Heated Wick Humidification for Stable Cell Incubator Humidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling humidity in cell incubators are inefficient, leading to uncontrolled relative humidity, condensation, bacterial growth, and energy loss, as they rely on unregulated water trays or misting, which can lower gas temperatures and introduce contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A thermally conductive block with a wick, attached to an electrical heater and sensors, is used to control humidity by metering water delivery based on temperature and humidity readings, ensuring precise humidity levels and preventing contamination through filtration and UV exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large tray of water is placed in the incubator to achieve high relative humidity, then humidity control is improved, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water reservoir from the incubator interior and places it externally. A pump system delivers water through tubing to a wick material inside the incubator, separating the bulk water storage from the humidification zone. This reduces internal space requirements and simplifies the incubator configuration while maintaining effective humidity control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wick material as an intermediary between the water source and the incubator atmosphere. The wick absorbs and transports water to its surface where evaporation occurs, mediating the humidification process without requiring large open water trays inside the incubator.
2Reliability
If water is sprayed as mist or bubbled through water to increase humidity, then humidity level is improved, but temperature control deteriorates due to evaporative cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The wick material serves as an intermediary that allows controlled evaporation at the material surface without directly cooling the incubator atmosphere. The evaporation occurs at the wick surface rather than through bulk water or mist, minimizing temperature drop while maintaining humidity control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a localized humidification zone at the wick surface where evaporation occurs. This localized approach allows humidity generation without widespread evaporative cooling of the entire incubator atmosphere, maintaining better temperature stability.
3Reliability
If uncontrolled water evaporation is used to increase humidity, then humidity is improved, but contamination risk increases due to bacterial and fungal growth in standing water
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the bulk water reservoir from the incubator interior and placing it externally, the patent eliminates the standing water environment that supports microbial growth. Only a minimal amount of water is present in the incubator at the wick surface, significantly reducing contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The wick material acts as an intermediary that limits water exposure. Water is absorbed into the wick and only the surface layer is exposed to air, creating a controlled interface that reduces the opportunity for microbial contamination compared to open water trays.
4Reliability
If water is pumped onto the wick without control, then humidity is improved, but water dripping and overflow occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses humidity sensors to monitor incubator conditions and provides feedback to the pump control system. The pump adjusts its operation based on real-time humidity readings, delivering water only when needed and in appropriate amounts, preventing over-saturation and dripping.
Solution Approach 2:
The water delivery system is made dynamic and adaptive rather than static. The pump operates intermittently based on humidity thresholds, adjusting water delivery rates to match actual incubator conditions, which prevents water accumulation and dripping.
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
This solution allows for precise control of humidity, preventing condensation and bacterial growth while maintaining consistent gas temperatures, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical heater attached to the block and receptive of electrical energy to heat the block
Implementation Method 2
A thermally conductive block, such as an aluminum block
Implementation Method 3
The block is covered with a wick, such as a piece of cotton cloth
Implementation Method 4
The amount of water pumped onto the cloth wick is not so much as to allow drops to fall or be blown off the wick... the heater's power will be expended turning water to vapor
Implementation Method 5
A fan blows the gas to be humidified over the cloth covered block
Implementation Method 6
one or more temperature sensors... temperature and humidity sensors are placed both upwind and downwind of the block
Implementation Method 7
temperature and humidity sensors are placed both upwind and downwind of the block
Implementation Method 8
A pump, capable of delivering metered amounts of water, is connected via tubing between a reservoir of water and the block
Data Source
AI summary
A device, method and apparatus for controlling humidity in a cell incubator. The device includes a thermally conductive block having a water exuding surface, an electrical heater attached to the block and receptive of electrical energy to heat the block, at least one fan for blowing gas to be humidified over the surface of the block, at least humidity sensor attached at least downwind of the block, a controllable pump connectable to a source of water for supplying water to the exuding surface of the block and a controller receptive of output signals from the at least one humidity sensor and connected to the pump for controlling the pump based upon the output signals from the at least one humidity sensor to obtain a desired level of humidity.