Niles, Illinois maker of circulating baths, refrigerated circulators and DuraChill chillers since 1963. Model guide, sizing and used AD15R-40 sourcing.
PolyScience is a temperature control equipment maker headquartered at 6600 W. Touhy Avenue in Niles, Illinois, in operation since 1963. It operates as a division of Preston Industries, Inc. and makes refrigerated and heated circulating baths, recirculating chillers, coolers, water baths and application specific baths for lab and industrial users. Its Niles site is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, and PolyScience has held ISO certification since 1999.
For cannabis labs, the two relevant PolyScience families are refrigerated circulators, which heat and cool a condenser, jacketed vessel or filter housing to a tight setpoint, and DuraChill recirculating chillers. PolyScience says the DuraChill won Cannabis & Tech's Most Innovative Product award in 2019.
R&D and small extraction rooms often run a single refrigerated circulator. The 15 liter Advanced Digital refrigerated circulator, model AD15R-40, is a good example: PolyScience lists a working range of minus 40 to 200 °C, stability of ±0.01 °C, 1,000 W of nominal cooling at 20 °C and a 15 liter stainless steel reservoir.
Production labs that need more cooling for rotovap condensers and process equipment look at the DuraChill line, which PolyScience rates from 0.7 to 2.9 kW. The 2.9 kW DuraChill CA works from minus 10 to 70 °C and delivers 2.75 kW at 20 °C on 60 Hz power, but only 1.3 kW at 0 °C, so capacity falls quickly as the setpoint drops. The DuraChill CA spec page also lists a choice of turbine or positive displacement pump, which matters when you push coolant through long hose runs to a condenser.
Larger plants step up to PolyScience's high capacity recirculating chillers, which the company markets for pilot plants and industrial loads. For how a circulator, a chiller and a central glycol loop split the work, see our circulator vs chiller vs central loop guide.
PolyScience part numbers carry the controller, reservoir size and low temperature. AD15R-40 is the 15 liter refrigerated circulator with the Advanced Digital controller and a minus 40 °C low end. PolyScience uses an A11B suffix for 60 Hz models and A12E for 50 Hz models, and Fisher Scientific lists the AD15R-40-A11B as the 120 V, 60 Hz version.
The current PolyScience refrigerated circulator lineup uses MX, DX Digital and PX Programmable controllers in 7, 15, 20 and 28 liter sizes. The DX15E-40 is the current 15 liter, minus 40 °C model, with a top end of 175 °C instead of 200 °C. Fisher Scientific lists the 120 V AD15R-40 as discontinued by the supplier.
To size any unit, start with the heat load at your working temperature, not the nameplate figure at 20 °C. Ask for the cooling curve at your setpoint, leave headroom for room temperature (PolyScience lists a 35 °C maximum ambient for the AD15R-40) and match pump pressure to your hose length and fittings.
Against a dedicated chiller, a refrigerated circulator gives tighter stability and the ability to heat. The AD15R-40 holds ±0.01 °C against ±0.1 °C on the 2.9 kW DuraChill CA, but it offers 1,000 W of cooling at 20 °C against 2.75 kW for that DuraChill at the same temperature.
Against other lab circulator brands such as JULABO, compare controller generation, refrigerant, low temperature limit and local service. PolyScience lists R452A refrigerant on the AD15R-40 and R290 on its newer DX and PX models, while JULABO's CORIO CP-1200F refrigerated circulator reaches minus 50 °C. For 300 °C heating work, a heated circulator is the better tool than any refrigerated unit.
Urth & Fyre recently sold two PolyScience AD15R-40 refrigerated circulators and can source more on request. Because the AD line is no longer the current generation, ask for the data plate voltage, a pulldown test to minus 40 °C and proof that the controller and low liquid level protection work. Before you put any used circulator on production, run the checks in our acceptance tests for circulators.
For new DuraChill chillers or current DX and PX circulators, Urth & Fyre sources and quotes PolyScience equipment and sizes it against your rotovap and distillation loads, as covered in our Distillation Equipment Guide. Ask for a quote on another AD15R-40, or send Urth & Fyre your condenser and vessel temperatures for a sized PolyScience recommendation.
Is the AD15R-40 a PolyScience model?
Yes. The AD15R-40 is PolyScience's 15 liter refrigerated circulator with the Advanced Digital controller and a minus 40 °C low end. PolyScience still publishes its product page, and Fisher Scientific lists the AD15R-40-A11B 120 V, 60 Hz version under the PolyScience name. It is a refrigerated circulator rather than a chiller, so it both heats and cools.
What is the temperature range of the PolyScience AD15R-40?
PolyScience lists a working range of minus 40 to 200 °C for the AD15R-40, with ±0.01 °C stability and 1,000 W of nominal cooling at 20 °C. Cooling capacity falls as the setpoint drops, so ask for performance at your working temperature, and note the 35 °C maximum ambient PolyScience lists for the unit.
Is the PolyScience AD15R-40 discontinued?
Fisher Scientific lists the 120 V AD15R-40 as discontinued by the supplier, and PolyScience's current refrigerated circulator lineup uses MX, DX Digital and PX Programmable controllers. The DX15E-40 is the current 15 liter, minus 40 °C model, with a 175 °C top end. Confirm parts support with PolyScience before you buy a used AD unit.
What is the difference between a PolyScience circulator and a DuraChill chiller?
A refrigerated circulator both heats and cools to a tight setpoint, while a DuraChill only chills. The AD15R-40 holds ±0.01 °C with 1,000 W of cooling at 20 °C. The 2.9 kW DuraChill CA holds ±0.1 °C from minus 10 to 70 °C with 2.75 kW at 20 °C on 60 Hz power, so it suits heavier condenser loads.
What refrigerant does a PolyScience circulator use?
It depends on the generation. PolyScience lists R452A for the AD15R-40, R290 for its current DX Digital and PX Programmable refrigerated circulators and R513a for the 2.9 kW DuraChill CA chiller. Ask your refrigeration contractor whether they service the refrigerant in the unit you plan to buy before you commit.
Where is PolyScience located?
PolyScience is headquartered at 6600 W. Touhy Avenue in Niles, Illinois, with warehouse and shipping sites on W. Howard Street in Niles. It operates as a division of Preston Industries, Inc. and has been in business since 1963. Culinary product support now runs through Breville, according to PolyScience.
How do I size a PolyScience chiller for a rotovap?
Size from the condenser heat load at your working setpoint, not the nameplate rating at 20 °C. The DuraChill CA 2.9 kW, for example, drops from 2.75 kW at 20 °C to 1.3 kW at 0 °C on 60 Hz power. Add margin for room temperature and hose runs, and confirm pump pressure at your fittings.