Heat Exchanger for Reagent Pipe Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In automatic analyzers, the temperature of the replacement fluid supplied to a magnetic separator can change due to outside air or exhaust heat, especially when the liquid temperature controller is not installed near the supply port, leading to inaccurate temperature control.

Innovation Solution

The automatic analyzer incorporates a heat exchanger that adjusts the temperature around the pipe supplying the replacement fluid, ensuring accurate temperature control by preventing heat exchange with outside air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the liquid temperature controller is not installed near the supply port of the replacement fluid, then the automatic analyzer can be miniaturized and processing capacity can be improved, but the temperature of the replacement fluid supplied to the magnetic separator changes due to outside air or exhaust heat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of automatic analyzerVSAvoidtemperature of replacement fluid
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component between the replacement fluid and the outside environment. The heat exchanger maintains thermal isolation by allowing heat transfer through its walls, preventing direct thermal influence from outside air and exhaust heat on the replacement fluid while enabling the system to achieve miniaturization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the replacement fluid is supplied intermittently, then the processing capacity is improved, but the replacement fluid stays in the pipe for a long time and the liquid temperature at the time of supply is easily influenced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidtemperature of replacement fluid
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger acts as a thermal buffer and intermediary, maintaining stable temperature of the replacement fluid even during intermittent supply periods. When fluid resides in the pipe for extended periods, the heat exchanger continuously mediates thermal exchange to prevent temperature drift caused by outside environmental influences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger performs preliminary temperature stabilization of the replacement fluid before it reaches the magnetic separator. This preliminary thermal conditioning ensures that even after intermittent storage in the pipe, the fluid maintains the required temperature accuracy when finally supplied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution allows for precise temperature control of the replacement fluid, maintaining the required temperature accuracy even when the liquid temperature controller is not close to the supply port, thus enhancing the reproducibility of the B/F separation process.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger that adjusts a temperature around the pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3971578B1Automated analyzer
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP3971578B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3971578B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3971578B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an automatic analyzer to control a temperature of a reagent supplied to a magnetic separator with high accuracy. The automatic analyzer includes a magnetic separator that separates a magnetic component and a non-magnetic component from liquid obtained by reacting a sample with a first reagent, a storage unit that accommodates a second reagent, a pipe used to supply the second reagent to the magnetic separator, and a heat exchanger that adjusts a temperature around the pipe. It is preferable that the heat exchanger includes a heat absorption and dissipation unit and a fan that blows air heat-exchanged by the heat absorption and dissipation unit, and the air blown from the fan is blown onto the pipe.