Specification builder · Tier B
Laboratory recirculating chiller (stand-alone, air-cooled) for ICP-OES/ICP-MS, AAS, rotary evaporators and general instrument cooling
A recirculating chiller is a small refrigeration unit that pumps cooled water or water-glycol in a closed loop through an instrument and removes its heat. Labs buy them to cool ICP-OES and ICP-MS torches and coils, AAS graphite furnaces, rotary evaporator condensers, GC-MS and reaction vessels, saving tap water and keeping temperature steady. In Pakistan the key points are enough capacity at a hot room temperature, the right pump pressure for the host instrument, and protection against voltage swings and power cuts.
What this equipment will do
- Instruments served: GC-MS, water baths, condensers, small rotary evaporators and small reaction vessels (0.5 kW or more at +20 deg C coolant).
- Instruments served: AAS graphite furnace, radial-view ICP-OES and large rotary evaporators (1.0 kW or more). (with the optional module)
- Instruments served: dual-view ICP-OES and ICP-MS (1.4 kW or more; 2.5 kW for larger heat loads). (with the optional module)
- Coolant temperature control with digital display of set and actual temperature (0.1 deg C resolution), stability +/-1 K or better (stability measured to DIN 12876 on the wider ranges).
- Sub-zero coolant down to -10 deg C (water-glycol) for condensing low-boiling solvents in rotary evaporators. (with the optional module)
- Pressure supply for ICP instruments: pump of 3 bar or more with relief or bypass, set to the host maker's inlet pressure (typically 2.3 to 4.0 bar). (with the optional module)
- Continuous running in a hot room up to 40 deg C ambient, with the derated cooling capacity stated. (with the optional module)
- Heating above room temperature to +60 deg C or more, with independent over-temperature cut-out (IEC 61010-2-010). (with the optional module)
- Temperature control at the application (e.g. inside a reaction vessel) through an external Pt100 probe. (with the optional module)
- Remote set-point, start/stop and alarm read-out from the host instrument or a PC (RS-232/RS-485, Ethernet or USB). (with the optional module)
- Visual and audible fault alarms (temperature out of limits, low coolant level) with protective shut-down. (with the optional module)
- Automatic restart with the last set-point after a power cut, with a compressor restart delay of 3 minutes or more. (with the optional module)
Not covered: It does not supply purified or deionised water for analysis; that needs a laboratory water purification system.; It does not cool the laboratory room; room air conditioning and humidity control are a separate HVAC item.; It does not keep the instrument running through load-shedding; that needs a UPS, generator or solar-battery system (the chiller only restarts after power returns).; It is not a bath for immersing or incubating samples at a set temperature; that needs a refrigerated circulating bath, incubator or stability chamber.
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Standards this specification draws on
- IEC 61010-1 Basic electrical, fire and mechanical safety for laboratory equipment, including the chiller.
- IEC 61010-2-011 Particular safety requirements for laboratory refrigerating equipment, including refrigerant circuits and flammable refrigerants.
- IEC 61010-2-010 Particular safety requirements for laboratory equipment that heats materials; applies when the chiller has a built-in heater.
- IEC 61326-1 EMC requirements so the chiller's compressor and pump do not disturb nearby sensitive instruments.
- DIN 12876 Defines how temperature stability and other performance data of laboratory circulators and chillers are measured.
- ISO 817 Standard designation and safety classification of refrigerants (e.g. A1 non-flammable, A3 flammable).
- ISO 5149-1 Safety and environmental requirements for refrigerating systems, including refrigerant charge limits and classification.
- EN 378-1 European safety and environmental requirements for refrigerating systems; often cited in chiller declarations of conformity.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/573 EU fluorinated-gas regulation; used as a reference to prefer low-GWP refrigerants and leak-tight design.
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation standard for testing labs; ancillary equipment that affects results must be verified and controlled.
Common mistakes in tenders for this equipment
- Quoting cooling capacity at 60 Hz, at +15 deg C coolant or at 20 deg C room temperature; demand capacity at +20 deg C coolant on 50 Hz and the derated value at 40 deg C ambient.
- Copying the host instrument maker's own branded chiller description (dimensions, connector type, part number) so that only that maker's unit qualifies; specify heat load, flow, pressure and temperature instead.
- Ignoring the host maker's inlet pressure range: a low-pressure pump trips the ICP water-flow interlock, while a high-pressure pump without relief can burst fittings.
- Leaving out hoses, adaptors and coolant, so a new chiller cannot be connected for weeks.
- Filling with tap or deionised water against the host maker's instructions, causing scale or corrosion inside the torch box or furnace.
- Demanding +/-0.1 K stability or a special interface the instrument does not need, which shuts out most bidders.
- No voltage stabiliser or restart delay, so the compressor burns out after repeated power cuts.
- Not checking that the bidder has refrigeration tools and a technician for the refrigerant used, especially flammable natural refrigerants.