Temperature-Control Device for Lab Vessels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature-control devices for laboratory vessels suffer from deformation during phase changes of the temperature-control medium, leading to inconsistent temperature maintenance and inability to function in automated equipment, and require complex constructions with electrical and thermal energy connections.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-control device with a hollow housing containing a temperature-control medium and an absorber element, where the housing is thermally conditioned to absorb or transfer energy, using a separate air space to prevent mixing with the medium, and an absorber element for uniform heat distribution, allowing for prolonged temperature maintenance without external energy input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a temperature-control device uses a phase-changing medium in a hollow space, then it can maintain temperature without external energy input, but the device deforms during phase change due to volume expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow space is divided into multiple separate cavities instead of one large continuous space. This segmentation prevents uniform volume expansion from causing deformation, as each small cavity can expand independently without affecting the overall geometry of the container carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase-changing medium is distributed locally across multiple depressions rather than concentrated in one location. This local distribution allows temperature control at multiple points simultaneously while preventing the volume expansion that would occur in a single large space.
2Device complexity
If the phase change occurs at the external side of the hollow space, then the device structure is simple, but deformation occurs in the center where phase change is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The single hollow space is segmented into multiple smaller cavities distributed throughout the device. This ensures that phase change occurs simultaneously at multiple locations rather than propagating from one side, maintaining geometric stability while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
3Volume of moving object
If the hollow space encompasses only the edge region, then the device is compact, but the depressions are not at identical height during deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow space is divided into multiple small cavities under each depression rather than one large continuous space. This segmentation prevents the differential deformation that would cause misalignment, as each cavity's volume expansion is localized and does not affect adjacent depressions.
Solution Approach 2:
Each depression has its own localized hollow space or cavity system, ensuring that temperature control and volume expansion are handled independently at each location. This maintains the precise geometry and alignment of all depressions throughout the device.
4Measurement precision
If the device uses a non-autonomous design with separate heating and cooling zones, then temperature control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases with electrical and thermal connections
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the phase-changing properties of the temperature-control medium to automatically provide both heating and cooling functions without external energy input. The medium absorbs heat during phase change (cooling effect) and releases heat when returning to original state (heating effect), making the system self-sufficient and eliminating complex electrical and thermal connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-control medium serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both cooling during phase change and heating during phase reversal, eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling systems. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining temperature control capability.
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
The device maintains a constant temperature across the receiving area for an extended period with improved thermal stability, preventing deformation and ensuring accurate handling of laboratory vessels, while being cost-effective and simple in design.
Implementation Method 1
the phase change of the temperature-control medium begins at the external side of the hollow space
Implementation Method 2
there is a temperature-control medium which has a high enthalpy of fusion and which changes its physical state
Implementation Method 3
The absorber element is connected in thermally conductive manner to the receiving region
Implementation Method 4
the enthalpy of fusion is not utilized consistently and distributed across all the depressions
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature-control device for receiving of laboratory vessels has a hollow housing with a temperature-control medium. The temperature-control device is thermally conditioned before use, and during use, the conditioned thermal energy is, in a finite time period, either absorbed from the laboratory vessels or transferred to same. The lower part of the housing has a base and the upper part of the housing has, opposite to said base, a receiving region which, in an upward direction, delimits the hollow internal region of the housing. In the receiving region, depressions directed inward serve as receivers for the laboratory vessels to be temperature-controlled. The hollow housing has an air space separated from the internal region. In the internal region, the temperature-control medium flows at least partially around and/or through a horizontally extending absorber element, and said absorber element is connected to the receiving region in thermally conductive manner.