Required Utilities
All models will require electrical power and must be placed in an area that is able to handle the load of the test chamber or shaker. Depending on the chamber, it may require compressed air, cooling water for the condenser, and purified water for the humidity system.
Heat Load
Be sure the new location is able to handle the heat dissipation from the chambers. If the chamber is air-cooled, it will dissipate into the room between 12,000 and 15,000 BTUs per hour multiplied by the high stage compressor horsepower. Example: an air-cooled SE-300 -3-3 will dissipate approximately 36,000 BTUs per hour into the room. If the same chamber was water-cooled, it will dissipate 200 BTUs per hour multiplied by the total horsepower into the room, or 1,200 BTUs.
Service Access
Allow 30 inches of space on all sides of chambers and associated equipment for servicing.
Chamber Placement
Air cooled chambers require a high volume of air flow and should be placed no closer than 12-18 inches to a wall or other obstructions. It is also very important that chambers are not placed in a manner in which the warm air exiting the condenser is drawn into the chamber. This will cause high refrigeration system pressures and test profile shut downs.
Remote Refrigeration or Remote Air-Cooled Condenser
If the chamber has a remote refrigeration section or remote air-cooled condenser, determine where these components will be located. Is there unobstructed space for interconnect routing? Routing of refrigeration and electrical interconnect above drop ceilings and through an obstructed area increases installation costs and decreases efficiency. Try to locate the equipment in an area with open access for interconnecting the components.
Panel Walk-In Chambers
Floor quality is very important when installing a panel walk-in chamber. The floor must be level to a standard of 1/8-inch per 10 feet or better in any direction. If the floor where the chamber is built has high and low points, it will not properly support the chamber structure. An uneven floor also makes it very difficult to assemble to structure squarely. This creates problems with the structure remaining properly sealed and will reduce the life of the panels.
Your Thermotron Application Engineer will be happy to assist you with any specific requirements your new environmental test chamber or shaker may have.