Reagent Storage Cooling with Circulating Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face challenges in maintaining uniform temperature distribution within reagent storage, leading to inefficient cooling of reagents, which can result in evaporation and deterioration of analytical data.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a reagent storage system with a holding unit that pivotally holds reagent bottles, a case with an edge higher than the holding unit, a cover for closure, a cooling unit mounted on the case's outer surface, and a circulating unit that circulates cooled air within the case to ensure uniform cooling of reagents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cool air is blown against partial surfaces of reagent bottles, then the cooling method is simple, but it takes much time to lower the temperature of each bottle to a predetermined temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent storage case is divided into multiple compartments, with each compartment housing a single reagent bottle. This segmentation allows cool air to be directed to each bottle individually, ensuring comprehensive cooling coverage without requiring the entire case to be cooled uniformly, thus reducing cooling time while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach transitions from surface-level cooling to volumetric cooling by introducing a cooling channel that extends through the entire length of the case. This dimensional extension allows cool air to flow through the bottom of the case and reach all reagent bottles regardless of their position, significantly improving cooling efficiency without adding complex cooling mechanisms to each bottle
2Ease of operation
If reagent bottles are stored with the cover open for access, then ease of operation is improved, but evaporation increases and reagent concentrations deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent bottles are nested within individual compartments that are themselves contained within the larger reagent storage case. Each compartment acts as a protective enclosure that minimizes exposure to air while still allowing the bottles to be accessed when needed, thus reducing evaporation without completely sacrificing operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
A removable partition wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between adjacent reagent bottles. This partition serves as a barrier that prevents direct exposure of reagents to air while still allowing the bottles to be accessed individually by removing or shifting the partition, thus balancing protection against evaporation with ease of operation
3Quantity of substance
If many reagent bottles are stored in the reagent case, then storage capacity is improved, but cool air is blown against only partial surfaces of the reagent bottles
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is extended in the longitudinal dimension by introducing a cooling channel that runs through the entire length of the case from front to back. This allows cool air to flow through the bottom of the case and reach all reagent bottles regardless of their position, ensuring uniform temperature distribution even when many bottles are stored in the case
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 enables efficient cooling of reagents by ensuring uniform temperature distribution and reducing evaporation, thereby maintaining the integrity of analytical data.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit which is mounted on one outer surface of the case and cools air in the case closed by the cover through said one outer surface
Implementation Method 2
a circulating unit which is mounted on the holding unit and circulates the cooled air in the case closed by the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A holding unit pivotally holds a plurality of reagent bottles which store reagents. A reagent case houses the holding unit and has an edge higher than at least the housed holding unit. The reagent cover is a cover for closing the reagent case. A cooling unit is mounted on one outer surface of the reagent case and cools air in the reagent case closed by the reagent cover through one outer surface. A circulating unit is mounted on the holding portion and circulates the cooled air in the reagent case closed by the reagent cover.