Incubator Uniform Temperature Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional incubators face issues with non-uniform temperature/humidity distribution, leading to dew condensation, and fail to maintain aseptic environments with adequate air pressure, as well as allowing external water vapor to contaminate the interior.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a culture chamber with insulated doors and walls, a circulation system for air, temperature regulation, and a humidification system using compressed gas and vaporization to maintain uniform temperature/humidity without dew condensation, while maintaining higher air pressure and sterilizing water vapor to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If radiant heat from wall surface or air stirring is used for temperature/humidity adjustment, then temperature condition can be adjusted, but non-uniformity of temperature/humidity occurs and partial dew condensation is likely to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The incubator is divided into multiple air circulation zones with separate circulation paths. Multiple blowers are positioned at different locations to create localized air circulation that ensures uniform temperature and humidity distribution throughout the culture chamber, preventing dew condensation while maintaining consistent environmental conditions.
2Temperature
If water is supplied from outside for humidification, then humidity condition can be adjusted, but the water supplied from outside adversely affects the interior aseptic environment
Solution Approach 1:
A humidification pan positioned in the air circulation path serves as an intermediary device. Water is supplied to this pan and evaporates into the circulating air, providing humidity control without direct contact between external water supply lines and the sterile culture chamber environment. The pan acts as a buffer that prevents contamination while achieving the desired humidity levels.
3Reliability
If conventional sterilization methods are used, then sterilization can be performed, but air pressure cannot be maintained higher than external environment to keep grade A aseptic environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sterilization of the air circulation path and humidification pan before operation begins. This includes sterilizing the air that will circulate through the chamber and pre-treating the water supply system. By establishing sterile conditions in advance and maintaining positive air pressure throughout operation, the system preserves grade A aseptic environment without requiring continuous pressure equalization.
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 configuration ensures uniform temperature/humidity in the culture chamber, prevents dew condensation, and maintains a high-level aseptic environment by circulating sterilized water vapor without passing through air filters, ensuring the air pressure is higher than the external environment.
Implementation Method 1
circulating means (30) for circulating air in the culture chamber
Implementation Method 2
a vaporizer (54, 55) which vaporizes the mixed gas-liquid to produce water vapor
Implementation Method 3
a culture chamber (20) which includes an insulated door (20a) and insulated walls (20b, 20c 20d)
Implementation Method 4
a heating element (62) incorporated in the outer cylindrical tube in parallel with a longitudinal direction thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An incubator which can uniformly maintain a temperature/humidity in a culture chamber and prevent dew condensation from occurring in the culture chamber is provided. Further, an incubator which raises an air pressure in a culture chamber higher than that of the external environment to maintain an aseptic environment and prevents water vapor to be supplied from adversely affecting the inner aseptic environment is provided.An incubator includes a culture chamber including an insulated door and insulated wall, circulating means for circulating air in the culture chamber, temperature regulating means for regulating a temperature of the air in the culture chamber, and humidifying means for humidifying the air in the culture chamber. The humidifying means includes compressed gas generating means for generating a compressed gas, water supplying means for supplying water, a mixed gas-liquid regulator which regulates a mixed gas-liquid having compressed air and the water mixed therein, and a vaporizer which vaporizes the mixed gas-liquid to produce water vapor. Furthermore, the water vapor produced by the vaporizer can be directly supplied to the air circulated by the circulating means without passing through an air filter.