Incubators are used in laboratories to maintain controlled working conditions. These include temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. These incubators also help grow microbial and cell cultures and store specific samples before lab use. They are a necessary part of modern laboratories, helping to keep laboratory environments regulated and to achieve accurate results.
Cooling System
Refrigerated incubators utilize a cooling system to provide a stable temperature environment for culturing and incubating samples. They come in a variety of sizes and volumes to fit your needs. Typically, a conventional refrigerated incubator utilizes vapor compression technology to cool the chamber. This method requires liquid refrigerant and uses a compressor to compress the vapor. Peltier technology is a newer form of refrigeration that does not use liquid refrigerant and does not require a compressor. It is much more energy efficient than vapor compression. Refrigerated incubators with Peltier cooling offer a stable, low-temperature environment for microbiological work without the hazardous refrigerants and large energy consumption of traditional incubators. They also save on operating costs and ensure sample quality.
Humidity Control
Humidity control in buildings affects energy efficiency, occupant comfort, process and product quality control, and indoor air quality. High humidity levels can cause condensation, mold/mildew growth, corrosion, equipment damage, building fabric deterioration, and loss of insulation properties. The relative humidity is directly related to temperature because the higher the temperature, the more water vapor the air can hold. Therefore, keeping the chamber temperature steady to maintain a constant %RH. Some incubators use a water-jacket system that surrounds the chamber with heated water to provide a consistent temperature inside the incubator. Unlike radiant-walled incubators, water jackets maintain a set chamber temperature for much longer in the event of a power failure, typically 4-5 times longer.
Temperature Control
Control of science incubator temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and oxygen is essential for cell culture. These factors, including sensitive proteins, can affect cell health, slow growth, or cause disease.
Incubators used in zoology, microbiology, and pharmaceutical research must maintain optimum levels of these elements for cellular growth. The chambers in these incubators are often insulated boxes with adjustable heaters that go up to 60degC. Many lab incubators come with Over-Temperature Protection (OTP), which shuts off the heat and activates an alarm in case the temperature reaches too high. This prevents the samples from getting damaged or ruined.
Vibration Protection
Vibration protection is an essential part of keeping samples safe in the incubator. Slight movements can occur when an incubator has fans and cooling coils, which may cause the sample to become damaged or contaminated.
Professional incubators feature vibration-free systems that help prevent this from occurring. They also have WiFi data logging so that all temperature readings and other information are stored and can be viewed from a device when necessary. Refrigerated incubators are used for culturing tasks that must be carried out below room temperature or if high ambient temperatures cannot be avoided. The cooling system and controllable fan guarantee high degrees of humidity even during the cooling or testing process to protect samples from drying out.
Data Logging
Data logging is one of the essential features of any refrigerator incubator because it helps ensure your samples are kept safe. It’s simple to use and saves you time and money by eliminating the need for a lab worker to record temperature readings and data manually. A data logger can be used to track and record the temperature of your incubator for up to 30 days. This helps document and verify the conditions inside the incubator, making it easier to analyze and improve your processes.
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