Two-Stage Cooling Block Apparatus for Rapid Gem Cryogenic Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling apparatuses for gems are inefficient, requiring prolonged cooling times and complex mechanisms, which limit production capacity and increase costs, and often involve undesirable interactions with the cooling medium and the need for a closed environment with moisture-free gas infusion.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage cooling apparatus and method using a container with a high heat capacity cooling block and a placement structure with high thermal conductivity, where the object is cooled in an open system with liquid coolant, allowing for rapid cooling without the need for a closed environment or moisture-free gas infusion, and utilizing a multiple-channel, multiple-spectrometer arrangement for improved spectral analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If direct immersion cooling is used, then cooling speed is improved, but interaction between cooling medium and spectral information occurs causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a copper cooling block as an intermediary between the liquid nitrogen cooling medium and the gemstone. The cooling block absorbs thermal energy from liquid nitrogen and transfers it to the gemstone through thermal conduction, enabling rapid cooling without direct contact between the gemstone and cooling medium, thus preventing spectral interference while achieving fast cooling rates
2Stability of the object's composition
If closed environment with moisture-free gas infusion is used, then condensation is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex closed environment and moisture-free gas infusion system entirely. Instead, it uses an open system where the copper cooling block is exposed to ambient air, relying on the block's thermal properties and the spectral instrument's ability to handle atmospheric conditions, thereby dramatically simplifying the apparatus while maintaining effective cooling and spectral analysis capabilities
3Temperature
If prolonged cooling time is used, then cooling thoroughness is improved, but production capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the cooling system by using a copper cooling block with high thermal conductivity and high heat capacity. This allows the system to achieve thorough cooling (reaching cryogenic temperatures suitable for spectral analysis) in a much shorter time period, thereby increasing production capacity while maintaining cooling effectiveness
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 rapid and efficient cooling of gems, reducing analysis time and improving spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, while avoiding complex mechanisms and costly gas infusion, allowing for accurate spectral analysis of gems.
Implementation Method 1
A two-stage cooling apparatus and method using a container with a high heat capacity cooling block
Implementation Method 2
a placement structure with high thermal conductivity, where the object is cooled in an open system with liquid coolant
Implementation Method 3
cooled in an open system with liquid coolant
Implementation Method 4
liquid phase coolant placed in the first coolant container
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space. A two-stage cooling apparatus and method is also described.