Temperature control device for laboratory utensils

Abstract

A temperature control device for accommodating laboratory vessels has a hollow housing filled with a temperature control medium. The temperature control device is thermally conditioned before use and during use either absorbs the conditioned thermal energy from the laboratory vessels or releases it to the laboratory vessels over a limited time course. The housing has a bottom at the bottom and a receiving area opposite at the top, the receiving area limiting the hollow interior area of the housing upwards. At the receiving area, an inwardly directed recess serves as a receptacle for the laboratory vessels to be temperature-controlled. An air chamber separated from the interior area is provided in the hollow housing. In the interior area, a horizontally extending absorption element is at least partially circulated and / or flowed through by the temperature control medium and is thermally connected to the receiving area. The laboratory vessels placed in the recess in the receiving area are thus held at a constant temperature by the temperature control medium over a longer period of time.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature control device for accommodating laboratory vessels in order to maintain the contents of the laboratory vessels at a preset temperature over a relatively long period of time. Background Art

[0002] Patent publication WO92 / 12071A1 shows a storage and transport device for heat-sensitive products. With the described device, in particular bioactive substances are to be stored in a cooled and non-frozen state within a defined temperature window. For this purpose, the container carrier of the device has a recess for glass ampoules containing the substance to be protected therein. The container carrier is made of a thermoplastic material and forms a closed space around the recess and around a hollow, circumferential edge region protruding through the recess. Within the closed space up to the height of the recess there is a temperature control medium that changes its aggregate state and has a large heat of fusion. For this purpose, water or a gel material can be used as the temperature control medium. The hollow edge region serves for the expansion of the temperature control medium that undergoes a phase change.

[0003] A disadvantage in the device is that during the thermal regulation of the device, the temperature control medium starts to undergo a phase change on the outside of the hollow space and the volume expansion occurs most strongly in the region where the phase change takes place last. Since the hollow air-filled space only occupies the edge region, deformation occurs at the center of the container carrier, where the recess is no longer at the same height as the support surface of the container carrier. Only during the opposite phase change is there again a geometric determination.

[0004] Such a container carrier is not feasible for use in automated laboratory instruments for manipulating substances in glass ampoules or other vessels in the case of defective constant geometric determination. Even when manually manipulating multiple substances in adjacent recesses, defects can definitely occur due to the deformation of the container carrier.

[0005] Furthermore, in such a container carrier, the non-uniformly occurring opposite phase changes, which start in the edge region of the hollow space and end at the center of the container carrier, are disadvantageous. A preset temperature over the required period of time is not feasible in each recess. The heat of fusion during the phase change is also not constantly utilized and not distributed to all recesses.

[0006] Another patent publication EP2428273A1 discloses a temperature control device for a specimen vessel in a non-self-sufficient structural type. The temperature control device has two temperature control zones insulated from each other, which heat and cool the specimen vessel in sections. In the first temperature control zone, the desired temperature is adjusted by means of a heating element, and in the second temperature control zone, by means of a flowing heat transfer medium. That is to say, the temperature control device requires a connection for electrical energy and thermal energy and is complex in terms of the number of structural and functional elements. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is based on the task of providing a temperature control device for accommodating laboratory vessels of the type mentioned at the beginning, which keeps the contents of the laboratory vessel constantly at a preset temperature over a relatively long period of time on as large a surface as possible of the accommodation part without the supply or discharge of thermal energy, and which is improved in terms of its function by dimensions that can be weakly thermally influenced and can be manufactured at low cost.

[0008] This task is solved by a temperature control device of the type mentioned at the beginning by means of the features of claim 1 and a temperature control method for laboratory vessels according to claim 11. Advantageous design options are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the invention, a temperature control device for accommodating laboratory vessels is provided with a hollow housing having an internal region and filled with a temperature control medium. The temperature control device is thermally adjusted before its use without a laboratory vessel. During its use, the temperature control device either absorbs the regulated thermal energy (i.e., heat) from the laboratory vessel or releases it to the laboratory vessel over a limited period of time. For this purpose, the housing has a bottom at the bottom and, opposite thereto, a receiving area at the top, which limits the hollow internal region of the housing upwards. At the upper side of the receiving area, an inwardly directed recess serves as a receiving part for the laboratory vessel to be temperature-controlled.

[0010] Preferably, the hollow housing has a separate air chamber in addition to the inner region that houses the temperature control medium. In an alternative embodiment, the inner region can have partitions that divide the inner region into sub-spaces, in particular into a first inner region and a second inner region. Finally, it is decisive that the air chamber is separated from the temperature control medium by the structural design of the housing, that is to say, there is at least substantially no mixing of the air chamber and the temperature control medium. This can be achieved in particular by corresponding structural components, such as partition walls. According to the invention, it is also possible to design the inner space of the housing to be filled only with the temperature control medium and with air, where, in the sense of the invention, the contained air ultimately forms the air chamber. Here, in particular, an interface between the temperature control medium and the air chamber is constructed.

[0011] An absorption element is arranged in the inner region of the hollow housing, which extends horizontally in the inner region and is circulated and / or flowed through by the temperature control medium. The absorption element is thermally connected to the receiving area. The laboratory ware placed in the recess in the receiving area is thus kept at a constant temperature by the temperature control medium over a long period of time. The absorption element is in particular constructed as a plate.

[0012] Within the scope of the present invention, a material or a structural component is considered "thermally conductive" when its average thermal conductivity is at least 5 W / (m∙K).

[0013] The heat of fusion of the temperature control medium is absorbed by the absorption element and uniformly transferred to the receiving area. The absorption element extending horizontally in the temperature control medium enables the thermal energy of the mass of the temperature control medium to be fully utilized. During the thermal regulation of the temperature control device, the absorption element also accelerates the heat transfer from the surroundings through the receiving area to the temperature control medium. The time for regulation is shorter. The "horizontal" extension currently refers to the orientation of the temperature control device in the use state and means that the absorption element extends at least substantially transversely to the action of gravity. This in particular also includes such assemblies in which the absorption element does not run parallel to the bottom.

[0014] In a preferred configuration, the inner region of the housing is separated parallel to the support surface, that is to say, parallel to the bottom. The air chamber can be arranged in a favorable manner relative to the receiving area, where the part of the inner region adjacent to the receiving area houses or contains the temperature control medium. This enables direct contact and heat exchange between the temperature control medium, the absorption element and the receiving area.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, a partition wall is arranged between the inner regions of the housing. The partition wall seals the two inner regions from one another and is implemented flexibly. The partition wall enables a volume change of the temperature control medium in the dimensionally stable housing. The flexibility of the partition wall is achieved by applying a spring-elastic material, such as silicone. The direct contact of the temperature control medium with the absorption element and the receiving area is improved by means of the elasticity of the partition wall.

[0016] In the sense of the present invention, a material or a structural component is "flexible" when it has sufficient elasticity to return to its original shape after being deformed by a force which acts on the material or structural component due to the volume change of the temperature control medium during a phase transition. Particularly suitable planar structural components, such as partition walls, can have a spring stiffness of less than 5 N / mm per square millimeter. The area normalization relates here to the area of the structural component on which the corresponding pressure is exerted.

[0017] According to one design, the temperature control device can be used for cooling or for thermal insulation. For this purpose, the housing with the temperature control medium is heated or cooled, wherein preferably the temperature control medium changes its aggregate state and the energy is used for the phase transition.

[0018] In a cost-effective manner, water or an aqueous solution is used as the temperature control medium, which is frozen during cooling.

[0019] According to an advantageous design, the temperature control medium has a lower or higher density in the solid phase than in its liquid phase. During a phase transition from the outside, the temperature control medium which is already partly liquid again causes the still solid temperature control medium to float or sink. The solid temperature control medium presses against the absorption element due to the different densities. In a particular manner, the thermal energy of the receiving area with the inserted laboratory ware is changed by the contact of the solid temperature control medium with the absorption element, the thermally conductive connection of the absorption element to the receiving area and the heat transfer. If heat transfer takes place from the absorption element to the receiving area, the thermal energy of the receiving area is increased and the laboratory ware is heated. If heat transfer takes place from the receiving area to the absorption element, the thermal energy of the receiving area is reduced and the laboratory ware is cooled.

[0020] The heat transfer from or to the receiving area takes place uniformly and sufficiently. The constant temperature of the temperature control medium during the phase transition can be utilized over a long period of time and a defined temperature of the laboratory ware, which is essentially defined by the physical properties of the temperature control medium, can be maintained. During a previously performed adjustment, the phase transition from liquid to solid takes place simultaneously on almost the entire surface of the absorption element in the temperature control medium and not only point by point in the center of the receiving area.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the absorption element is arranged at a spatial distance relative to the receiving area. Here, the absorption element can be embodied as a plate and the absorption element and the receiving area are connected by means of one or more thermally conductive spacer elements. In an advantageous embodiment, the plate, the spacer element and the receiving area are made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / (m∙K). By means of said minimum value, complete heat absorption by the absorption element or the plate can be ensured and at the same time uniform temperature control of the laboratory vessel can be ensured in the case of heat transfer to the temperature control medium.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment, the receiving area of the housing is embodied as a separate part. This enables reduced heat dissipation of the housing or, in an advantageous manner, enables the receiving area to be made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / (m∙K). Here, aluminum is a raw material which is shape-stable and can be processed outstandingly and cost-effectively. Here, the other parts of the hollow housing can be made of a material having a significantly lower thermal conductivity of at most 1 W / (m∙K) and produced from plastic.

[0023] Precisely when using a temperature control medium whose density and / or volume can change during the phase transition of its aggregate state, an air chamber on the temperature control medium serves for volume compensation and limits pressure build-up on the housing and the receiving area. In the temperature control device according to the invention, the absorption element projects with its downward-facing lower side or as a plate into the temperature control medium. According to the invention, the absorption element can deform flexibly or elastically towards the receiving area. Preferably, the absorption element has a spring stiffness per square millimeter of area of the lower side of the absorption element which is less than 1 N / mm² or is held in such a way that a spring stiffness per square millimeter of area of the lower side of the absorption element results which is less than 1 N / mm².

[0024] The absorption element is either embodied as a plate or, as an alternative embodiment, is an elastic molded article having a certain structure, wherein the plate or also the molded article is preferably additionally elastically held at the receiving area by means of spacer elements. These two variants of the temperature control device are not damaged during the phase transition and enable a volume change of the temperature control medium even in the solid state without loss of its function or deformation of the housing.

[0025] A further preferred design of the temperature control device according to the invention results from the subsequent description in conjunction with the figures and its description. Description of the Drawings

[0026] Subsequently, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the attached drawings according to preferred embodiments.

[0027] Figure 1The temperature control device according to the present invention is shown in a sectional view.

[0028] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 is the temperature control device in a preferred embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 is a detailed view of the temperature control device in an alternative preferred embodiment.

[0030] Figure 4 Shown Figure 1 is a detailed view of the temperature control device in an alternative preferred embodiment.

[0031] Figure 5 Shows a line graph of the temperature curve at the temperature control device. Detailed Description

[0032] Figure 1 Shown is the temperature control device 1 for accommodating the laboratory ware 2 according to the present invention. Before use, that is, in the absence of the laboratory ware 2, the temperature control device 1 is thermally conditioned and temperature-controlled in a cooling or heating cabinet for this purpose. In use, the temperature control device 1 either absorbs the conditioned thermal energy from the laboratory ware and the surrounding environment or releases said thermal energy over a limited time course.

[0033] In Figure 1 and 2 the temperature control device 1 shown is constructed with a hollow housing 3, which is at least partially filled with a temperature control medium 4 in the inner region of the housing 3. The housing 3 is used as an independent device in the laboratory and for this purpose has a bottom 3.2 below or at the lower side in the use state and a receiving area 3.1 above or at the upper side opposite thereto, which receiving area delimits the hollow inner region of the housing 3 upwards.

[0034] At the receiving area 3.1, a recess 5 is constructed which points inwards from above in the direction towards the bottom 3.2 and serves as a receptacle for the laboratory ware 2 to be temperature-controlled. The bottom 3.2 can be dimensioned according to the SBS standard (Society of Biomolecular Screening) and a certain number of recesses 5 are arranged in a grid of 12x8, 24x16, etc. of the SBS standard.

[0035] The temperature control device 1 can be thermally conditioned, that is, heated or cooled, on the bottom 3.2 or on the recess 5 in any case before it is used by the laboratory ware 2 in order to exhibit a defined temperature different from the use environment.

[0036] In Figure 1 a temperature control device 1 is shown, which presents an embodiment. The receiving area 3.1 can be arranged at the housing 3, but in particular can be detachably arranged from above, contrary to the illustration. The housing 3 can cover the intermediate space around the deepening 5 as shown. Contrary to the illustration, this part can be implemented separately from the housing 3. Contrary to the illustration, the receiving area 3.1 can also be detachably arranged at the housing 3 from above.

[0037] Figure 2 A temperature control device 1 according to the invention with a hollow housing 3 is shown, which housing has an air chamber 6 separated from the inner area that houses or contains the temperature control medium 4. The partition of the inner area runs at least substantially parallel to the bottom 3.2, which in particular serves as a support surface. Contrary to the embodiment according to Figure 1 the air chamber 6 is arranged relative to the receiving area 3.1 and forms part of the inner area. The remaining part of the inner area adjacent to the receiving area 3.1 houses the temperature control medium 4. Thereby, heat transfer also takes place directly between the temperature control medium 4 and the receiving area 3.1.

[0038] In an advantageous embodiment, a partition wall 3.3 is arranged between the hollow inner area or the support surface, that is to say the bottom 3.2, and the housing 3, which partition wall seals the two inner areas from each other and is implemented flexibly. The partition wall 3.3 can also be arranged between other parts of the housing 3. The embodiment according to the figure (according to Figure 1 and 2 ) is an advantageous embodiment in this regard, in which the support surface or the bottom 3.2 has part of the hollow inner area.

[0039] In the embodiment according to Figure 2 the support surface or the bottom 3.2 has holes 3.4, which ventilate and / or exhaust the air chamber 6. Alternatively, the air chamber 6 is sealed and the pressure of the air chamber can be used to press the temperature control medium 4 against the receiving area 3.1.

[0040] As in Figure 2As shown, although in practice one strives for it, it is only partially feasible in most cases that the temperature control medium 4 at least substantially completely fills the inner region of the housing 3 adjacent to the receiving region 3.1. When filling the inner region with the temperature control medium 4 and then closing it with the partition wall 3.3, air can also be enclosed. That is, the inner region is completely filled with the temperature control medium 4 or partially filled with the temperature control medium 4 and air. The closer and more direct the temperature control medium 4 is to the receiving region 3.1, the better its thermal connection. That is, the smaller the spacing between the temperature control medium 4 and the receiving region 3.1 and the fewer intermediate elements the heat transfer passes through, the more efficiently the heat transfer can take place. Here, direct contact between the temperature control medium 4 and the receiving region 3.1 is optimal. Therefore, it is preferred that the inner region adjacent to the receiving region 3.1 is filled with the temperature control medium 4 to the largest possible extent. Thus, the part of the inner region adjacent to the receiving region 3.1 is preferably filled with the temperature control medium 4 to a large part. In particular, the volume of the temperature control medium contained in the part of the inner region adjacent to the receiving region 3.1 is greater than the volume of the air present here.

[0041] According to Figure 2 the temperature control device 1 has an absorption element 7 in a hollow housing 3, which absorption element is embodied as a plate and extends horizontally in the housing 3. Here, the absorption element 7 is arranged with a spatial spacing from the receiving region 3.1 and the housing 3 and the amount of the temperature control medium 4 is selected such that the absorption element 7 is at least partially circulated by the temperature control medium 4, that is, is in contact with and / or immersed in the temperature-controlled temperature control medium 4.

[0042] The absorption element 7 can have one or more openings 7.1, which openings enable the flow-through of bubbles and enable the temperature control medium 4 to at least partially flow through the absorption element 7 depending on the size of the openings 7.1 and the viscosity of the temperature control medium 4.

[0043] The absorption element 7 is thermally well-connected to the receiving region 3.1 for the transfer of heat energy and thus transfers the temperature of the temperature control medium 4 to the laboratory ware 2.

[0044] The temperature control device 1 according to the invention is exposed to the desired temperature for a sufficient length of time before it is used. Depending on the required temperature window of the substance in the laboratory ware 2, the housing with the temperature control medium 4 of the temperature control device 1 is heated or cooled.

[0045] The temperature control medium 4 placed in the housing 3 changes its aggregate state during heating or cooling. During cooling, the temperature control medium 4 is frozen, and during heating it melts. Here, the energy of the phase change is utilized effectively (for example in the case of water: 333.4 KJ / Kg at 0 °C).

[0046] As a cost - suitable temperature - control medium 4 for cooling the laboratory vessel 2, water, aqueous solutions, ethylene glycol / water mixtures, and / or gel materials, in particular water - containing carboxymethyl cellulose gels, are preferably used. As an alternative to heating or insulating the laboratory vessel 2, a mixture composed of cyclodextrin and 4 - methylpyridine is applied as the temperature - control medium 4. Polymer solutions composed of various soluble materials having different phase temperatures and concentration - dependent miscibility gaps, such as phenol / water mixtures, can also be used.

[0047] As an alternative to heating the laboratory vessel 2, according to Figure 1 and 2 the temperature - control device 1 is applied between 30 °C and 45 °C. For this, the housing 3 is filled with the mixture composed of cyclodextrin and 4 - methylpyridine already mentioned. The temperature - control device 1 is adjusted in the case of a temperature of approximately 50 °C or higher. Contrary to the embodiments shown in Figure 1 or 2, the absorption element 7 extends through a larger extension in the inner region of the housing 3 here.

[0048] In Figure 1 and 2 the temperature - control device 1 shown is specifically designed for a temperature - control medium 4 which has a lower density in its solid phase than in its liquid phase. Such a temperature - control medium 4, which is already partially liquid during melting, floats in the still - partially - solid state and presses against the absorption element 7.

[0049] In the embodiment according to Figure 2 the still - solid temperature - control medium 4 is also pressed against the receiving area 3.1. Through the contact of the temperature - control medium 4 with the absorption element 7 and, if necessary, additionally with the receiving area 3.1, a large amount of the temperature - control medium 4 melts. The absorption element 7 thus temperature - controlled supplies heat from the receiving area 3.1 with the inserted laboratory vessel 2 to the temperature - control medium 4 and increases the thermal energy of the temperature - control medium 4 or vice versa. The frozen state of the temperature - control medium 4 in the volume enclosed by the housing 3 and the receiving area 3.1 is particularly fully utilized here. The laboratory vessel 2 can be cooled or heated over a long period of time.

[0050] Figure 5 Shown are the corresponding curves measured in the respective deepening 5 of the water - filled housing 3 of the two embodiments. The embodiment according to the invention according to Figure 1 or 2 is shown to be more effective relative to the embodiment without the absorption element 7. The temperature curve “A” corresponds to the embodiment without the absorption element and “B” corresponds to the embodiment according to the invention according to Figure 1Embodiments of 2. In the case of "B", it is below the temperature limit of 7 °C for twice as long as in the case of "A". Depending on the physical properties of the temperature control medium 4, other temperature limits and curves are obtained.

[0051] Figure 2 The temperature control device 1 with a housing 3 according to the invention is shown, the housing having an air chamber 6 separated from the inner region. The partition of the inner region runs at least substantially parallel to the bottom 3.2.

[0052] According to Figure 2 The embodiment according to not only presents structural improvements. Surprisingly, advantages are also shown in terms of the effect and the temperature curve "B" caused. The flexible partition wall 3.3 enables the spatial separation of the temperature control medium 4 from the air chamber 6 and compensates for the volume change of the temperature control medium 4 entering or leaving the air chamber 6.

[0053] In Figure 1 and 2 In a particularly preferred design shown, the partition wall 3.3 is made of a flexible, i.e., spring-elastic, material, for example silicone.

[0054] The increase in volume of the solid or frozen temperature control medium 4 is achieved by the expansion of the partition wall 3.3 into the air chamber 6 due to preloading. The solid temperature control medium 4 presses against the absorption element 7 here. When applying the temperature control device 1, heat transfer is increased by pressing and the temperature curve "B" remains below the temperature limit for a longer time. When the partition wall 3.3 additionally has low thermal conductivity, this effect persists for a longer time.

[0055] Figure 2 An embodiment with a plate as the absorption element 7 is shown, the plate being arranged horizontally in the hollow housing 3. The plate is fixed to the receiving area 3.1 by a plurality of spacer elements 8 in this embodiment. Here, the spacer elements 8 also conductively connect the plate 7 to the receiving area 3.1 and have such a number that the temperature of the temperature control medium 4 is transferred to the laboratory vessel 2.

[0056] In the embodiments according to the invention according to Figure 1 or 2, the materials used are also decisive. The absorption element 7 or the plate, the spacer elements 8 and / or the receiving area 3.1 are particularly constructed from a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / (m∙K).

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, the receiving area 3.1 of the housing 3 is implemented as a separate part. The receiving area 3.1 separated from the housing 3 material is composed of a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / (m∙K). Aluminum is used in particular as a suitable raw material. The other parts of the hollow housing 3 can be composed of plastic or have plastic and preferably have a thermal conductivity of a maximum of 1 W / (m∙K) and thus have a more precise thermal insulation effect.

[0058] Here, the housing 3 can also be constructed in a more decentralized manner. Figure 1 and 2 In the embodiment, the housing 3 is provided with a separate bottom 3.2, which presents a support surface relative to the receiving area 3.1. The bottom 3.2 and the receiving area 3.1 are sealed relative to the housing 3 by means of a seal 3.5. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , protruding support feet 3 . 6 are arranged on the bottom.

[0059] According to a further preferred embodiment of the temperature control device 1, the absorption element 7 is designed to be flexible with its absorption bottom side pointing toward the bottom 3.2 toward the receiving area 3.1. The volume increase of the temperature control medium 4 is absorbed by the absorption element 7. In a preferred embodiment, the absorption element 7 is a structurally elastic molding 7', such as Figure 3 Preferably, the planar molding 7 ′ has sufficient flexibility with a spring rate of less than 1 N / mm per square millimeter of area of the underside of the molding 7 ′ in order to prevent deformation of the housing 3 .

[0060] exist Figure 3 The molded part 7' shown in the figure is a layer of metal mesh or foam. The molded part 7' is arranged at the lower side of the receiving area 3.1. Such a mesh or foam serves as an absorber for receiving and at the same time for transmitting heat energy to the receiving area 3.1. The mesh or foam is also positioned so that it extends through the air chamber 6 below the receiving area 3.1 and is at least partially surrounded by the temperature control medium 4 and is penetrated as completely as possible here. The structure itself realizes the required flexibility and the selection of raw materials and cross-sectional density, and sufficient heat conduction towards the receiving area 3.1. As a simplified variant, the mesh or foam can also be used only as a flexibly elastic spacing element 8' of the plate.

[0061] In the embodiment of the plate with the spacing elements 8, the spacing elements 8 hold the plate flexibly and elastically relative to the receiving area 3.1. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the plates are at least partially surrounded by a temperature control medium 4. In the event of a volume expansion of the temperature control medium 4 in the solid state, it is pressed against the plates and absorbs this by its flexible positioning or its elastic change of shape.

[0062] Furthermore, the absorbent element 7 is preferably detachably or non-detachably connected to the receiving area 3.1. In Figure 3 it, the absorbent element 7 is connected to the lower side of the receiving area 3.1 in a multiplicity of points, for example by ultrasonic welding. In accordance with Figure 1 or the embodiment of 2, the spacer element 8 is integrally molded at the receiving area 3.1 and / or at the plate, thus enabling good heat conduction. In Figure 4 the embodiment of the flexible spacer element 8' is shown. The spacer element 8' is part of the plate.

[0063] A cutout not shown exposes the spacer element 8' and enables a corrugated bend, as depicted in Figure 4 it. The free end of the spacer element 8' bent in this way is in particular welded to the receiving area 3.1. Alternatively, the spacer element 8 can be detachably screwed on, that is to say, held in a force / shape / friction fit or detachably fixedly connected, such as by welding, brazing, bonding, adhesion or other material connections.

Claims

1. A temperature control device (1) for a laboratory vessel (2), the temperature control device being configured to perform thermal conditioning without the laboratory vessel (2) before use and to absorb the conditioned thermal energy from and / or release the conditioned thermal energy into the laboratory vessel (2) during use over a limited time course, having a hollow housing (3), the housing having an internal region filled with a temperature control medium (4), Among them, the housing (3) having a bottom (3.2) at the lower side and a receiving region (3.1) oppositely at the upper side, the receiving region limiting the internal region of the housing (3) towards the upper side and having an inwardly directed recess (5) at its upper side for receiving the laboratory vessel (2) to be temperature controlled, characterized in that the housing (3) has an air chamber (6) in the internal region, a horizontally extending absorption element (7) is arranged in the internal region of the housing (3), wherein the absorption element (7) is arranged at a spatial distance from the receiving region (3.1) and the housing (3) and is at least partially circulated and / or flowed through by the temperature control medium (4), and the absorption element (7) is thermally connected to the receiving region (3.1).

2. The temperature control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal region of the housing (3) runs parallel to the bottom (3.2) and is partitioned and / or the air chamber (6) is arranged at the side of the internal region opposite the receiving region (3.1) and the part of the internal region adjacent to the receiving region (3.1) contains the temperature control medium (4).

3. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal region of the housing (3) is filled with the temperature control medium (4) up to the absorption element (7) and the remaining part of the internal region contains the air chamber (6), and / or the internal region of the housing (3) is partitioned such that the temperature control medium (4) is contained in a first internal region and the air chamber (6) is contained in a second internal region.

4. The temperature control device according to claim 3, characterized in that a partition wall (3.3) is arranged between the first internal region and the second internal region of the housing (3), and the two internal regions are implemented hermetically and flexibly relative to each other.

5. The temperature control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the partition wall (3.3) is made of or has a spring-elastic material.

6. The temperature control device according to claim 1, characterized in that The temperature control medium (4) is configured such that, when absorbing heat energy from the laboratory vessel (2), its aggregate state changes from a solid phase to a liquid phase and / or when releasing heat energy to the laboratory vessel (2), its aggregate state changes from a liquid phase to a solid phase, wherein the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) has a smaller or higher density than the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4), so that the solid phase floats or sinks in the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4) and presses against the absorption element (7).

7. The temperature control device according to claim 6, characterized in that the temperature control device (1) is configured to increase the heat energy of the accommodation area (3.1) with the laboratory vessel (2) placed therein to heat the laboratory vessel (2) or to reduce the heat energy of the accommodation area (3.1) with the laboratory vessel (2) placed therein to cool the laboratory vessel (2) by the contact of the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) with the absorption element (7) and the heat transfer from the absorption element (7) to the accommodation area (3.1) or by the contact of the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) with the absorption element (7) and the heat transfer from the accommodation area (3.1) to the absorption element (7).

8. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the absorption element (7) comprises a plate or is configured as a plate and / or wherein the absorption element (7) is connected to the accommodation area (3.1) by means of one or more thermally conductive spacer elements (8), and wherein the plate, the spacer element (8) and / or the accommodation area (3.1) are made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / (m·K).

9. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the accommodation area (3.1) of the housing (3) is implemented as a separate part, wherein the accommodation area (3.1) is made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / (m·K), and the other parts of the housing (3) are made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at most 1 W / (m·K).

10. The temperature control device according to claim 8, characterized in that the absorption element (7) is configured to be elastically deformable towards the accommodation area (3.1) at the absorption lower side pointing towards the bottom (3.2), wherein the absorption element (7) is an elastic molded article (7') with a certain structure and / or the spacer element (8) elastically holds the absorption element (7) at the accommodation area (3.1).

11. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the absorption element (7) is an elastic molded article (7') with a certain structure, wherein the molded article (7') is configured to be elastically deformable towards the accommodation area (3.1) at its absorption lower side pointing towards the bottom (3.2).

12. The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that, The temperature control medium (4) is water or an aqueous solution.

13. A temperature control method for a laboratory vessel (2), comprising the following steps: - providing a temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, having an internal region filled with a temperature control medium (4) and having a housing (3) with a receiving region (3.1), wherein, The hollow inner region of the housing (3) is bounded towards the top by the receiving region (3.1) and has a recess (5) pointing inwards from the upper side of the receiving region (3.1). - Thermal conditioning is carried out without the laboratory vessel (2) before use. - The laboratory vessel (2) is inserted. - Absorb the conditioned thermal energy absorbed from the laboratory vessel (2) or release the conditioned thermal energy to the laboratory vessel over a limited time course. It is characterized in that An absorption element (7) extending horizontally in the inner region of the housing (3) is at least partially circulated and / or flowed through by the temperature control medium (4), and the absorption element (7) is thermally conductively connected to the receiving region (3.1).

14. The temperature control method according to claim 13, characterized in that The housing (3) is heated or cooled by means of the temperature control medium (4), wherein the temperature control medium (4) changes its state of aggregation in the process.

15. The temperature control method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The temperature control medium (4) is selected such that the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) has a lower or higher density than the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4), so that the solid phase floats or sinks in the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4) and is pressed against the absorption element (7) due to the different densities in the phases, wherein the thermal energy of the receiving region (3.1) with the inserted laboratory vessel (2) is increased by the contact of the solid temperature control medium (4) with the absorption element (7) and the heat transfer from the absorption element (7) to the receiving region (3.1) to heat the laboratory vessel (2), or the thermal energy of the receiving region (3.1) with the inserted laboratory vessel (2) is reduced by the contact of the solid temperature control medium (4) with the absorption element (7) and the heat transfer from the receiving region (3.1) to the absorption element (7) to cool the laboratory vessel (2).

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