Sample Cooling Device Dehumidification and Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample cooling devices face issues with moisture condensation in the accommodating chamber, leading to contamination of samples during analysis, due to air leaks and humidity ingress, especially when cooling low-temperature environments with negative pressure.
Innovation Solution
A sample cooling device configuration that includes a dehumidifier section and a blower section to maintain a pressurized state within the chamber by sending dehumidified air from outside, preventing moisture ingress and ensuring effective dehumidification, utilizing the cooling fan to cool the heat generating sections and supply dehumidified air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the accommodating chamber is cooled to low temperatures for sample cooling, then the cooling effect is improved, but moisture condensation and air leakage increase due to negative pressure inside the chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The dehumidifier section performs dehumidification in advance by cooling air before it enters the accommodating chamber, removing moisture preliminarily. The blower section also supplies pressurized air in advance to maintain positive pressure, preventing moisture ingress before condensation can occur on cold surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The blower section acts as an intermediary by supplying pressurized air from the dehumidifier section into the accommodating chamber. This pressurized air flow prevents external moist air from penetrating through gaps, and the dehumidifier section processes this air as an intermediary step before it contacts the cooled samples
2Reliability
If packing is attached to maintain air-tightness at boundary sections, then sealing is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and gaps may still exist
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying solely on mechanical sealing (packing), the invention uses pneumatic pressure by supplying pressurized air through the blower section. This positive pressure system actively prevents moisture ingress through gaps without requiring perfect mechanical seals, simplifying the sealing structure while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If a separate blower section is added to supply dehumidified air, then dehumidification effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blower function is merged with the existing cooling fan operations. The cooling fan that already circulates air for cooling heat-generating sections is integrated to also supply pressurized air to the dehumidifier section, combining two functions into one component and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fan is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a cooling device for heat-generating sections and as a blower for supplying pressurized air to the dehumidifier section. This universal component approach reduces the number of separate parts needed in the system
4Ease of manufacture
If the cooling fan is used for both cooling heat-generating sections and supplying dehumidified air, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the cooling performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow paths are segmented into different functional zones. The cooling fan supplies pressurized air to the dehumidifier section, which then provides cooled and dehumidified air to the accommodating chamber. Simultaneously, separate cooling air flows can still reach heat-generating sections, maintaining both functions without compromising 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
Prevents moisture from entering the chamber, maintains desired humidity levels, and reduces manufacturing costs by integrating the blower function with existing cooling fan operations, ensuring reliable sample analysis.
Implementation Method 1
the moisture in the air inside the accommodating chamber is condensed at the dehumidifier section
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of sample containers are accommodated in a highly thermal conductive rack and the rack is installed in a cooling section so that the sample containers on the rack may be cooled
Implementation Method 3
a blower section configured to supply dehumidified air into the accommodating chamber by sending air into the accommodating chamber from outside the accommodating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a sample cooling device capable of preventing air containing moisture from flowing into an accommodating chamber from outside the accommodating chamber, and of desirably dehumidifying air inside the accommodating chamber, and an autosampler provided with the same. Air is sent into an accommodating chamber 11 by a blower section 100 from outside the accommodating chamber 11 and the air is cooled by a dehumidifier section 13 to thereby cause dehumidified air to be supplied into the accommodating chamber 11. With the air sent into the accommodating chamber 11 by the blower section 100 from outside the accommodating chamber 11, the inside of the accommodating chamber 11 may be placed in a pressurized state. Since dehumidified air is supplied into the accommodating chamber 11 by air sent into the accommodating chamber 11 by the blower section 100 from outside the accommodating chamber 11 being cooled by the dehumidifier section 13, the humidity inside the accommodating chamber 11 may be prevented from rising due to the air that is sent from the blower section 100.