Air-Therm™ ATX Air Heater Controller
Smart, electrically quiet air heater for live cell imaging systems and custom incubators
Air-Therm ATX is a precise temperature controlled air heater for bioscience laboratories. Sending temperature-controlled air directly to the site provides an attractive alternative to a heated water bath or electric heater. The “smart” controller responds quickly and precisely to thermal changes while maintaining temperature control. Air-Therm ATX can be adapted quickly to different environments by selecting one of three operating modes — self-tuning, manual-tuning, or standard Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) tuning. One of the main applications of Air-Therm ATX is controlling the temperature of a chamber (not included) enclosing a microscopic live cell imaging system in which a stable and uniform temperature of the sample and optics is essential. With Air-Therm ATX, the temperature of the sample and optics can be controlled within 0.2°C. During the operation, the air is drawn out of the chamber through the flexible hose, heated by the Air-Therm ATX, and then re-circulated back to chamber by the return hose. The temperature sensor (included) can be placed at the air outlet of the hose or near the sample where the temperature control is most critical. This configuration allows the entire optics of the imaging system to stay at a uniform and stable temperature with minimal drift. No vibration noise is introduced because the Air-Therm can be placed away from the optical isolation table. The sensor is also electrically “quiet”. The temperature sensor is shielded for very high impedance recording.
The new Air-Therm ATX provides three times more airflow than the original model. The airflow rate is also adjustable. It allows the user to use the high speed flow to speed up the initial heating up and then use the lower air flow setting for a quieter operation. The higher airflow also improves the uniformity of the temperature in the chamber and capability of controlling larger chambers. A BNC connector provides an analog temperature measurement output for a chart recorder. Options for different communication ports (RS232 or Ethernet) or dual outputs are also possible.
| AIR-THERM SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| AIR FLOW RATE | 20 to 50 CFM (0.55 to 1.4 cubic meter/M) |
| CONTROL TEMP. RANGE | Ambient to 60°C |
| TEMPERATURE RESOLUTION | 0.1 °C |
| TEMPERATURE ACCURACY | 0.2 °C |
| CONTROL MODES | (a) Auto (PID set manually, or Self-Tune) (b) Manual tune |
| ANALOG OUTPUT FOR CHART RECORDER |
0.5°C resolution, 0-10V, 0 to 100°C (default, adjustable via controller) |
| HEATING VOLUME> | More than 50 cu ft (1400 liters), non-circulating |
| POWER | (CE) 300 W, 95-135 V or 220-240 V, 50/60 Hz |
| DIMENSIONS | 61⁄2 x 8 x 71⁄2 in. (15.5 x 21 x 19 cm) |
| SHIPPING WEIGHT | 10 lb (4.5 kg) |
| AIRTHERMY-ATX> | Air-Therm ATX Heater 120 V, U.S |
| AIRTHERMZ-ATX | Air-Therm ATX Heater 240 V (Specify country for line cord) |
| 2 pieces of 4.5 ft clear, coil-reinforced heater hose are included with Air-Therm. |
|
| Specify Line (Mains) Voltage |
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OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES |
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| 15590 | Clear hose, 2.5" diam., 4.5 ft |
| 3491 | 5 foot (1.5m) probe extension cable |
| 502169 | Replacement platinum temperature probe call for price |