Parameter Develops New Freezer/Cooler Dual Room

Innovative system maintains ICH specs of two rooms with single conditioner

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. – Parameter Generation & Control has developed a new freezer/cooler dual-room stability chamber.

This innovative system controls two stability rooms — one set at -20°C and the other at 5°C — with one single energy-efficient conditioner that maintains International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) specifications for both rooms, even during a defrost cycle.

Parameter’s new system represents a marked technological advancement over the industry standard in several ways.

First, maintaining two rooms at two different temperatures typically requires two separate conditioners, one set for each temperature. Parameter’s system maintains two rooms at two different temperatures with a single conditioner.

Second, most -20°C rooms are chilled by a refrigeration coil hanging from inside the ceiling, with an internal fan circulating air. It generally isn’t possible for such an internal-coil system to run a defrost cycle and still keep the room within ICH specification.

Parameter’s system isolates the coil outside the room, so that heat needed for a defrost cycle doesn’t affect the room’s internal temperature as much as it would with an internal coil and, thus, ICH specification is maintained continuously.

The third unique feature of Parameter’s new system is that the defrost cycle is triggered by an evaporator temperature figure — which means defrost is performed when actually needed, rather than according to a specific timer.

“This significantly reduces the number of defrost cycles performed. Instead of a typical timed defrost every six to eight hours, the system may run defrost only every 24-48 hours, depending on room usage and ambient conditions,” said Clay Hile, CEO of Parameter Generation & Control. “This, in turn, generates a significant utility savings.”

A final feature is the optional use of a second system for redundancy. With this option, the “off-duty” unit controls the space when a defrost cycle is triggered. If one system goes offline, the other system will work independently until the first unit is restored to full operation. This further reduces the amplitude of the defrost spike experienced with a single conditioner, wherein the room may warm up 4°C.  The dual-unit arrangement reduces this by half while also providing redundancy.

Parameter’s first dual-room stability chamber has been installed at Precision Stability Storage in Wilson, N.C. Precision Stability Storage has a strategic alliance with Parameter that allows PSS to offer off-site stability storage customers high-quality Parameter equipment needed to maintain rigorous temperature and humidity control and uniformity.

Benefits of this system include:

  • One conditioner to control two rooms at different conditions.
  • Total redundancy if utilizing two conditioners.
  • Cooling coil is located outside of conditioned space for enhanced uniformity and minimal disruption during defrost cycle.
  • A “need for defrost” scheme that significantly increases the time between defrost cycles.
  • Very low energy consumption with extremely close control at both -20°C and 5°C conditions.

Parameter Generation & Control is an internationally respected innovator and manufacturer of precise humidity and temperature control products. Renowned for their dependability, Parameter products continually surpass industry expectations with technologically advanced energy conservation. The company manufactures temperature- and humidity-controlled chambers, rooms, conditioners and large-capacity laboratory baths for pharmaceutical, electronic, semiconductor, packaging, paper and textile clients worldwide.