Temperature Chambers
CO2/LN2
CERTIFIED Refurbished

Temperature chambers that utilize CO2 or LN2 as a cooling medium have a number of advantages over mechanical refrigerated temperature chambers, which include:

• Faster ramp-down temperature rates than standard mechanically refrigerated temperature chambers (however, this can be improved with larger mechanical refrigerated compressors). Faster temperature changes can reduce total test time.  Temperature testing that would have taken hours to perform can be completed much faster. Also, faster temperature ramp-down rates can propagate failures in the product being tested.
  
  
• Lower maintenance costs than mechanically refrigerated temperature chambers. Also LN2 or CO2 chambers are quieter than mechanically refrigerated temperature chambers (which can produce noise up to 90 decibels). Furthermore, LN2 or CO2 chambers offer significant electricity cost savings.           
  
  
• Lower initial cost of the temperature chamber itself, since they do not require mechanical refrigeration compressors (which add to the price).
  

The main disadvantages of CO2 or LN2 temperature chambers are:

• A Liquid CO2 or LN2 source is required – This could be a portable storage dewar (tank) that can be located near the temperature chamber or a larger bulk storage tank installed outside the building where the temperature chamber will be used – The latter option requires that insulated LN2 or CO2 lines to be run between the temperature chamber and the bulk storage tank (often an expensive installation depending on length of the run).
  
  
• It’s possible to displace or dilute the room’s oxygen and create an unsafe environment for workers around the temperature chamber.  This condition is called Oxygen Deficiency Hazard (ODH) and every LN2 or CO2 application must be evaluated with this concern in mind.  Normally this is only an issue with larger temperature chambers – Please discuss with our sales engineers who will provide more information if required.

• Even though CO2 or LN2 chambers are less expensive than mechanically refrigerated chambers, they could become more costly to operate over time as CO2 or LN2 is consumed, depending on the test being performed.