Laminar Airflow

The MicroClimer Controller gives you a complete overview and total control of the incubator environment. With a full-color, touch-screen interface and an easy-to-understand menu, it is extremely user-friendly for hatchery personnel. The main menu screen displays at a glance all the important incubation parameters for each individual section:

• The actual and set-point temperatures
• A red or blue bar shows the percentage of heating or cooling in individual section in the HatchTech MicroClimer
• The actual and set-point values for CO2 and humidity
• If the U-Vaporator™ is running to increase the humidity level
• The fan speed percentage, which is controlled by the HatchTech Eco Energy Drive™
• The turning of each individual setter trolley

HatchTech’s in-house hatchery management consultants use the input from the HatchTech Research Department to develop standard incubation profiles. These profiles contain all the set points for each specific phase of the incubation process. Since all HatchTech MicroClimers are linked to the corporate head office in Holland, we are able to provide you with real-time guidance and software updates at any time.

Perfect temperature for every embryo

Incubating each embryo at the optimal temperature is the most crucial factor to achieve good embryo development and superior chick quality. The MicroClimer makes it possible to achieve this in each individual section of the incubator.

How does it work?

• Radiators divide the incubator into sections
• Each section is equipped with a temperature sensor
• Sensor information is constantly sent to the MicroClimer Controller
• The controller sends out a heating or cooling signal to each individual radiator
• The radiator in each section is cooled or heated by water that runs through it
• Modulating heating and cooling valves make it possible to fine-tune the temperature according to the needs of the embryos in each section
• Pressure differentials move air through the perforated holes in the radiator
• As the air moves through the radiator, it is conditioned to maintain the correct temperature for the embryos in that section

The MicroClimer constantly controls the temperature in an extremely fine-tuned way. This ensures a perfect temperature for every single embryo in the setter and hatcher, and superior chick quality for our customers.

A uniform developmental startup of the embryo’s

One of the first and most important steps in the incubation process is the pre-heating of eggs from storage temperature to the optimal incubation temperature.
 
With the Uniform Embryo Activator™, the complete pre-heating process conveniently takes place inside the incubator itself. The UEA™ gradually increases air temperature in incremental steps from the storage temperature to the ideal incubation temperature over a carefully fine-tuned time frame. The MicroClimer laminar airflow technology ensures that air is uniformly delivered to each and every egg.
 
The UEA™ ensures a uniform developmental startup of the embryo’s and a small hatching window at the end of the incubation cycle. What’s more, a gradual, controlled pre-heating process also results in lower embryonic mortality and higher hatchability results.

Excellent heat transfer

In gas-sealed incubation, moisture that is lost from the eggs is retained inside the incubator. This moisture has a naturally small droplet size that creates the excellent heat transfer environment that is necessary for uniform and optimal, early embryonic development. The construction and design of the MicroClimer Setters and Hatchers ensures perfect gas-sealed incubation.

How does it work?

• Polyurethane sandwich panel construction: up to 70% higher insulation value than traditional Styrofoam panels. 100% silicon sealed inside and outside
• Closed environment: direct-drive fan motors prevent air leakage into the machine.
• The MicroClimer Door: Closes downwards rather than to the side. Two clamps on each side firmly press the seal onto the sturdy aluminum door frame. This creates a perfect gas-sealed closure.

Gas-sealed incubation and the uniform incubation conditions in the MicroClimer create the best possible heat-transfer conditions, and the proof is in the results: Eggs hatched under these conditions have a measurably higher overall hatch rate of 1%. 

Perfect and uniform humidification

After the first phase of the incubation process, ventilation is necessary to provide the embryos with sufficient O2 and to remove CO2 and moisture. To achieve the best relative humidity during this phase, HatchTech has developed the U-Vaporator™, which automatically produces a remarkably fine vapor of water droplets just 1 micron in size.

How does it work?

• The ultrasonic technology in the U-Vaporator™ switches on the moment the sensor indicates that the relative humidity is too low
• The ultrasonic elements produce small, rapid vibrations to create water droplets of 1 micron – 30 to 50 times smaller than traditional humidifiers
• The vapor is uniformly transported throughout the incubator by HatchTech’s patented laminar airflow technology.

The perfect humidity conditions combined with the uniform laminar airflow and optimum air temperature mean that each embryo in every position in the incubator stays at the ideal temperature in every stage of the incubation process. This perfect environment means that uniform – and optimal – chick quality is guaranteed.

Total O2 and CO2 control

During the incubation process, the needs of the embryos change. In the first stage, the embryo’s metabolism – and therefore O2 consumption and CO2 production – is low. No ventilation is necessary. Because of the gas-sealed environment, CO2 levels rise faster. This is beneficial to early embryonic development since high CO2 levels stimulate blood vessel development.  

In MicroClimer Setters and Hatchers, the timing and amount of fresh air that enters the machine is determined by the levels that are set for relative humidity and CO2 concentration. When either of these levels rise above the maximum set point, the inlet and exhaust vents will gradually open and fresh air will enter the setter or hatcher.  

During the final phase of incubation, the embryo requires the most O2 and is producing high levels of CO2. Ventilation is increased, which results in lower relative humidity levels. At this stage, laminar airflow, uniform cooling and high air velocity create the optimum late incubation environment, and provide the uniform cooling that embryos need.