Designed for chemistry and chemical engineering, the Vapourtec Reaction Controller and Datalogger integrates laboratory equipment from multiple manufacturers into a single automated platform. It enables scientists to control experiments, monitor process variables and capture high-quality experimental data, improving reproducibility, efficiency and process understanding.
Typical uses
Important applications for the Reaction controller and datalogger include:
- Integrating laboratory equipment from multiple manufacturers into a single automated platform
- Automating reaction sequences and Design of Experiments (DoE) studies
- Logging and managing experimental data to improve reproducibility and process understanding
- Real-time process monitoring and automated control of laboratory equipment
- Supporting process optimisation, scale-up and quality assurance
Automate experiments. Increase laboratory productivity.
Modern laboratories often rely on equipment from multiple suppliers, each generating valuable process data. The Reaction Controller and Datalogger brings these instruments together within a single automated platform, improving reproducibility, simplifying experiment control and creating a complete digital record to support process optimization, scale-up and quality assurance.
Connect and Control
Supports serial, analogue (0–10 V and 4–20 mA) and OPC UA communication for straightforward integration with laboratory equipment from multiple manufacturers.
- Third-party pumps
- Mass flow controllers
- Switching valves
- Mass flow meters
- Laboratory balances
- PT100 temperature sensors and thermocouples
- Analogue pressure transducers
All the above provided in a compact hardware enclosure provided with an industry standard OPC UA interface to Vapourtec’s flow control software. Realtime control, data logging and data visualisation is all provided by Vapourtec’s flow control software which has been enhanced to provide graphing of a further 120 parameters.
Features of the Reaction controller & datalogger
| Interface description | Quantity available | Signal type | Connector specification | Signal description | Example of hardware connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-type thermocouple | 12 | Analogue input | IEC Type K miniature thermocouple connector - female | millivolt-level DC voltage, ~41 µV/°C at room temperature | K-type thermocouple |
| PT-100 (2 or 3-wire) | 8 | Analogue input | Lemo 1S series 4-contact - female | Resistance 100 Ω resistance at 0 °C, ~0.00385 Ω/Ω/°C (IEC 60751) | PT-100 2 or 3 wire temperature |
| Valve driver | 3 | ON or OFF output | Binder 712, 2-pin - female | 24V, 0.5 A max | Solvent / reagent switching valve |
| Generic I/O | 6 | Analogue input & output | Deltron 8-pin DIN 45326 lockable - female | Analogue 0-10V or 4-20mA input and output | Pressure sensor (analogue) or mass flow controller (analogue) |
| Mass flow controller (MFC) | 4 | Analogue input & output | Deltron 8-pin DIN 45326 lockable - female | Analogue 0-10V or 4-20mA input and output | Brooks quantum mass flow meter/controller |
| Mass flow meter (MFM) | 2 | Analogue input & output | Deltron 8-pin DIN 45326 lockable - female | Analogue 0-10V or 4-20mA input and output | Keyence FD-X Series MFS mass flow sensor |
| DC Power outlets (+24 VDC) | 6 | Power (24 VDC) | 2.5 mm DC power socket | 24V DC output, max 2A | Brooks Quantum MFM or Keyence FD-X series MFS |
| Pump-1 serial control (RS-422) | 1 | RS-422 | D-Sub 9-pin connector socket, 2.77 mm pitch - female | RS-422 5-wire | Pump MilliGAT MG-H1 or MG-H2. |
| Pump-2 serial control (RS-485) | 1 | RS-485 Modbus | D-Sub 9-pin connector socket, 2.77 mm pitch - female | RS-485 3-wire | Teledyne Isco 1000D pilot scale syringe pump |
| Balance serial data | 5 | RS-232 | D-Sub 9-pin connector socket, 2.77 mm pitch - female | RS-232 3-wire | Mettler Toledo XPR laboratory balance |
| RS-232 serial control | 2 | RS-232 | D-Sub 9-pin connector socket, 2.77 mm pitch - female | RS-232, 5-wire | External SF-10 pump or Hitech Zang syringe pump etc. |
| USB serial connection | 2 | USB 2.0 | USB – Type A - female | USB 2.0 protocol | Used for software update only |
| Network connection in/out | 2 | Digital electrical signals | RJ45 panel mount (EMI shielded) - female | 1000BASE-T ethernet | Connection to OPC server. Connection to secondary datalogger and controller |
| Earth Point | 2 | Earth connection | 4 mm banana socket - female | Earth connection | Earth connection |
| INPUT power (rear of box) | 1 | 24VDC power connection | Kycon, KPJX DC Socket - female | DC power connection | N/A |
