Magnetic Solid Thermal Conductor Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laboratory heating and cooling baths using water as a transmission medium face challenges such as sample containers becoming wet, risk of contamination, and complex handling due to water displacement and potential germ colonization, which complicates sample handling and safety.
Innovation Solution
A device with a large number of metal heat-conducting bodies arranged in a container, where a magnetic field is generated to reduce mobility among the heat-conducting bodies, securely holding samples or containers in place, eliminating the need for a liquid medium and preventing contamination by keeping samples dry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water is used as the transmission medium in heating and cooling baths, then temperature control is achieved, but sample containers become wet and are difficult to dry, and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful liquid medium (water) from the temperature control system and replaces it with solid heat-conducting bodies. This eliminates the source of contamination while preserving the essential temperature control function through direct thermal contact between the solid bodies and sample containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces solid heat-conducting bodies as an intermediary medium between the heat source and sample containers. These bodies serve as a mediator that transfers thermal energy without the contamination risks associated with liquid water, allowing temperature control while keeping samples dry.
2Temperature
If water baths are used for temperature control, then heating and cooling functions are provided, but special sample holders are required to prevent floating, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical support system (special sample holders needed to prevent floating in water) with a thermal field-based system. Solid heat-conducting bodies provide both thermal contact and mechanical support, eliminating the need for separate holding mechanisms while maintaining temperature control functionality.
3Temperature
If water is used as the transmission medium, then temperature transfer is achieved, but water spills over onto the work surface, creating contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the transmission medium from liquid (water) to solid (heat-conducting bodies). This parameter change eliminates fluidity and spillability while maintaining thermal conductivity, thus preventing water spillage onto work surfaces while preserving temperature transfer capability.
4Temperature
If water baths are used for temperature control, then heating and cooling is achieved, but chemicals must be added to prevent germ colonization, exposing users to chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid water medium that requires chemical treatment from the system and replaces it with solid heat-conducting bodies. This elimination of the liquid medium removes the need for chemical additives to prevent germ colonization, thereby eliminating chemical exposure risks while maintaining temperature control functionality.
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 device securely holds samples of varying densities, prevents floating and falling, reduces contamination risk, allows for easy handling and transportation, and enables precise temperature control from below 0°C to above 100°C with enhanced thermal conductivity compared to water baths.
Implementation Method 1
the device has at least one means for generating and/or radiating a magnetic field in or in the area of the plurality of heat-conducting bodies, as a result of which mobility of the heat-conducting bodies relative to one another can or is reduced
Implementation Method 2
a large number of heat-conducting bodies in the container for transferring a temperature of at least one heat radiation means of the device to the samples and/or the sample vessels
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
To further improve a device for tempering samples and/or sample containers with a receptacle for receiving the samples and/or sample containers in such a way that samples or sample containers with different densities are securely held in the medium used for temperature transfer, a plurality of metal-containing thermal conductors are arranged in the receiving area of the container, wherein the mobility of the thermal conductors relative to each other can be reduced by a means for generating and/or emitting a magnetic field.