Specialized cold rooms

A climatic chamber is used in scientific research to accurately recreate the conditions of aggressive environmental impact. Climatic chambers are also used for drying, curing and "ripening" various types of products, such as fish, meat, cheese. Climatic chambers are installed mainly in scientific research organizations, in the aviation and defense industries for testing, during which a wide range and precise control of temperature and humidity (pressure) is required.

Types of climatic chambers

There are many types of such chambers. All of them simulate different weather conditions. But the most widespread of them are heat, cold and humidity chambers. There are models that operate in one or several modes:

• Heat.
• Cold, heat and humidity.
• Cold and heat.
• Humidity and heat.
• Pressure chambers that create certain pressure indicators.
• Chambers for ripening products (meat, drying fish, ripening cheese)
• Solar radiation.

The last type of chambers is specific equipment. In such chambers, conditions are created for the effect of sunlight on various materials subject to testing. This allows us to evaluate the resistance of the produced materials to the destructive effects of the sun and their durability. Xenon arc lamps with a certain power are used as a radiation source in the chambers. Such models are most widely used in mechanical engineering, paint and varnish industry, aircraft manufacturing and textile production.

Structure of a climatic chamber
Structurally, a climatic chamber consists of 4 main parts - a heat-insulated chamber with a working volume, a steam generator, a refrigeration unit and an automatic control panel. Heat exchangers are placed inside the working volume to ensure test modes. A viewing glass and a function to protect the chamber door from freezing are mandatory. To prevent atmospheric moisture from penetrating into the working space of the chamber and disrupting the test mode, the door should be opened for a minimum period when the unit is turned on.

The body of the chamber of small models up to 500 l is usually mounted on a rigid wheeled frame made of a steel profile. If a larger volume is required, stationary structures are manufactured. The refrigeration unit provides protection with casings and is installed on a removable mounting plate. On the outer wall of the chamber, an automation and control panel with all the necessary electrical equipment and automation elements is located.

Operating principle of a climatic chamber
A climatic chamber is very complex equipment containing many elements. Its operating principle is quite complex, since there is often a need to create the most accurate indicators. For this purpose, temperature creation systems and automatic humidity maintenance are provided.

1. Creating a stable temperature

Standard models of chambers support the widest range of created temperatures, varying from -70 to +100C for full-fledged testing. Such characteristics are achieved through the use of three units - a powerful cascade refrigeration machine, a standard single-stage and an electric heater. Air circulation in the internal volume of the chamber is carried out by an axial high-speed fan.

When strong cooling in the range from -5 to -70C is required, a six-cascade unit is used. Throttling of the refrigerant is performed using a system of capillary tubes located on the refrigeration unit. By disconnecting one or more tubes with a solenoid valve, it is possible to regulate the performance. If excessive cooling capacity is observed, it is compensated by a heating element.

At elevated temperatures from -5 to +50C, the heating element performs heating, and the cooling function is performed by a single-stage machine. The thermostatic expansion valve (can be either conventional or electronic (ETRV)) is used to throttle the refrigerant. It automatically regulates the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator based on the temperature and pressure readings at the outlet.

2. Maintaining automatic humidity

Two devices are used to create the required humidity values ​​- a steam generator and a freon dryer. The steam generator produces water vapor by boiling water. This is an independent unit equipped with a local automation system and regulating the amount of steam produced depending on the signal coming from the controller. The steam generator has many functions for accurately maintaining the desired humidity level - monitoring the state of the heating element, the presence of water and its hardness. If one of the parameters shows unacceptable values, this will be reported by an alarm signal. The performance is regulated by receiving a corresponding signal from the chamber controller. Depending on the required humidity parameters, the steam generator output can vary from 0.2 to 2 kg of steam per hour.

If it is necessary to reduce the humidity, a dehumidifier in the form of a specially configured coil is turned on. Excess moisture settles on its surface as condensate and is removed from the chamber through a special tube. Freon is supplied to the dehumidifier from a single-stage refrigeration machine.

Climate chamber - price
Industrial or research institutes may require chambers with different parameters. The cost of the product will depend on them. Depending on the size, temperature conditions, and additional equipment, the cost may vary