Methods for automatic filling, charging and dispensing carbon dioxide snow block
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preserving biological samples during clinical trials, such as using dry ice or liquid nitrogen, are labor-intensive, costly, and prone to temperature fluctuations, which can compromise sample quality and increase logistical complexity.
Innovation Solution
An automatic dispensing station that generates and dispenses carbon dioxide (CO2) snow blocks into containers based on set points for volume, fill duration, weight, pressure, capacitance, or temperature, ensuring consistent cooling and reducing the need for on-site inventory and handling of dry ice or liquid nitrogen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual loading of dry ice and samples into insulated boxes is used, then sample preservation is achieved, but labor intensity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates CO2 snow blocks on-demand within the insulated container, eliminating the need for manual loading of pre-prepared dry ice. The controller activates the CO2 generation device to produce cooling material only when needed and in the exact quantity required, making the system self-sufficient and removing manual intervention from the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary preparation of the cooling environment by automatically generating CO2 snow blocks before samples are loaded or at the precise moment needed. This ensures the insulated container is already cooled and ready for sample preservation, eliminating the need for manual pre-cooling preparation.
2Reliability
If excessive dry ice is loaded to compensate for potential delays, then sample preservation reliability improves, but cost and logistical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts CO2 snow block generation based on real-time conditions. The controller monitors the cooling requirements and generates CO2 snow blocks only as needed, rather than loading a fixed excessive amount in advance. This dynamic response ensures adequate sample preservation while minimizing unnecessary CO2 consumption and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature monitoring and control feedback mechanisms that track the thermal state of the insulated container. When temperature rises above acceptable thresholds, the controller activates CO2 generation; when temperature is stable, generation stops. This feedback loop ensures reliable sample preservation while precisely controlling CO2 usage, avoiding both excessive and insufficient loading.
3Ease of operation
If conventional insulated boxes with pre-loaded dry ice are used, then sample transport is simplified, but waste increases due to non-reusability
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and reuses the insulated container through multiple cycles. Instead of discarding single-use boxes, the container is emptied of CO2 snow blocks, allowed to warm to ambient temperature, and then reused for subsequent sample transport tasks. This recovery approach eliminates continuous waste generation while maintaining simplified sample transport operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulated container becomes a universal, multi-use platform that can be repeatedly employed for different sample transport missions. The container's design accommodates various sample types and volumes, and the integrated CO2 generation system can be reactivated for each new use, making the same physical container serve multiple functions across time rather than being single-use.
4Reliability
If liquid nitrogen-based vapor vessels are used to avoid dry ice limitations, then sample preservation reliability improves, but preparation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates CO2 snow blocks on-demand within the insulated container, eliminating the need for manual loading of pre-prepared dry ice. The controller activates the CO2 generation device to produce cooling material only when needed and in the exact quantity required, making the system self-sufficient and removing manual intervention from the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and generation timing of the cooling material. Instead of using pre-prepared solid CO2 or liquid nitrogen that requires advance preparation and absorption time, the system generates CO2 snow blocks in-situ by controlling the phase change of CO2 from liquid to solid directly within the container, eliminating preparation wait times.
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 system provides reliable and efficient preservation of biological samples by maintaining consistent temperatures, reducing logistical complexities, and minimizing waste, while offering flexible and cost-effective sample transport solutions.
Implementation Method 1
introducing the liquid CO2 into the container; at least a portion of the liquid CO2 undergoing a phase change to transform into the CO2 snow block and offgas CO2 within the container
Implementation Method 2
flowing a gaseous CO2 into a fill conduit to pressurize the fill conduit at or above a pressure sufficient to prevent a phase change of the liquid CO2
Implementation Method 3
withdrawing the offgas CO2 from the container through a plate permanently affixed or removably affixed to the container, the plate permeable to the offgas CO2 and at least partially impermeable to a solid phase CO2
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically dispensing and vending carbon dioxide (CO2) snow block is disclosed. The automatic dispensing system contains multiple containers of different volumes. A user can input the volume of CO2 snow block into a controller, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC). The controller uses the inputted volume and process information to determine which container to utilize for the automated filling process. The controller can configure the selected container into a filling orientation into which liquid CO2 can flow to generate CO2 snow block. Upon detection of the completion of the fill, the container is configured into a dispensing orientation from which the CO2 snow block is released into an access region from which the user can retrieve the CO2 snow block. The control methodology may also be used to auto charge a single container located within a charging station as disclosed herein.