Water-Cooled Reagent Storage Case with Air Cooling for Dew Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

In water-cooled reagent cool storage cases, external air is not efficiently cooled or dried before being discharged into the inner space, leading to potential dew condensation.

Innovation Solution

A reagent cool storage case design incorporating a cooling water flow path outside the inner wall and an air flow path inside the wall, with specific positioning of cooling water inflow and air flow paths to create a positive pressure and promote efficient cooling and drying of external air before discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If water cooling is used for the reagent cool storage case, then the cooling effect is achieved, but external air is not efficiently cooled or dried leading to dew condensation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoiddew condensation
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cooling system into two independent parts: a water cooling system for cooling the reagent storage space, and an air cooling system for cooling and drying external air. The water cooling system uses cooling water channels to cool the reagent containers, while the air cooling system uses separate air channels with cooling fins to cool and dry external air before discharge, preventing dew condensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary air cooling system that acts as a mediator between the external environment and the reagent storage space. This system cools and dries external air using cooling fins and discharge it through dedicated discharge holes, preventing direct contact between humid external air and cold surfaces that would cause dew condensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If external air is introduced to suppress dew condensation, then positive pressure is achieved, but dew condensation may still occur in the air introduction path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedew condensation suppressionVSAvoiddew condensation in air path
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing cooling fins specifically in the regions where air channels are located. This localized cooling structure efficiently cools and dries external air in the air introduction path, preventing dew condensation in this specific area while maintaining the overall positive pressure system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by cooling and drying external air before it is discharged into the reagent storage space. The air cooling system with cooling fins pre-cools and dries the external air, ensuring that when the air is discharged through the discharge holes, it cannot cause dew condensation on cold surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If cooling water flow path is placed outside the inner wall, then reagent cooling is efficient, but external air discharge may cause dew condensation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereagent cooling efficiencyVSAvoiddew condensation from air discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cooling and air discharge functions into separate systems. The water cooling system with external cooling water channels efficiently cools reagent containers, while the air cooling system with separate air channels and cooling fins handles external air cooling and drying, preventing interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary air cooling system that mediates between the external environment and the reagent storage space. This system cools and dries external air using cooling fins and discharges it through dedicated discharge holes, preventing direct contact between humid external air and cold surfaces that would cause dew condensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design effectively suppresses dew condensation by ensuring external air is cooled and dried before entering the inner space, maintaining a stable environment for reagents.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling water flow path that supplies cooling water to outside an inner wall comparting a space for housing a reagent container and cools the inner wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

an air flow path that supplies air to inside the inner wall and makes the space have a positive pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a portion of the air flow path located on the upper surface of the inner wall comparting the bottom surface of the space is positioned on the vertical projection of the cooling water inflow hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4603842A1Automatic analysis device
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP4603842A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603842A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4603842A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automatic analyzer with a water-cooled reagent cool storage case efficiently cools and dries an external air before discharging it into an inner space, thereby suppressing dew condensation in an unintended place. In the automatic analyzer with a reagent cool storage case that cools a reagent, the reagent cool storage case includes: a cooling water flow path that supplies cooling water to outside an inner wall comparting a space for housing a reagent container and cools the inner wall; and an air flow path that supplies air to inside the inner wall and makes the space have a positive pressure. A cooling water inflow hole is formed at a specified position of the lower surface of the cooling water flow path located under the bottom surface of the space, and a portion of the air flow path located on the upper surface of the inner wall comparting the bottom surface of the space is positioned on the vertical projection of the cooling water inflow hole.