Cryostat Optical Window Sealing for Condensation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryostats used in optical measuring devices face challenges with water condensation on the cell surface during long-term measurements, leading to ineffective optical measurements and increased complexity due to the need for vacuum maintenance mechanisms, which results in larger sizes and potential optical window distortion.
Innovation Solution
A cryostat design featuring sealing materials with a water vapor transmission rate of 30000 cc·cm2·mm·sec·cm Hg×1010 or lower for the optical windows, combined with ethylene fluoride resin optical path tubes and a gas flow path to prevent moisture entry, allowing for accurate measurements without the need for vacuum maintenance and minimizing optical window distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum maintenance mechanisms are added to prevent water condensation, then water condensation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vacuum maintenance mechanism from the cryostat system entirely. Instead of using vacuum to prevent water condensation, the invention uses a sealed structure with desiccant material placed inside the cryostat chamber, eliminating the need for complex vacuum pumps, gauges, and control systems while effectively preventing water vapor entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure combines multiple materials with complementary properties: a sealed chamber structure, desiccant material for moisture absorption, and insulation materials. This composite approach provides effective water vapor prevention without requiring active vacuum maintenance systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum maintenance mechanisms are added to prevent water condensation, then water condensation is prevented, but cryostat size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the vacuum maintenance mechanism (pumps, gauges, valves, control systems), the cryostat volume is significantly reduced. The sealed chamber with desiccant material requires minimal space compared to active vacuum systems, resulting in a compact design suitable for integration into optical measuring devices.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cryostat is evacuated to prevent water condensation, then water condensation is prevented, but optical window distortion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the vacuum evacuation process entirely. By maintaining atmospheric pressure inside the sealed chamber and using desiccant material to absorb moisture, the optical windows experience no pressure differential, preventing distortion and ensuring accurate optical measurements.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum evacuation operations are performed, then water condensation is prevented, but measurement time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The desiccant material is pre-installed inside the sealed chamber before use. This preliminary placement of moisture-absorbing material eliminates the need for time-consuming evacuation operations before each measurement, allowing immediate use of the cryostat without loss of measurement time.
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 solution effectively prevents water condensation on the cell surface, reduces the cryostat's size, and maintains accurate optical measurements, including CD spectra at low temperatures, while preventing optical window distortion, thus enhancing the detection of chirality in a wider range of compounds.
Implementation Method 1
sealing materials that are disposed at the peripheries of the first and second optical windows to seal the first and second optical path tubes and have a water vapor transmission rate of 30000 cc·cm2·mm·sec·cm Hg×1010 or lower
Data Source
AI summary
A cryostat includes: a casing having an inlet port and exit port; a cell housing provided in the casing; a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the cell; a first optical path tube for guiding a light beam from the inlet port of the casing to the cell housing; a second optical path tube for guiding the light beam having passed through the cell housing to the exit port of the casing; first and second optical windows disposed at openings, exposed to the outside, of the first and second optical path tubes, respectively; and sealing materials having a water vapor transmission rate of 30000 cc·cm2·mm·sec·cm Hg×1010 or lower, disposed at the peripheries of the first and second optical windows to seal the first and second optical path tubes.