![An air-cooled chamber](espec_air-cooled_tse11.jpg)
ABOVE: An air-cooled
test chamber from ESPEC.
ABOVE: A remote conditioner
for test chambers from CSZ.
![ETS series thermal shock](espec_ets.jpg)
ABOVE: A thermal shock chamber from ESPEC. This one is available with water cooling, air cooling, or liquid nitrogen cooling.
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The refrigeration system of a chamber removes heat from
the test specimen and its surrounding air -- this process reduces
the temperature inside the chamber. The heat is transported through
the refrigeration system to the condenser. In modern environmental
test chambers there are basically two types of condensers: air-cooled or water-cooled. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Most
small chambers come are air cooled. Therefore, they simply need to
be plugged into an electrical socket. This is an important feature
when chamber portability is a must.
Two disadvantages of air-cooled chambers:
(1) Heat and noise release into surrounding area.
Air-cooled chambers vent heat into their immediate
environment so they may need to be located in air-conditioned areas.
For instance, an air-cooled chamber with a two-horsepower cascade
system operating at full load will introduce about 24,000 Btu/hour
into its environment. When the chamber is at setpoint, it will
output 12,000 to 15,000 Btu/hour into the room. In smaller rooms
with air-cooled chambers in use, it's important that the air-conditioning
system can handle the additional heat load.
The heat output of an air-cooled chamber may be
roughly estimated as follows: Horsepower of refrigeration system
multiplied by 12,000 Btu/hour. If a chamber is going to be installed
in an area that's not air-conditioned, tell the chamber manufacturer.
The chamber may not work dependably if the ambient temperature
regularly exceeds 29 °C to 32 °C.
(2) Dirt
Large amounts of air travel through the condenser
while the system is operating. On most air-cooled systems the condensers
are located near the floor,. Therefore, the condenser requires
regular cleaning so that it can perform at top efficiency.
If the chamber is located in an especially dirty
environment, the condenser can become clogged quite quickly. Restricted
airflow will cause the refrigeration system to run at high pressure,
tripping the high-pressure safety. If this environment is to be
ultimate location for your test chamber, an air-cooled system with
a remote condenser or a water-cooled system should be considered.
The air-cooled condenser is removed from the chamber and placed
in another area, usually outdoors.
Outwardly, a remote condenser (located outdoors)
seems ideal since heat and noise are removed from the indoor environment.
Unfortunately, this type of system is more complicated and expensive
to install for many reasons:
- Refrigeration piping must be sized and installed
properly for the application
- Penetrating walls, bulkheads or the roof
of the building must be done by qualified personnel.
- A concrete pad or other appropriate mounting
on the roof must be built for the remote air-cooled condenser, and the roof must be able to support the weight of the remote air-cooled
condenser.
- This type of installation typically requires
bids from refrigeration, electrical, and roofing contractors.
Water-Cooled Chambers
If your facility has access to process water (i.e.
cooling water as in a tower/dry system; temp. between 5 and 30°C
(41 to 85°F)), a water-cooled test chamber is a good alternative.
Water-cooled
units are usually easier
to
install and some models require less maintenance.
If you go this route, consult with the chamber
supplier/manufacturer for the water-flow and pressure requirements
for any unit you are interested in. For example, pressure delta
between the inlet and outlet should be 200 kPa (30 psi). The capacity
of the process-water system should also be verified before selecting
the
test chamber.
Water-cooled systems can run into problems because of insufficient
water flow or differential water pressure supplied to the chamber.
Another disadvantage is that they treatment of the water to prevent
freezing (in cold weather) and various types of contamination.
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