NMR Sample Holder Cooling and Rotation via Segmented Gas Flows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current NMR technologies face challenges in achieving high sensitivity and cost-effectiveness for solid sample analysis, while ensuring operator safety and environmental friendliness, particularly in reaching high rotation speeds and low temperatures efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating high-pressure gaseous flows from a primary source, cooling them in a heat exchanger with a coolant, and using these flows to rotate and cool the sample-holder, allowing for adjustable rotation speeds up to 30 kHz and temperatures between 4.2 K and 300 K, with a separate flow supporting the sample-holder, and incorporating a computer program and device for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high rotation speeds are achieved using conventional gas flows, then NMR sensitivity is improved, but the temperature control becomes inadequate and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow system is segmented into separate functional flows: a first high-pressure cooled gas flow dedicated to rotation and a second gas flow dedicated to temperature control. This segmentation allows each flow to be independently optimized for its specific function, enabling high rotation speeds while maintaining precise temperature control and safety.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gas flows are used for rotation and temperature control, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single high-pressure gas source serves multiple functions by generating different cooled gas flows that are directed to different components. The first flow rotates the sample holder while the second flow controls temperature, allowing one gas source to fulfill multiple roles and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling device acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure gas source and the gas flows. This intermediary cools the gas before it is distributed to different functions, enabling temperature control to be integrated into the rotation system without requiring separate heating/cooling infrastructure.
3Speed
If high-pressure gas is used for rotation, then rotation speed is improved, but safety and environmental concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure gas, which could be considered a hazard, is converted into a beneficial cooling medium. By cooling the high-pressure gas flows before they contact the sample holder and surrounding components, the system transforms a potential safety risk into an active temperature control mechanism that enhances both safety and performance.
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 approach enhances NMR sensitivity, achieves high rotation speeds, and maintains safety and environmental sustainability by allowing precise control over temperature and rotation speed, dissociating cooling and rotation functions, and enabling efficient gas recovery and reheating.
Implementation Method 1
The first high-pressure gaseous flow can drive the rotation of the sample-holder by its action on fins or blades of a device linked to the sample-holder to drive its rotation.
Implementation Method 2
cooling of the gaseous flows in at least one heat exchanger from the circulation of a coolant originating from at least one second source
Implementation Method 3
cooling of the gaseous flows in at least one heat exchanger from the circulation of a coolant
Data Source
AI summary
The NMR analysis method for analyzing a solid sample positioned in a sample-holder (21) includes generation of a plurality of high-pressure gaseous flows (2, 3, 4) from at least one first source (1) of a high-pressure gas; cooling of the gaseous flows (2, 3, 4) in at least one heat exchanger (12) from a coolant gas (15) originating from at least one second source (11) of gas; and rotation of the sample-holder (21) by a first cooled high-pressure gaseous flow (2) and cooling of the sample-holder by a second cooled high-pressure gaseous flow (3).