Isoperibol Jacket vs. Isoperibol Mode
When searching for an isoperibol calorimeter, it is important to know the difference between a calorimeter with an isoperibol jacket and one that runs in “isoperibol mode”.
The most advanced oxygen bomb calorimeters use an isoperibol water jacket. This water jacket is actively kept at a constant temperature at all times to provide a consistent and predictable heat exchange between the bucket and jacket throughout the test. Tests run with an isoperibol water jacket produce high precision calorific results.
Virtually all commercial combustion calorimeters, including isoperibol, use a variant of the Regnault-Pfaundler calculation for determining the gross calorific value of a sample. Some calorimeter manufacturers claim these calculations as an “isoperibol mode” even though the calorimeter may not have an isoperibol jacket. It is important to note that even though the calculation may be the same, the results will be more variable with an uncontrolled (non-isoperibol) jacket.
There is a clear distinction between calorimeters that have an isoperibol jacket and those that claim an isoperibol mode with an uncontrolled jacket. All of Parr’s bomb calorimeters use the Regnault-Pfaundler calculation to determine the test results so by these other manufacturers’ standards all of our calorimeters have an “isoperibol mode” including the most basic 1341 Plain Jacket Calorimeter. However in our product line only Parr’s 6400 Automatic Isoperibol Calorimeter and the 6200 Isoperibol Calorimeter are true isoperibol calorimeters.
When you are in need of highly accurate calorimetry analysis, make sure you are getting a true isoperibol calorimeter with an isoperibol jacket.
Contact us with your isoperibol calorimeter questions.