Four DOT DRACARYS Climatic Chambers for Minebea Access Solutions

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Il Disgelo developed for Minebea Access Solutions a platform consisting of four DOT DRACARYS climatic chambers, configured for thermal-climatic testing and validation activities on components and systems.

The supply includes three 408-litre DRACARYS chambers, featuring temperature change rates up to 5 K/min, and one 225-litre DRACARYS chamber, intended for testing smaller components. All units operate over a wide temperature range, down to −40 °C and up to +180 °C, with relative humidity control.

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Developed Solution

The project was configured with three 408 L DOT DRACARYS CZ-UHA-408D-X5-W climatic chambers, designed to provide high temperature change rates in both heating and cooling, together with one 225 L DRACARYS-225D chamber.

The chambers are built in a monoblock configuration, with AISI 304 stainless-steel interiors, high-efficiency insulation, a front access door with heated viewing window, and an air-treatment system integrated on the rear wall.

The three 408 L units use a single-stage refrigeration system with R454C refrigerant and inverter-controlled compressor, developed to reduce energy consumption especially during temperature maintenance and thermo-climatic regulation phases. The 225 L chamber uses a single-stage direct-expansion refrigeration system.

The solution was developed to ensure:

• four independent climatic test stations;
• three 408 L chambers;
• one 225 L chamber;
• thermal and climatic testing of components and assemblies;
• temperature range up to −40 °C / +180 °C;
• relative humidity control;
• temperature change rates up to 5 K/min on the 408 L chambers;
• high temperature uniformity;
• compact monoblock construction;
• AISI 304 stainless-steel interiors;
• independent refrigeration systems for each chamber;
• programmable management of test cycles;
• logging of temperature and humidity parameters;
• CSV data export;
• Ethernet connectivity;
• remote supervision via VNC Viewer;
• integration with data acquisition systems via Modbus TCP/IP;
• maintenance management through CliMaLogic®.

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Main Technical Data

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DOT DRACARYS 408 L

• quantity: 3;
• model: CZ-UHA-408D-X5-W;
• usable volume per chamber: 408 L;
• internal dimensions: 700 × 800 × 750 mm;
• external dimensions: approx. 1200 × 2050 × 2150 mm;
• temperature range: −40 °C to +180 °C;
• heating rate: up to 5 K/min, empty chamber, according to IEC 60068;
• cooling rate: up to 5 K/min, empty chamber, according to IEC 60068;
• humidity range: 20% to 98% RH;
• temperature resolution: 0.5 °C;
• humidity resolution: ±3% RH;
• temperature uniformity: ≤1 °C;
• approximate weight: approx. 1300 kg per chamber;
• noise level: approx. 68 dB(A), according to EN ISO 11201;
• power supply: 400 V ±10%, three-phase + neutral + earth;
• maximum operating power: approx. 14 kW per chamber;
• maximum current absorption: approx. 18 A;
• refrigeration system: single-stage direct expansion;
• refrigerant: R454C;
• compressor: semi-hermetic with inverter control;
• condensation: air-cooled;
• control: PLC with CliMaLogic® software;
• programming: up to 50 programs with 20 steps each;
• connectivity: Ethernet, VNC Viewer and Modbus TCP/IP.

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DOT DRACARYS 225 L

• quantity: 1;
• model: DRACARYS-225D;
• usable volume: 225 L;
• internal dimensions: 500 × 600 × 750 mm;
• external dimensions: approx. 700 × 1300 × 1850 mm;
• temperature range: −40 °C to +180 °C;
• heating rate: approx. 3 °C/min;
• cooling rate: approx. 2.5 °C/min;
• humidity range: 20% to 98% RH;
• temperature resolution: 0.5 °C;
• humidity resolution: ±3% RH;
• temperature uniformity: ≤1 °C;
• approximate weight: approx. 500 kg;
• noise level: approx. 75 dB(A) at 5 m;
• power supply: 400 V ±10%, three-phase + neutral + earth;
• maximum operating power: approx. 7 kW;
• refrigeration capacity: approx. 2.9 kW;
• heating power: approx. 3.6 kW;
• maximum current absorption: approx. 12 A;
• refrigeration system: single-stage direct expansion;
• control: PLC with CliMaLogic®;
• programming: up to 50 programs with 20 steps each;
• data logging: CSV export via USB;
• connectivity: Ethernet, VNC Viewer and Modbus TCP/IP.

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Control and Supervision

All four chambers use a control system based on PLC and CliMaLogic® software, allowing independent management of temperature, humidity and programmed test cycles.

The system also allows users to:

• create and store multi-step test programs;
• link multiple programs through macros;
• monitor cycle progress in real time;
• record temperature, humidity and related set points;
• export data in CSV format;
• manage auxiliary digital outputs;
• monitor maintenance thresholds for the main components;
• connect the chambers to the company network;
• supervise the equipment remotely;
• integrate external systems via Modbus TCP/IP.

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Result

The project enabled Minebea Access Solutions to operate four independent climatic chambers, with different usable volumes but a common technological platform, allowing simultaneous testing of components with different dimensions and requirements.

The combination of three 408 L DRACARYS chambers with temperature change rates up to 5 K/min and one 225 L DRACARYS chamber, all featuring a wide temperature range and humidity control, increases laboratory testing capacity and enables multiple validation programs to be carried out in parallel with high operational flexibility.