Thermally Conductive Vial Rack for Uniform Cell Freezing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell freezing systems face challenges in maintaining uniform cooling rates and suppressing temperature rises due to latent heat when freezing large numbers of vials simultaneously, leading to uneven cooling and potential cell damage.
Innovation Solution
A cell freezing system utilizing a vial rack with a thermally conductive metal block part and a gas-cooling freezer, where vials are cooled through thermal conduction and radiation, allowing for uniform cooling of multiple vials by absorbing latent heat effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of vials are frozen simultaneously in a gas-cooling freezer, then productivity is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to latent heat release
Solution Approach 1:
A thermally conductive metal block is introduced as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the cooling gas and the vials. The block absorbs latent heat from multiple vials simultaneously and conducts it to its outer surface where cooling gas can efficiently remove it, preventing temperature rise in the vials while maintaining uniform cooling across all vials.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal block serves multiple functions: it acts as a heat sink to absorb latent heat, a heat conductor to transfer heat uniformly across all vial positions, and a structural support to hold multiple vials. This multi-functionality enables simultaneous freezing of many vials with uniform temperature control.
2Ease of operation
If conventional frame-type racks are used, then ease of operation is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to insufficient heat removal
Solution Approach 1:
The metal block acts as a thermal intermediary that the cooling gas cannot directly access in frame-type racks. By placing vials against this conductive block, heat is efficiently transferred from the vials to the block, and then to the cooling gas, significantly improving cooling efficiency while maintaining rack accessibility.
3Productivity
If rapid cooling is applied, then productivity is improved, but cell damage increases due to intracellular ice crystal formation
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the thermal parameters by using a metal block with high thermal conductivity and high heat capacity. This allows the cooling rate to be precisely controlled - the block can absorb latent heat rapidly while maintaining a steady temperature, enabling cooling at the optimal rate of approximately 1°C per minute without causing intracellular ice crystal formation.
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 system ensures uniform cooling and reduces temperature fluctuations, effectively suppressing temperature rises caused by latent heat, thereby minimizing cell damage during the freezing process.
Implementation Method 1
the vial rack has a block part made of a thermally conductive metal as a main body... the cooled vial rack cools the vial and the cell suspension in the vial through an inner face of the hole in the block part
Implementation Method 2
the gas-cooling type freezer cools the vial rack placed in the cooling chamber in a state in which the vials are inserted into the vial rack, using cooling gas
Implementation Method 3
latent heat is released from liquid (a solvent of the cell suspension and liquid in the cells) as the liquid freezes, and the temperature of the cell suspension temporarily rises near the freezing point
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A vial rack having a block part made of a thermally conductive metal as a main body is applied to a gas-cooling type freezer. The block part of the vial rack has one or more holes for inserting vials. The gas-cooling type freezer cools the block part of the vial rack placed in the cooling chamber in a state in which the vials are inserted thereinto, using cooling gas, and the cooled block part cools the vial and the cell suspension in the vial through an inner face of the hole in the block part. A vial rack of the present invention is suitable to cooling by using gas, since the vial rack has a block part as a main body.