Automatic Analyzer Cooling Storage With Hydrophilic Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face issues with dew condensation water formation in insulated cooling storage, leading to mold generation due to outside air ingress, which is difficult to manage and requires frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with an insulated cooling storage that incorporates a hydrophilic film with a contact angle of 15° or less on its inner surface and a dry air introduction mechanism to facilitate dew condensation water discharge and volatilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lid with reagent aspiration hole is provided to enable reagent aspiration, then reagent access is improved, but outside air enters the insulated cooling storage causing dew condensation
Solution Approach 1:
A positive pressure maintenance mechanism is implemented to prevent outside air from entering the insulated cooling storage through the reagent aspiration hole. By maintaining positive pressure inside the storage, the system proactively counteracts the harmful effect of air ingress and dew condensation while allowing reagent aspiration to continue through the lid.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure control system acts as an intermediary between the insulated cooling storage and the external environment. This intermediary mechanism regulates the pressure differential, allowing reagent aspiration through the lid while preventing harmful outside air entry that causes dew condensation.
2Quantity of substance
If dew condensation water forms on the inner surface of the insulated cooling storage, then moisture accumulates, but the water droplets are difficult to move and remain on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The surface properties of the insulated cooling storage inner surface are modified by applying a hydrophilic coating. This parameter change in surface wettability causes dew condensation water to form a continuous film rather than discrete droplets, enabling the water to flow easily along the inclined surface toward the drainage hole under gravitational force.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner surface of the insulated cooling storage is designed with an inclination angle of 5-45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. This angular geometry facilitates the flow of water film toward the drainage hole, preventing water accumulation and making removal easier through gravitational drainage.
3Reliability
If water droplets remain on the inner surface of the insulated cooling storage, then mold generation occurs, but frequent maintenance is required to prevent this
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to automatically drain dew condensation water through the inclined inner surface and drainage hole, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The hydrophilic coating and inclined geometry work together to enable self-drainage, preventing mold generation without requiring frequent maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A drainage hole is provided as an intermediary structure to collect and remove water that flows down the inclined inner surface. This drainage mechanism acts as a mediator between the condensation source and the external environment, automatically preventing water accumulation and mold growth without requiring user intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydrophilic film ensures dew condensation water flows easily into drainage paths and is quickly volatilized, effectively preventing mold formation and reducing maintenance frequency.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrophilic film having a contact angle with water of 15° or less is formed on an inner surface of the insulated cooling storage
Implementation Method 2
the generated dew condensation water does not form water droplets and easily flows toward the drainage path
Implementation Method 3
a thin water film remaining on the hydrophilic film is also quickly volatilized by a dry air introduced into the insulated cooling storage
Implementation Method 4
a dry air introduction mechanism that introduces air having an absolute humidity lower than an absolute humidity of air in the insulated cooling storage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer in which dew condensation water generated on an inner surface of the insulated cooling storage is discharged or volatilized to suppress generation of mold. Therefore, according to the present invention, an automatic analyzer including an insulated cooling storage that insulated-cools a container containing a reagent or a specimen, the automatic analyzer includes a dry air introduction mechanism that introduces air having an absolute humidity lower than an absolute humidity of air in the insulated cooling storage into an inner surface of the insulated cooling storage, in which a hydrophilic film having a contact angle with water of 15° or less is formed on the inner surface of the insulated cooling storage. Since the predetermined hydrophilic film is formed on the inner surface of the insulated cooling storage, the generated dew condensation water does not form water droplets and easily flows toward a drainage path. In addition, a thin water film remaining on the hydrophilic film is also quickly volatilized by a dry air introduced into the insulated cooling storage.