Compressor-Cooled Climate Chambers and Incubators now Feature CO2-Cooling

Memmert introduced two temperature control appliances with climate-neutral CO2 as the refrigerant (R744) at Achema 2018. The ICHeco climate chamber and the ICPeco compressor-cooled incubator are not only more environmentally friendly, but also more efficient than appliances cooled with fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The GWP value (Global Warming Potential) is used to compare the effects of substances on the warming of air layers near the ground and thus on the greenhouse effect. The refrigerant used with immediate effect in Memmert ICHeco/ICPeco appliances with the abbreviation R744 and the chemical molecular formula CO2 has a GWP value of 1 and is therefore practically climate-neutral. By contrast, the refrigerant R134a, with a GWP of 1430, contributes 1430 times as much to the greenhouse effect in the first 100 years after its release. In addition, R744 does not contain chlorine, is neither flammable nor toxic, does not cause ozone depletion in the atmosphere and does not need to be disposed of or recycled. This is a by-product of industrial processes, which is why far less energy is used for its production than for synthetic, fluorinated refrigerants.

The European Union's new F-gas regulation aims to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases by around 90% by 2050 compared with 1990. "Memmert reacted early for several reasons," explained Stefan Kaufmann, Head of Development Department at Memmert. "On the one hand, our new eco appliances have a positive impact on our customers' environmental balance sheet, and on the other hand, they are virtually maintenance-free and score points with improved cooling capacity." Internal measurements with an ICH750eco showed a 20% faster average change speed at an ambient temperature of 22°C.

Both appliances also feature the proven Memmert air jacket temperature control system, via which both heat and cold are quickly introduced into the interior over a large area via four sides. The hermetically sealed working area offers numerous advantages: no dehumidification in the interior and thus no dehydration of sensitive samples and no icing over of the cooling unit. In addition, the climate chamber ICH does not consume any water after reaching the setpoints as long as the door is not opened.