Troubleshooting Sensor Positioning:

Different Sensor Response Times & In Air or In Media

During our sensor placement webinar, we received two questions about validation mapping in
chambers.
First: how do we compare data for an Intelligent RTD probe and a data logger that are in the same
position when they show different response times?
Second: when an incubator is fully loaded with vials of media, should we be mapping temperature
distribution in the chamber, or in the vials?
Question 1) The thing about sensors is: they all have different response times, even if that time is
barely perceptible. So the question can be asked about a data logger itself, relative to the air it’s
sensing. Of course, we need to make sure that our devices are responsive, but (you might ask) how
responsive is responsive enough?
In our field experience, we recommend to customers that they not worry about the different
temperature response times of the data logger and an IRTD/monitoring probe. If both sensors are
monitoring air temperature, they will both have likely faster response times than the product being
stored.
By monitoring air (representing worst case conditions) we build a safety factor into the analysis that
effectively cancels out the concern of the different response times of different sensors. However,
this only applies if both sensors are in air.
Question 2) There are a few parts to the second question, so we need to unpack it a bit to be
clear:
a. What does “Fully Loaded” mean?
i. Generally, an incubator should only be loaded to 50-60% of its actual possible physical
volume. Otherwise there will not be enough space to allow for air flow and the resulting
cooling/heating processes. (This is based on the French Standard: NFx15-140: Measurement of Air
Moisture – Climatic and Thermostatic Chambers – Characterization and Verification)
b. Is the process actually storage?
i. The concept of using air as representative of the worst case only applies if the process is
storage. If the media you are placing into the incubator is not already within a few degrees of the
incubator set-point, or is not intended to be stored in the incubator for some period of time, then
your process is actually a directional temperature change (heating or cooling) of the media, NOT
storage. In this case, the air temperature is not a measure of the worst-case challenge. Media
temperature would then be representative of the worst case challenge.
c. Conclusion for Question 2:
i. If it is truly a storage process at a uniform temperature, and your incubator is not overloaded,
the best choice is to measure air temperature.
ii. If it is a process of directional temperature change, then measure media temperature, and a
few air temperature locations for reference.
Alternate Approach:
One of our webinar participants responded with a different approach. Consider that the loading
capacity of any temperature chamber depends on its design and the convection mechanism used for
heat. Instead of taking the 50-60% loading space recommended by NFx15-140, study the
temperature distribution with an empty chamber and then again with a loaded chamber, i.e.: with
sensors measuring air temperature in the same places as in temperature distribution with empty
chamber.
You could establish as acceptance criteria for "Fully Loaded" the same criteria as for empty
chamber, i.e.: average temperature in the chamber less than 1°C from set point temperature and less
than 1°C between any sensor and the average temperature at any one reading after stabilization.
Another Approach?
Email us with any thoughts or questions you have on dealing with sensor response times,
positioning, and in-air vs. in-media.