JPH03178341A - Thermostatic tank and method for operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cool and heat a sample with a sharp temp. gradient by unifying a Peltier element with a regenerative block having large heat capacity and making a block holding a sample relatively movable so as to allow the same to come close to or separate from the regenerative block. CONSTITUTION:In a thermostatic tank cooling and heating a sample 1 using a Peltier element 4, the Peltier element 4 is unified with a regenerative block 5 having large heat capacity while a block 2 for holding the sample 1 is prepared to be made relatively movable so as to come close to or separate from the regenerative block 5. As a result, the setting of constant temp. within a range from low temp. to high temp. of 80 deg.C or higher can be achieved by simple constitution using one thermostatic tank and the sample can be also cooled and heated with temp. gradient far sharper as compared with a conventional type and the operation of the thermostatic tank is simple.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermostatic chamber, and more particularly to a thermostatic chamber that can rapidly bring a sample to an arbitrary set temperature by combining a Peltier element and an electric heater.

[Prior Art] Conventional constant temperature ovens always require a certain amount of time to reach the target temperature by changing the set temperature, and are often not suitable for the purpose of use due to the length of time required.

In order to rapidly raise or lower the temperature, it is necessary to transfer human heat to and from the sample placed in the thermostatic chamber in a short period of time.

In contrast, existing methods generally use large-capacity electric heaters for heating and use low-temperature circulating water for cooling.

In either case, the device itself is large and requires equipment such as a water circulation device for cooling, making it extremely difficult to use.

Some devices use semiconductor heat exchange elements (Peltier elements) for cooling, and although this is not particularly noteworthy, in order to achieve cooling in a short time with this, it is necessary to use a large amount of expensive elements and a large amount of power. This also results in higher costs and larger equipment.

However, this Peltier element has the property of being destroyed at temperatures above 80°C, and if it is installed in a thermostatic oven next to an electric heater, it will be damaged when the thermostatic oven is heated, so the Peltier element is not used in the thermostatic oven. That was virtually impossible.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method that utilizes a Peltier element, eliminates the above-described drawbacks of the conventional method, and is extremely simple, yet fully satisfies the above-mentioned objects.

[Means for solving the above problems] Therefore, in the present invention, a heat storage body separately provided with a Peltier element (
This method attempts to achieve rapid cooling by pre-cooling materials (such as steel, aluminum, etc.), making them movable, and mechanically bringing them into close contact with a specimen holding block when rapid cooling is required. Of course, by continuing the cooling operation of the Peltier element at the same time, the overall cooling capacity can be increased.

The greatest feature of the present invention is that it achieves rapid cooling with a simple device, as shown in FIG.

[Function] In the present invention, a sample is held in a holding block, and this holding block can be brought into close contact with or separated from a heat storage block that has been cooled or heated to a constant temperature using a Peltier device. Similarly, a mechanism for raising and lowering the holding block is provided, and the heat storage block, which is the sample holding block, can be brought into close contact with the heat storage block to transfer heat, or separated to stop the transfer of heat.
Cooling and heating of samples can be rapidly achieved at any time.

In particular, when it is desired to heat the sample to 80° C. or higher, the sample block itself is heated by an electric heater as in the past, but in this case, the moving mechanism 6 is driven to prevent this high temperature from reaching the Peltier element.

[Example] Fig. 3 shows a conventional constant temperature bath similar to the present invention, with a perspective view (A) and a cross-sectional view (13). A plurality of these glass tubes are inserted and held in holes made in the holding block 2.

Attach a flat Peltier element 4 to the lower surface of the holding block,
In accordance with this, the temperature of the holding block 2 is controlled.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a heat radiator formed by removing the radiation fins of the Peltier element 4.

In this conventional example, in order to maintain the sample at the set temperature, the glass tube 1 is held in the sample block and then the hairs begin to pass through the Peltier element, so it takes time to reach the set temperature.

Furthermore, since the Peltier element cannot be heated above 80° C., this conventional thermostat has the disadvantage that it cannot be heated to high temperatures.

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the constant temperature bath of the present invention, in which the sample to be constant temperature is in a liquid state contained in a glass tube l.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a holding block made of a good thermal conductor that holds a large number of glass tubes 1 well by thermal welding, and its lower surface is processed to be in close contact with the upper surface of the heat storage block 5 in order to improve heat welding from the heat storage block 5.

This tube holding block 2 is approximately 5m apart from the heat storage block 5.
It is configured to move up and down so as to be separated by about m. (Not shown) The heat storage block 5 is a heat storage block made of a material such as copper or aluminum and has a large possible heat capacity.

This lower surface is in close contact with the Peltier element 4 to improve thermal bonding with the Peltier element 4.

A heat radiator 3 with fins is attached to the lower surface of the Peltier element 4, and the Peltier element 4 is interposed between the heat storage block 5 and the heat radiator 3, and these three members are laminated in close contact with each other.
Constructed in the body.

Next, the operation of the constant temperature bath having this configuration of the present invention will be explained.

When cooling the sample first, the Peltier element is energized in advance to cool the heat storage block 5 to its desired set temperature.

It is assumed that the power supply to the Peltier element and the temperature of the heat storage block 5 are maintained at a set temperature by a known temperature control method.

Next, the glass tube l containing the sample (for example, the centrifugal tube removed from the centrifuge) is held in the sample holding block 2, and the lower surface of the block is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the heat storage block 5 by the vertical mechanism.

In this way, the holding block 2 is maintained at the same temperature as the heat storage block 5.

The case where the sample is heated at a constant temperature of 80° C. or lower is also the same as above, so the explanation will be omitted.

Next, when heating the sample at a constant temperature of 80'C or higher, the sample block is heated by an electric heater (not shown) as is known in the art. This means that the high temperature of the holding block is prevented from being transmitted to the Peltier element 4 by separating the holding block by a distance of about 5 mm or more using a vertical mechanism.

In either case of cooling or heating, if the Peltier element is kept energized and one cycle is performed, the cooling/heating speed becomes faster.

Since the vertical mechanism is an extremely simple mechanism, it is not particularly illustrated, and is simply indicated by up and down arrows on the side wall of the holding block, but what is important in the present invention is not the configuration of the vertical mechanism itself, but the structure of the vertical mechanism itself. Thermal conductive insulation is obtained between the female hole 2 held by the mechanism and the Peltier element 4, and the Peltier element can be applied to this type of constant temperature bath.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing how quickly the sample reaches the set temperature according to the present invention in comparison with the conventional method.
Conventionally, it took 180 seconds to lower a sample at 95°C to the desired set temperature of 37°C in the absence of a constant temperature bath, that is, a heat storage block with a large heat capacity, but according to the present invention, it took only 30 seconds. This is a graph showing that

In addition, when more rapid cooling is required, the temperature of the heat storage block 5 is lowered further than the set temperature in advance, and when the holding block 2 comes into close contact with the heat storage block, the temperature initially follows a steep temperature gradient and then moves toward the set temperature. It may also be controlled by

[effect] According to the present invention, from low temperature to high temperature 4 of 80'C or more.

Not only can constant temperature be achieved with a single constant temperature bath with a simple configuration, but also the sample can be cooled and heated with a much steeper temperature gradient than conventional methods, and the operation is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(CB) are a perspective view and a sectional view of a constant temperature bath according to the present invention using a Peltier element. FIG. 2 is a graph comparing the performance of the thermostatic chamber of the present invention with that of a conventional type. FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are a perspective view and a sectional view of a conventional thermostat. Sample tube Sample tube holding block Peltier element heat sink Peltier element heat storage block 3゛ Natural vessel 4 Peltier element 5 Heat storage block: Glass tube: Tube holder Heat sink: Peltier element (sample container)

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a constant temperature bath that uses a Peltier element to cool and heat a sample, the Peltier element is integrated into a heat storage block with a large heat capacity, and a holding block that holds the sample is prepared, and this is used for the heat storage described above. A thermostatic chamber that is characterized by being able to be brought into close contact with the block, separated from it, and moved relative to it. (2) In the constant temperature chamber operation according to claim (1) above, the heat storage block integrated with the Peltier element is substantially maintained at a set temperature required for the sample in advance, and then the sample holding block is A method of operating a constant temperature oven, which is characterized by being in close contact with a heat storage block and not stopping electricity to the Peltier element. (3) The sample holding block in the constant temperature oven according to claim (1) is further provided with an electric heater for heating, and when the sample holding block is heated to 80°C or higher by the heater, the Peltier A method of operating a constant temperature chamber, characterized in that the element and the sample holding block are separated by relative movement.