Temperature Humidity Test Chambers (THCs) are high-precision environmental simulation equipment, and their core value lies in stable, controllable, and customizable environmental reproduction to meet diverse testing needs across industries. Below is a detailed breakdown of their key features, covering precision control, functional adaptability, safety, and usability:
The most critical capability of THCs is to simulate specific temperature and humidity conditions with minimal deviation—this directly determines the accuracy and reliability of test results.
- Wide Range of Adjustable Parameters:
- Temperature: Typically covers -70°C to +180°C (standard models); specialized models (e.g., ultra-low temperature chambers) can reach -196°C (for cryogenic testing), while high-temperature models extend to +300°C (for industrial material testing).
- Humidity: Generally adjustable from 10% RH (relative humidity) to 98% RH; low-humidity models (for electronics/metals) can achieve ≤5% RH, and some high-humidity models (for pharmaceuticals) maintain 99% RH without condensation.
- Strict Control Accuracy:
- Temperature fluctuation: ≤±0.5°C (within the working range), ensuring no sudden temperature spikes/drops that distort test data.
- Humidity fluctuation: ≤±2% RH, critical for scenarios like drug stability testing (where 1-2% RH deviations can affect shelf-life calculations).
- Rapid Temperature/Humidity Change Rates:
- Supports "ramp" (gradual) or "shock" (rapid) transitions. For example, standard models achieve a temperature change rate of 1-5°C/min; high-speed thermal shock chambers can shift from -40°C to +80°C in ≤5 minutes (simulating extreme outdoor environment changes for automotive/aviation parts).
THCs are not one-size-fits-all—their structure and size are tailored to the type, volume, and quantity of test samples, ensuring full exposure to the simulated environment.
- Diverse Chamber Volumes:
- Small benchtop models (50-200L): For tiny components (chips, capacitors) or lab-scale tests (e.g., pharmaceutical tablet stability).
- Medium floor-standing models (500-2000L): For end products (smartphones, small appliances) or batches of materials (textile rolls, plastic parts).
- Large walk-in chambers (10-100m³): For oversized items (automotive engines, solar panels, furniture) or full-system testing (e.g., server racks, aircraft avionics cabinets).
- Specialized Internal Structures:
- Uniform Air Circulation: Equipped with high-performance fans, air ducts, and baffles to ensure temperature/humidity uniformity (≤±2°C temperature difference, ≤±3% RH humidity difference) across the entire chamber—avoids "hot spots" or "dry zones" that lead to inconsistent sample testing.
- Adjustable Shelves/Fixtures: Removable stainless steel shelves (for small samples) or custom fixtures (e.g., brackets for solar panels, clamps for wires) to fix samples and prevent movement during testing.
- Corrosion-Resistant Linings: Internal walls made of 304/316 stainless steel (resistant to rust, moisture, and chemical corrosion) — critical for salt spray humidity tests or pharmaceutical applications (where cleanliness is required).
Modern THCs integrate advanced control systems to simplify operation, automate testing, and ensure traceability of test data (a must for regulatory compliance in industries like pharmaceuticals and aerospace).
- Programmable Logic Control (PLC) & Touchscreen Interface:
- Supports setting multi-segment test programs (e.g., "25°C/50% RH for 2h → 60°C/90% RH for 10h → -20°C/30% RH for 5h, repeated 50x") — no manual intervention is needed once the program starts.
- Intuitive touchscreen displays real-time parameters (temperature, humidity, remaining time) and alerts (e.g., "humidity deviation," "water tank low") with visual/audible signals.
- Data Logging & Export:
- Built-in data loggers (with storage capacities of 100,000+ data points) record temperature, humidity, and time at set intervals (e.g., every 1 minute).
- Data can be exported via USB, Ethernet, or cloud platforms in formats like Excel, PDF, or CSV — easy for report generation and compliance audits (e.g., FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for pharmaceuticals).
- Remote Monitoring & Control (Optional):
- Some high-end models support Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to monitor test progress, adjust parameters, or receive alerts via mobile apps or PC software — useful for 24/7 unattended testing (e.g., long-term material durability tests).