High-Throughput, High-Resolution Gas Sorption Screening Via Thermal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-throughput screening methods for gas sorbents rely heavily on computational simulations, which are inaccurate for materials with unknown structures and surface chemistry, and lack experimental tools that can efficiently relate measurable quantities like temperature and pressure to adsorption capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system with a hermetically sealed sample chamber, heat exchanger, coolant circulator, and gas delivery system, coupled with an infrared camera for temperature measurement, allows for high-throughput screening by linking temperature changes during adsorption to sorption uptake, controlling heat dissipation, and deriving formulas independent of material properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If computational simulations are used for high-throughput screening, then screening speed is improved, but accuracy for materials with unknown structures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computational simulation methods with an experimental thermal measurement system. An infrared camera measures temperature changes in sample wells during gas adsorption, and these temperature measurements are converted to adsorption capacity data. This substitution eliminates the need for accurate structural knowledge required by computational methods while maintaining high screening throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temperature change as an intermediary measurement that bridges the gap between easily measurable thermal effects and the desired adsorption capacity data. The heat of adsorption causes temperature changes that are measured by the infrared camera, and these temperature changes are then converted to adsorption capacity values, providing an accurate experimental method that works for materials with unknown structures.
2Measurement precision
If traditional experimental methods are used to measure adsorption capacity, then accuracy is improved, but screening throughput deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an infrared camera to optically measure temperature changes of multiple samples simultaneously without physical contact. This non-contact optical measurement method copies the thermal information from all samples in the array, enabling parallel measurement of many materials at once while maintaining the accuracy of experimental thermal-based adsorption measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the screening process into multiple independent sample wells arranged in an array format. Each well contains a separate sorbent sample and can be measured independently by the infrared camera. This segmentation allows parallel processing of numerous samples, dramatically increasing throughput compared to traditional single-sample experimental methods.
3Ease of operation
If heat dissipation is not controlled during adsorption measurement, then measurement simplicity is improved, but temperature variations due to thermal conductivity differences deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary thermal management system between the samples and the environment. The heat exchanger actively controls heat dissipation from the sample wells, ensuring that temperature measurements reflect adsorption effects rather than uncontrolled thermal conduction. This allows the system to maintain measurement simplicity while achieving temperature measurement accuracy by actively managing the thermal environment.
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 high-resolution adsorption isotherm generation and comparative ranking of diverse sorbents, minimizing thermal conductivity and heat capacity variations, and providing accurate adsorption capacity estimation in a shorter time.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger disposed in the sample chamber
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger system includes a heat exchanger disposed in the sample chamber, a coolant circulator fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
The success of developing a reliable laboratory high-throughput screening equipment depends on relating an easily measurable quantity, such as the sample's temperature or pressure, with the material's adsorption capacity
Implementation Method 4
linking temperature changes during adsorption to sorption uptake
Implementation Method 5
A temperature measurement system is configured to sense the temperature of the sample wells
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for high-throughput, high-resolution gas sorption screening are provided. An example system includes a sample chamber with a hermetic seal and a heat exchanger system. The heat exchanger system includes a heat exchanger disposed in the sample chamber, a coolant circulator fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger, and a sample plate comprising sample wells in contact with the cooling fluid from the coolant circulator. The system also includes a gas delivery system. The gas delivery system includes a gas source and a flow regulator. A temperature measurement system is configured to sense the temperature of the sample wells.