A Chiller Bath is a specialized laboratory device designed to cool and maintain fluids or samples at low, precisely controlled temperatures. It functions by circulating a refrigerated liquid, such as water, glycol, or other cooling agents, through a temperature-regulated bath. Chiller baths are essential in scientific, medical, industrial, and research settings, where experiments or equipment require accurate and consistent cooling below ambient temperatures.

The primary role of a chiller bath is to remove heat from systems or samples. It works on the principle of refrigeration and thermal exchange. A refrigeration unit within the chiller bath reduces the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir. That chilled liquid is then either used directly for immersion cooling or circulated through external systems via a pump and tubing, depending on the application. The system is tightly regulated using digital temperature controllers that ensure stability and accuracy, often within ±0.1°C to ±0.5°C.

Chiller baths are commonly used for sample preservation, viscosity testing, enzymatic reactions, spectroscopy, calorimetry, rotary evaporators, and cooling analytical instruments such as NMR, lasers, or chromatography systems. They are also critical in pharmaceutical and biochemical laboratories, especially when working with temperature-sensitive compounds or when simulating cold environmental conditions. Some models also offer heating capabilities, making them dual-purpose as heating/cooling circulators.

Modern chiller baths come in various capacities and are equipped with features such as digital LCD displays, programmable settings, overheat/overcool protection, and circulation pumps for external or internal fluid flow. The construction typically includes a stainless steel bath chamber, insulated outer casing, and a reliable compressor for long-term and energy-efficient performance. Their ability to deliver stable, low-temperature environments makes them indispensable in high-precision laboratory processes.