Phi-TEC I

Name: Phi-TEC I | Bench-top, adiabatic calorimeter
Brand: H.E.L Group

Bench-top adiabatic calorimeter

The Phi-TEC I is a bench-top adiabatic calorimeter that characterises thermal-runaway hazards during process development and scale-up, replicating large-volume industrial conditions on a lab scale. Via direct sample-temperature measurement and rapid response, it accurately tracks exothermic events — defining onset temperature (T d), rate of pressure change, adiabatic temperature rise (ΔT ad,d) and time to maximum rate (TMR d).

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Adiabatic

Calorimetry

−40 to 500 °C

Temperature range

0 to 200 bar

Pressure range

Up to 10 kHz

Data acquisition

T d, ΔT ad, TMR

Runaway parameters

Heat-wait-search

+ ramp / isothermal

Overview

True Adiabatic Conditions for Accurate Data

Using temperature compensation, the Phi-TEC I maintains true adiabatic conditions by matching the surroundings to the sample temperature. This enables accurate determination of key safety parameters, including exotherm onset temperature, adiabatic temperature rise, and reaction kinetics.

Designed for Thermal Runaway Screening

The system supports a range of test methods, including heat-wait-search, ramped heating, and isothermal studies. These capabilities allow users to detect, track, and fully characterize exothermic behavior and potential runaway scenarios.

Practical Bench-Top Operation

With small but representative sample sizes and a compact footprint, the Phi-TEC I is ideal for laboratory environments. It provides a practical and efficient solution for routine thermal runaway screening and process safety assessment.

Key specifications

Test-cell material	Glass, stainless steel or Hastelloy
Test-cell total volume	10 mL
Temperature range	−40 to 500 °C
Pressure range	0 to 200 bar
Data acquisition	Auto-adjusting for resolution during exotherms; up to 10 Hz default, optional high-rate up to 10,000 Hz for extremely fast reactions
Calorimetry modes	Adiabatic (closed-cell tracking & open-cell), heat-wait-search, ramped, isothermal, combination; optional bespoke methods
Safety control	Automatic, user-configurable hazard detection and shutdown; hardware & software fail-safes on every system

Applications

Thermal runaway characterizationProcess safetyScale-upOnset temperature (T d)Adiabatic temperature riseReaction kinetics

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Software, control & safety

The Phi-TEC I runs on H.E.L’s WinISO software — a customizable interface with real-time sensor readings and user-defined experiment plans, shared across the H.E.L range to save time on training.

Automatic, user-configurable hazard-detection and shutdown procedures protect the operator, with hardware and software fail-safes on every system.

Watch the Phi-TEC I in action

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Phi-TEC I used for?

A bench-top adiabatic calorimeter for characterising thermal-runaway hazards during process development and scale-up — replicating large-volume industrial conditions safely on a lab scale.

How does it stay adiabatic?

Temperature compensation matches the surroundings to the sample temperature, maintaining true adiabatic conditions for accurate onset, adiabatic temperature rise and kinetics data.

What parameters does it measure?

Onset temperature (T_d), rate of pressure change, adiabatic temperature rise (∆T_ad,d) and time to maximum rate (TMR_d).

What test methods does it run?

Heat-wait-search, ramped heating and isothermal studies, with closed- and open-cell adiabatic tests and optional bespoke methods.

How fast can it capture data?

Sampling auto-adjusts for resolution during exotherms — up to 10 Hz as standard, with an optional high-rate mode up to 10,000 Hz for extremely fast reactions.

Is it customisable?

Yes — test cells in glass, stainless steel or Hastelloy and flexible methods configured to your chemistry. Customisation is central to H.E.L’s approach.

Selected publications

Effects of metal ions on thermal hazard of tert-butyl peroxy-3,5,5-trimethylhexanoateShi et al. · Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries · 2023 Research on Thermal Decomposition Kinetics and Thermal Safety for a New Epoxiconazole CrystalWei et al. · ACS Omega · 2021 Effect of reaction type on TMRad, TD24 and other data obtained by adiabatic calorimetryWu et al. · Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry · 2021

The Phi-TEC I features in many peer-reviewed studies — these are just three. Subscription or purchase may be required for full access. View all publications →