Chambers
For any research-based project, it is extremely important of using a laboratory testing chamber for multiple reasons. Besides accommodating other essential equipment such as a =n incubator, safety cabinet, workflow bench, etc., you should be aware of the necessity of having a laboratory testing chamber in your lab space.
Out of the many potential uses of such a chamber, identification of the quality and purity of a product and testing the possible sterility and microbial count associated with it are the major uses. These have a wide range of variants depending on the specific parameters in use. However, in order to purchase one, you should know the below-listed 5 critical size factors and be well-versed with them.
Temperature Range
One of the regulating factors inside a laboratory testing chamber is the temperature. It offers a broad spectrum of temperatures that you can opt for depending on the needs of your experiments and work nature. Typically, the testing or stabilizing chamber has a temperature range between -70°C and 150°C. You should remember that is the standard range of temperature that is available in non-customized products. However, if your choice of temperature is beyond the scope of standard models, you can also go for customizations.
It is a determining factor for the size of the laboratory testing chamber because depending on the range of temperature you select the manufacturer will select a refrigeration system. The selection of the refrigeration system is directly related to the size of the chamber.
Humidity Range
The stabilizing chamber maintains relative humidity (RH) which is a relative measure of water vapor pressure and temperature interior of the chamber. Usually, at low temperature, there can be high relative humidity (less water vapor) whereas, in the case of high temperature, the chamber interior can have low relative humidity (high water vapor).
This is another important criterion for size selection because based on the range of humidity operated in a chamber, refrigerated coils and refrigeration features will be differentially altered. You can expect a standard temperature and humidity range to fluctuate between 10°C to 90°C and 10% to 99% RH, respectively.
Interior dimension
Before buying a testing chamber, you should be clear about the workload and volume of the work samples you will be using inside the chamber. It is important to assess the dimensions of the products to be used and tally that with the available models of chambers. One of the basic misconceptions in this field is that people often believe that as long as the product or sample fits inside the chamber, it is all perfect.
But the truth is, there has to be a sufficient amount of space available after placing the products in use. This ensures effective air circulation and airflow around the products which are required for maintaining an overall temperature and humidity.
Cooling
The air circulation system should also be considered while choosing the perfect size for the testing chamber. There are two basic components required for an effective cooling process, namely, the condenser and refrigerator. Similar to the above-mentioned criteria, depending on the workload you will require less efficient or high-efficient cooling systems. These come in different size ranges as well. In rare cases, you might also require additional cooling facilities to be installed. You can therefore investigate the requirement of customizable cooling components such as additional condensers before you choose the right size variant.
Products in use
You should also research the diversity of products you will be using on a daily basis. This is due to the fact that not every kind of sample, reagent, chemical, or product can be accommodated inside a standard chamber. If you need to work with toxic or lethal substances, you have to make sure that you purchase a model with an interior shielding system and protective elements. In case there are no models offering such specific features, you can always go for customizations such as an enhanced UV-protected lighting system, chemical resistant interior walls, bottoms, sides, and doors, hygroscopic materials, etc.
After you have assessed the range of products in use, you will have an approximate idea about the size of the laboratory testing chamber. You can additionally seek help from product specialists who can assist you with the initial conceptualizing step.
It is a necessity to go through your experimental and work requirements before choosing a laboratory testing chamber. Besides, you need to assess the above-mentioned criteria and investigate each factor diligently before making the purchase. These are the crucial initial steps of selecting a perfect fit for your lab space and therefore, should be taken into serious consideration.
