Process for humidifying the useful space in an incubator and in a controlled atmosphere incubator

Abstract

For humidifying a work space in a gas-fed incubator, water in a heatable pan in the floor area of an inner container surrounding the work space is evaporated with temperature-controlled heating of the interior until a predetermined temperature is reached, whereby a dynamic equilibrium state between condensation and evaporation in the inner container is achieved as long as there are no disturbances. If a door for access to the inner container is opened, the open time until it is closed is detected and a period, during which the pan containing water is heated, is determined depending on the open time of the inner container. Here, the period features only a heating phase with a running time if the open time is within a predetermined time interval. The period further includes a secondary heating phase with a second running time if the open time exceeds the time interval. A gas-fed incubator operating according to the method has a work space in the inner container that can be closed by means of a door with temperature control of the interior, wherein in a floor area of the inner container there is a humidifier with at least one controllable heating element for an atmosphere of the inner container in the form of a pan holding a water bath. The door for closing the inner container has a door switch that is electrically connected to an input of a control unit for operation of the humidifier.

1 . Method for humidifying a work space in a gas-fed incubator, wherein water in a heatable pan in a floor area of an inner container surrounding the work space is evaporated until a predetermined temperature is reached, wherein after opening of a door for access to the inner container, an open time until it is closed is detected and a period, during which the pan is heated, is determined depending on the open time of the inner container.  
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the period only has a heating phase with a first running time if the open time is within a predetermined time interval and the period also contains a secondary heating phase with a second running time if the open time exceeds the time interval.  
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein during the heating phase with the first running time, the pan is heated at an intensity that is dependent on the time interval between two last openings of the work space.  
   
   
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