Thermostatic Apparatus with Direct Heat Conduction for Sample Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermostatic apparatuses for liquid chromatography face challenges in efficiently cooling sample containers without increasing size and power consumption, and effectively discharging condensation water, which affects analytical accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A thermostatic apparatus with a sample rack having an opening portion that allows direct contact between a heat conduction member and the sample containers, facilitating rapid heat transfer and easy discharge of condensation water through a flow path, thereby maintaining sample temperature while minimizing apparatus size and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling part is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the sample rack, then heat conduction cooling is performed, but cooling efficiency decreases due to air layers between surfaces and large heat capacity of the sample rack
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sample container from the sample rack and places it directly on the cooling part. This separates the sample container (which needs cooling) from the sample rack (which has large heat capacity and acts as a thermal barrier), allowing direct heat transfer from the cooling part to the sample container without the intermediary rack structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a heat conduction member as an intermediary between the cooling part and the sample container. This heat conduction member ensures direct thermal contact and facilitates efficient heat transfer, overcoming the air layer barrier that would otherwise exist between the cooling part and the sample container surface.
2Quantity of substance
If the sample rack is made large to accommodate many sample containers, then storage capacity increases, but cooling time increases due to large heat capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cooling function from the sample rack storage function. Multiple sample containers are arranged around the central cooling part, with each container independently accessible to the cooling source. This segmentation allows the cooling part to serve multiple containers simultaneously without being constrained by the rack's thermal mass.
3Reliability
If condensation water is generated on sample container surfaces during cooling, then moisture affects analytical accuracy, but discharging condensation water is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds a downward slope dimension to the cooling part surface. This slope directs condensation water toward a collection groove located at the lower end, enabling passive gravity-driven drainage. The groove and opening combination provides a dedicated pathway for condensation water to exit the system without affecting the cooling function.
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 solution enables rapid thermostatic holding of sample containers with reduced size and power consumption, while ensuring efficient discharge of condensation water, thus improving cooling efficiency and maintaining analytical accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a heat conduction member configured to be controlled to a constant temperature and to transfer heat to the sample container
Implementation Method 2
cooling is performed by transferring (taking) heat from the sample rack to the cooling portion mainly by heat conduction
Data Source
AI summary
A thermostatic apparatus thermostatically holds a sample container holding a sample. The thermostatic apparatus includes a sample rack which accommodates and holds a plurality of the sample containers and is attachable to and detachable from the thermostatic apparatus; and a heat conduction member which is controlled to a constant temperature and transfers heat to the sample container, in which an opening portion is formed in the sample rack, and when the sample rack is mounted on the thermostatic apparatus, a contact portion forming one part of the heat conduction member directly contacts the sample container by passing through the opening portion, or directly contacts the sample container protruding from the opening portion.