Environmental Chambers and Space Simulation Systems


FHC Literature PDF

AF Altitude, Temperature/Altitude, and Temperature/Humidity/Altitude Chambers Literature Download

Temperature/Altitude Chambers

Bemco AF Chamber with Door Open

Built to last, many Bemco AF series Temperature/Altitude Chambers constructed in the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s are still operating today.

These chambers are designed to precisely control temperature and vacuum (altitude) for environmental testing in accordance with MIL Standards (Military) and most commercial testing specifications.
Although already the industry standard, the AF series is now better than ever, with the latest in microprocessor based controls, high reliability vacuum pumps, and modern, environmentally friendly refrigeration systems.

It’s no wonder that we are the number one supplier of Altitude, Temperature/Altitude and Temperature/Humidity/Altitude chambers in America. What is our formula for success? The key word is quality.

Model
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
AF10
24”
24”
30”
76”
62”
60”
2900
AF25
33”
33”
40”
80”
73”
74”
4200
AF50
42”
42”
50”
92”
84”
90”
6600
AF80
48”
48”
60”
100”
92”
102”
9400

Code
Description
A
Interior Height
B
Interior Width
C
Interior Depth
D
Exterior Height
E
Exterior Width
F
Exterior Depth
G
Shipping Weight, lb

Construction

AF Series chambers include a 304 Series stainless steel welded inner pressure liner with high temperature fiberglass insulation. No asbestos is used in chamber construction. The chamber liner is reinforced in accordance with Section VIII (Unfired Pressure Vessels) of the ASME Code.

The outer case is fabricated from cold rolled steel finished in Bemco Blue. Chamber doors feature Bemco’s dual gasket construction with a replaceable inner “O” ring. One or more, over-center Bemco cam-type latches, seal the door.

A 3 inch, ASA type access port, centered in the left hand wall is standard.


Vacuum System

Chamber pressure is reduced by a two stage, oil sealed vacuum pump with a power off automatic suction line dive valve to prevent oil back streaming. Standard pressure control inside the workspace is manual using a climb and dive valve.


Conditioning
Bemco AF Chamber with Door Open.

Chamber air is recirculated by one or more high volume, stainless steel axial fan(s) discharging through a hinged rear mounted guard and diffuser baffle to create a uniform environment around your test objects.

The fan is driven by a vertically mounted motor with dual ball bearing races driving a large diameter stainless steel shaft through a magnetically sealed shaft seal.

Fast-response sheath type heaters behind a radiation baffle raise chamber temperature as required.

A proportionally controlled cascade, two compressor, refrigeration system utilizing modern environmentally friendly refrigerants cools the workspace. The system includes automatic hot gas bypass and suction cooling unloading as well as Bemco’s exclusive, high reliability coaxial cascade heat exchanger. All systems are water cooled, have thermal and current sensors on each compressor, as well as numerous safety and reliability protection systems for dependable operation.


Controls
Standard Brooks Automation, Granville Phillips 375 Convectron Gauge Control

Each Bemco AF chamber is furnished with a microprocessor based programmable 1/4-DIN, solid state, 256-step ramping temperature controller which includes a 4-line LCD interface display and a large red LED display.

Temperature inside the AF chamber is sensed by a precision thermocouple. An RS232 and RS485 interface is standard. Heaters are interlocked with a separate heavy duty power contactor and a factory preset high temperature safety control.

Vacuum is monitored by a Brooks Automation, Granville-Phillips Series 375 Convectron Gauge Controller. This instrument provides accurate vacuum measurements from atmosphere to 1 x 10-4 Torr. It features easy push button control and digital readout. For AF chambers, the RS-232 and RS-485 interfaces on the vacuum gauge control are standard.

An alternate is offered to provide a very accurate absolute pressure transducer combined with a display calibrated in feet of altitude. Click here to review our AI Display and Pressure Transducer Option.


Performance

Standard Bemco AF chambers cool from 23 C (+73 F) to -65 C (-85 F) in approximately 60 minutes and heat from 23 C (+73 F) to +150 C (302 F) in approximately 45 minutes, both with the chamber empty.

Temperature control is + or - 1 C (+ or - 1.8 F) guaranteed, + or - 0.15 C (+ or - 0.25 F) typical.

The standard AF series chamber has the ability to reduce pressure from local atmospheric pressure to 8.2 Torr (equivalent to 100,000 feet altitude) in 20 minutes. Ultimate pressure is in excess of 0.13 Torr (equivalent to 200,000 feet altitude).

Standard system power is 230 VAC - 3 Phase - 60 Hertz on the AF10 and AF25 and 460 VAC - 3 Phase - 60 Hertz on the AF50 and AF80. All electrical wiring meets the United States National Electric Code. UL and CSA approved components are used where possible.


Optional Equipment

Optional Instruments

Controls are mounted on the side to prevent dripping from damaging the instruments. Available instruments include:


Available Literature Includes:

AF Altitude, Temperature/Altitude, and Temperature/Humidity/Altitude Chambers Literature Download Bemco AF Series, Altitude, Temperature/Altitude, and Temperature/Humidity/Altitude Chambers. Eleven standard models and a large number of optional systems. Document is 8 pages, 643 KB download.


Bemco Altitude Conversion Table Bemco Altitude Table. Conversion Table from equivalent feet and kilometers to Torr (mmHg), kiloPascals (kPa), and pounds per square inch absolute. Covers -1,000 feet to +250,000 feet in 5,000 foot increments. The data presented is based on the "US Standard Atmosphere, 1976 jointly developed by NOAA, NASA, and the USAF. It is an idealized, steady state representation of the Earth's atmosphere that assumes an average value for gravity. Document is 1 page, 108 KB download.



The systems described above are our Standard Models. We make custom equipment to your specifications.  Walk-in sized altitude, temperature, and humidity chambers are also available. Please look at our Bemco FL Series Page. If you have any questions, need assistance in preparing a specification, or have a technical problem you want help with, we are ready.  Our quotations and advice are free.

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