Temperature control device and temperature control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for measuring thermal properties of materials at high and low temperatures are limited by the need for separate systems for extreme hot and cold temperatures, which are costly, large, and slow to achieve test temperatures, due to different heating and cooling system designs and materials.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control device with a test cell, heating subsystem, chill cell, and cooling subsystem separated by a thermal break, allowing for simultaneous heating and cooling to achieve a wide temperature range from -150°C to 800°C quickly and precisely within a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate systems are used for extreme cold and extreme high temperatures, then temperature range capability is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate heating and cooling systems into a single integrated environmental chamber. The chamber houses both a heating subsystem (with heater and insulation) and a cooling subsystem (with cooler and insulation), allowing it to achieve both extreme high temperatures (up to 800°C) and extreme low temperatures (down to -150°C) within one compact device, rather than requiring two separate large systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The environmental chamber is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform both heating and cooling operations. The chamber structure, controller, and sample stage are universally applicable for both temperature extremes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for hot and cold temperature measurements.
2Temperature
If environmental chambers are configured for both heating and cooling, then temperature versatility is improved, but time to reach test temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-cools the chamber and sample stage using the cooling subsystem before initiating heating operations. This preliminary cooling action ensures that the chamber starts from a low temperature state, allowing the heating subsystem to quickly reach high test temperatures without having to first cool down from a hot state, thereby reducing the overall time to reach the desired test temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between heating and cooling modes based on the desired test temperature. The controller can rapidly transition between using the heating subsystem and the cooling subsystem, optimizing the time to reach the target temperature by selecting the appropriate subsystem and adjusting power levels dynamically during the temperature transition process.
3Area of stationary object
If heating and cooling systems are integrated, then device compactness is improved, but thermal interference between subsystems occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is segmented into distinct heating and cooling zones with separate insulation layers. The heating subsystem has its own insulation (first insulation layer) while the cooling subsystem has separate insulation (second insulation layer), preventing thermal energy from one subsystem from directly affecting the other, thereby eliminating thermal interference while maintaining a compact integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates the operation of the heating and cooling subsystems. It prevents both subsystems from operating simultaneously by sequencing their operation - cooling first, then heating - thereby preventing thermal interference and energy waste while maintaining compact integration of the systems.
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
Enables precise and repeatable temperature control for thermal property measurements, reducing costs and size while improving efficiency by preventing thermal energy overshoot and allowing for safe operation of cooling subsystems at lower temperatures, facilitating quick and accurate testing across a broad temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
a heating subsystem configured to supply thermal energy to the test cell
Implementation Method 2
a cooling subsystem configured to cool the chill cell
Implementation Method 3
the chill cell being configured to remove thermal energy from the test cell when cooled; a thermal break between the chill cell and the test cell and between the chill cell and the heating subsystem
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature control device and a temperature control method for use in measuring thermal properties of materials at high and low temperatures are disclosed herein. The temperature control device is configured for controlling a temperature of a test volume inside a test cell and is capable of providing both extremely high and low test volume temperatures over a wide temperature range. The temperature of the test volume is controlled using opposing heating and cooling by controlling a supply of thermal energy to the test cell from a heating subsystem while simultaneously removing thermal energy from the test cell using a cooling subsystem.