational range spans from ambient +5°C up to 300°C, making it suitable for high-temperature applications including distillation of high-boiling-point solvents, polymer curing, and accelerated aging studies—while maintaining ±0.5°C temperature stability under steady-state conditions.

Key Features

• Robust 304 stainless steel inner tank and submerged heating element ensure long-term corrosion resistance and thermal durability in aggressive organic media.
• Intelligent digital PID temperature controller with real-time display and programmable setpoint retention supports precise thermal ramping and hold profiles.
• Dual circulation architecture: internal mode for rapid equilibration within the bath; external mode (via Ø10 mm stainless steel ports) for coupling with jacketed reactors, reflux systems, or calorimeters.
• High-flow circulation pump (8 L/min internal / 6 L/min external) minimizes thermal gradients and accelerates heat transfer efficiency across viscous low-to-moderate viscosity silicone or mineral oils.
• Over-temperature protection and mandatory grounding interface comply with IEC 61010-1 safety standards for laboratory electrical equipment.
• Modular design accommodates OEM integration and custom configurations—including extended porting, auxiliary sensor inputs, or RS485 communication modules—upon request.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HH-SA is validated for use with standard laboratory thermal transfer fluids including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oils, white mineral oil, and glycerol-water mixtures—provided kinematic viscosity remains below 100 cSt at operating temperature. It is explicitly not rated for use with high-viscosity synthetic heat-transfer fluids (>200 cSt), as reduced pump efficiency may compromise thermal uniformity and accelerate mechanical wear. The unit conforms to general-purpose laboratory safety requirements per GB/T 29791.1–2013 (Chinese national standard equivalent to IEC 61010-1). While not certified for GMP or GLP environments out-of-the-box, its stable thermal performance, traceable calibration capability, and audit-ready operation logs (when paired with optional data-logging software) support compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 method validation frameworks.

Software & Data Management

The HH-SA operates via standalone embedded firmware with no proprietary software dependency. Temperature setpoints, real-time readings, and alarm status are displayed on a backlit LCD interface. For laboratories requiring electronic recordkeeping, the unit supports analog output (0–5 V or 4–20 mA) for connection to SCADA systems, PLCs, or third-party data acquisition platforms (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, or Delta Tau PMAC). Optional USB-to-RS485 adapters enable serial command control (ASCII protocol) for scripting automated thermal protocols. All operational events—including power-on, setpoint changes, over-temperature triggers, and pump activation—are timestamped and stored in non-volatile memory for post-hoc review, satisfying basic ALCOA+ data integrity principles when documented alongside procedural SOPs.

Applications

• Controlled-temperature reflux and fractional distillation of organic compounds with boiling points up to 300°C.
• Thermal conditioning of viscoelastic samples prior to rheological or DMA analysis.
• Accelerated stability testing of pharmaceutical intermediates under ICH Q1A(R3) guidelines.
• Drying and dehydration of moisture-sensitive catalysts or metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
• Calibration of thermocouples, RTDs, and infrared sensors across extended temperature ranges.
• Pre-heating and temperature maintenance of syringe pumps, HPLC autosamplers, or flow chemistry manifolds.

FAQ

Is the HH-SA compatible with silicone oil? Why is high-viscosity oil prohibited?
Yes—the HH-SA is compatible with standard-grade dimethyl silicone oils (e.g., Dow Corning 200 Fluid, viscosity ≤50 cSt at 25°C). High-viscosity oils impede pump performance, increase motor load, reduce thermal response time, and risk cavitation-induced pump failure.
Can the external circulation mode be used for cooling applications?
No—the HH-SA is a heating-only system (no refrigeration or Peltier module). External circulation must be connected to a secondary chiller or heat exchanger if sub-ambient temperatures are required.
What calibration documentation is provided?
Each unit ships with a factory-as-tested temperature verification report (at 100°C and 250°C), traceable to NIM (National Institute of Metrology, China) standards. Full ISO/IEC 17025 calibration certificates are available upon request with additional lead time and fee.
Does the unit meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements?
Out-of-the-box, the HH-SA does not include electronic signature, audit trail, or user access controls required for Part 11 compliance. However, when interfaced with validated LIMS or ELN systems that manage authentication and change control, it can operate within a compliant workflow.
Is the stainless steel tank electropolished?
The inner tank is passivated 304 stainless steel per ASTM A967, but not electropolished. For ultra-clean applications (e.g., semiconductor precursor handling), optional electropolished lining upgrades are available under custom order.