Microfluidic System Including Cooling Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The acoustic particle separation method for biological entities in fluids using piezoelectric transducers generates heat, which can damage the biological entities, necessitating an effective cooling solution for the microfluidic device.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooling device comprising a thermoelectric heat pump, fans, and heat exchangers, along with a housing structure design that allows air circulation to efficiently dissipate heat from the microfluidic device and piezoelectric transducers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high power is applied to the piezoelectric transducer to achieve effective acoustic particle separation, then the separation performance is improved, but heat is generated that can damage biological entities
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful heat generated by the piezoelectric transducer is extracted and removed from the microfluidic device through a dedicated cooling system. The cooling device includes heat exchangers that are thermally coupled to the transducer, allowing heat to be conducted away from the biological entities and dissipated to the environment, thus separating the useful acoustic function from the harmful thermal effect.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling fluid or air acts as an intermediary medium between the hot piezoelectric transducer and the biological entities in the microfluidic device. This intermediary carries heat away from the transducer without directly contacting the biological entities, preventing thermal damage while maintaining effective cooling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cooling device is added to the microfluidic system to remove heat from the piezoelectric transducer, then heat damage to biological entities is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into modular components including separate heat exchangers for the piezoelectric transducer and microfluidic device, individual fans for air circulation, and distinct housing structures. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier assembly, maintenance, and adjustment, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools the piezoelectric transducer, cools the microfluidic device, and provides structural support through the housing structures. The air circulation system simultaneously cools multiple components and removes heat from the system, reducing the need for separate cooling mechanisms for each component.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact cooling device is designed to cool the microfluidic device, then the system size is reduced, but the heat dissipation efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is nested within or integrated with the housing structure of the microfluidic system. The heat exchangers are positioned in close proximity to the heat-generating components, and the air circulation paths are routed through the existing device structure. This nesting approach minimizes the additional volume required for cooling while maintaining effective heat transfer through short thermal paths and high surface-area-to-volume ratios.
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 cooling device effectively manages heat generated by the piezoelectric transducers, preventing damage to biological entities and ensuring reliable operation of the microfluidic system for particle separation.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device including a thermoelectric heat pump
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchanger disposed between the first fan and the thermoelectric heat pump
Implementation Method 3
allowing air to circulate between the third air passage and the first and second air passages
Implementation Method 4
The method uses acoustic radiation pressure generated by a piezoelectric transducer attached to a microfluidic device to segregate particles with different sizes or acoustic contrasts
Implementation Method 5
acoustic radiation pressure generated by a piezoelectric transducer
Implementation Method 6
a first fan, a first heat exchanger disposed between the first fan and the thermoelectric heat pump
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic system for separating biological entities comprises a cooling device including a thermoelectric heat pump, a first fan, and a first heat exchanger disposed between the first fan and the thermoelectric heat pump; a first housing structure having a first shell that encases the first fan and the first heat exchanger; a microfluidic device and one or more piezoelectric transducers attached thereto; and a second housing structure reversibly attached to the first housing structure and having a second shell that encloses therein the microfluidic device and the one or more piezoelectric transducers. When the first and second housing structures are coupled, a first air passage is formed between a side of the first heat exchanger and an end of the microfluidic device, a second air passage is formed between the first fan and the piezoelectric transducers, thereby allowing air to circulate between the first and second air passages.