Evaporation Concentration Mechanism With Adjustable Air Inflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing evaporation and concentration mechanisms in automatic analyzers fail to adjust the evaporation amount effectively, particularly in environments with varying atmospheric pressures, such as high altitudes, leading to inconsistent evaporation rates.

Innovation Solution

An evaporation and concentration mechanism that includes a vessel mounting unit, an aspiration unit with a discharge flow path and through hole, and a discharge unit with a detachable atmospheric air introducing pipe, allowing adjustment of evaporation rates by controlling the inflow of atmospheric air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If depressurization is performed in the concentration process, then evaporation and concentration of the liquid is achieved, but the evaporation amount cannot be adjusted according to atmospheric pressure variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaporation amountVSAvoidadaptability to atmospheric pressure variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism by providing a variable opening degree structure in the discharge unit. The opening degree of the discharge path can be dynamically adjusted based on atmospheric pressure conditions, allowing the system to adapt evaporation rates to different environmental conditions. This resolves the contradiction by making the evaporation amount controllable rather than fixed, enabling the system to maintain optimal performance across varying atmospheric pressures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameter of the discharge path opening degree to control evaporation amount. By adjusting the opening degree parameter of the discharge path in response to atmospheric pressure variations, the system can modulate the evaporation rate. This parameter adjustment mechanism allows the system to compensate for environmental changes and maintain consistent concentration performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a complex control mechanism is introduced to adjust evaporation amount, then adaptability to different environments is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different environmentsVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a simple discharge path and as an adjustable control mechanism. The variable opening degree structure allows the same component to function in different modes (fully open, partially open, closed) depending on atmospheric pressure conditions, eliminating the need for separate complex control mechanisms while maintaining environmental adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to automatically respond to atmospheric pressure variations through the adjustable opening degree mechanism, without requiring external complex control systems. The mechanism self-adjusts based on environmental conditions, reducing the need for additional sensors, controllers, and actuators that would increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables precise control of evaporation amounts through adjustable atmospheric air inflow, ensuring consistent evaporation performance across different environments.

Implementation Method 1

a negative pressure generating source configured to generate a negative pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure generation: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an evaporation and concentration mechanism for evaporating and concentrating a liquid accommodated in a reaction vessel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4697006A1Evaporation concentration mechanism and automatic analysis device including same
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP4697006A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4697006A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4697006A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

There is provided an evaporation and concentration mechanism capable of adjusting an evaporation amount of a liquid by an inexpensive and simple mechanism, and an automatic analyzer having the evaporation and concentration mechanism. An aspiration unit 310 includes: a discharge flow path 314 that has one end thereof connected to a discharge unit 320 and the other end thereof connected to an opening of a reaction vessel due to a contact between the aspiration unit and the reaction vessel; and a through hole 312 that allows an outside air to flow into the reaction vessel. The discharge unit includes: a negative pressure generating source 321 that generates a negative pressure; a discharge pipe 324 that connects the negative pressure generating source and the discharge path of the aspiration unit to each other; and an atmospheric air introducing portion 322 that introduces an atmospheric air to the discharge pipe. The atmospheric air introducing pipe 323 is detachably mounted on the atmospheric air introducing portion.