Loop Break Alarm Option

$144.00

An enhanced safety feature (optional on any single-channel controller) is the addition of a Loop Break Alarm. This option guards against two common mistakes than can result in devastating heating accidents.

The first mistake is when a user sets up a reaction, enters the desired setpoint, but forgets to put the thermocouple in the reaction solution.
The second mistake is when a reaction is unmonitored and either the thermocouple falls out of solution, or the flask breaks resulting in the thermocouple falling out of the flask.

In both of these cases, since the thermocouple is still measuring a legitimate temperature (i.e., room temperature) the controller never detects a heating error and continues to heat. Since the temperature of the thermocouple doesn’t
change as power is applied to the heater, the controller will eventually heat at full power resulting in a runaway heated reaction.
The loop break alarm feature detects when power is being applied to the heater but the temperature of the thermocouple does not increase. After 5 minutes if the thermocouple doesn’t increase in temperature by 2.5 C, an error is declared and power is removed from the heater avoiding a heating accident.

The loop break alarm is designed to protect against two specific scenarios:
1) A reaction is set up and power is applied to the heater but the thermocouple is not placed in solution.
2) A thermocouple falls out of solution, or the flask breaks resulting in the thermocouple falling out of solution.

Contact J-KEM for more information.