Choosing the best environmental chamber can be a lengthy process as there are several factors to consider. Although our team has extensive knowledge regarding environmental chambers, we won’t know what you need right away; there are different aspects of your research that we must inquire about to determine the most suitable chamber. The required size of the workspace, temperature & humidity, lighting, and CO2 are just some of the things that are important to know to decipher the kind of chamber(s) you’ll need. All the information about the use case you can provide will help decide what will work for your lab.
Workspace
One of the first considerations is the amount of workspace your research requires, both inside the chamber and at its intended installation site. There’s a variety of sizes available from counter-top units to full size double door chamber models. The external dimensions of the chamber will depend on what you tell us you need and the amount of space available at the final destination. Certain modifications can alter the dimensions of the chamber, and space is needed on all sides of the chamber for functionality. This is why one should be aware of the available space where the chamber will be housed as to know the constraints they have to work within. This keeps your lab functioning smoothly while providing equipment large enough for the use case. Different chambers also come with different numbers of tiers, having an idea of how many you’ll need will narrow down options. Additional information that will help to determine the size of the chamber you’ll need is the maximum growth height, or the amount of space you will need between tiers. The maximum growth height of what you’re growing should be noted as to provide adequate space between the lighting while also utilizing the workspace in its entirety. Often, additional shelving is available to help you better use the internal space provided.
Temperature & Humidity
Once the chamber’s size and internal layout have been established, the next step is to determine the environmental conditions it must maintain. Temperature ranges and relative humidity (RH) levels vary based on the line of chamber and the modifications made. For example, those in need of a cooler temperature range often purchase a Low Temperature plant growth chamber to accommodate their requirements. Temperature ranges can be extended depending on the line of chamber you’re looking at. In specialized cases like this we will work closely with the engineers to ensure the specifications are what the end user requires. To accommodate different RH levels, we offer options to add humidification, dehumidification, or both. When research requires tighter control of humidity conditions, the modification that adds both humidification and dehumidification is often considered. We encourage researchers to know their target temperature and relative humidity ranges when beginning to look at environmental chambers.
Lighting
In addition to maintaining the right temperature and humidity, some research applications require precise control over lighting conditions. If you can tell us your expectations for lighting and light intensity, we can work to ensure the chamber will be designed to meet them. Whether you want to dim the lights in the entire chamber or be able to adjust each shelf by itself, we offer different options to achieve either of those. If a chamber contains multiple samples and you want to compare different lighting within one chamber, for example, we can build it so you have the ability to dim the lights independently per shelf. Having this option can be beneficial in the event of the lighting requirements of different shelves changing. With this ability you can make immediate adjustments yourself without having to move samples. We have also modified environmental chambers to increase the light intensity or expand the lighting system’s color spectrum. We also offer chambers without lighting.
CO2
Once workspace, temperature, humidity, and lighting requirements have been established, CO2 control may be another consideration for plant growth studies. Additional CO2 in an environmental chamber can increase photosynthesis and optimize plant growth. The ability to add and remove CO2 to your chamber is designed to help simulate specific conditions, as well as provide a stable environment that can be replicated. CO2 customizing options include different ppm sensors. When selecting the option that both adds and removes CO2 it can maintain the desired levels with more accuracy.
Conclusion
We understand that selecting the right environmental chamber can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first equipment purchase. The right environmental chamber for your lab depends on the specific needs of the research, including the proper amount of workspace, temperature, humidity, lighting, and CO2 levels. The correct chamber configuration will support experiments and long-term research goals. We’re here to listen to you, discuss your research and equipment needs, and assist you in selecting the most appropriate chamber for your research team. Geneva Scientific can help you evaluate options, whether you’re looking to make a purchase in the near future or if you are putting together next year’s budget. Contact us today to schedule a meeting or to get a quote by submitting a form on our website or emailing sales@geneva-scientific.com.