Laboratory Temperature Control With Ultra-Smooth Heat Transfer Surfaces

• US 20080029248A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sage Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sage Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Magnant, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/685,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20080029248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.19
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/185 using a liquid as fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/02 Evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/00 Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/00 General constructional features F25D21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/18 by applying coatings, e.g. radiation-absorbing, radiation-reflecting; by surface treatment, e.g. polishing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 Details; Accessories

Abstract

A temperature regulation system has a polished surface sufficiently smooth so as to reduce the emissivity of the surface. A conduit is in thermal proximity to the polished surface and is in communication with a source of coolant. The coolant is circulated through the conduit so as to transfer heat from the surface to the coolant. System may include a sprayed-on resistive heater. An a temperature controlled vessel has a heat transfer wall that is of an electrically conductive material that is coated with a durable thermally conductive and electrically nonconductive coating. The coating may be a sprayed on coating and the vessel may hold a buffer for performing electrophoresis.

Claims

1. A temperature regulation system comprising:

a polished surface, the polished surface being sufficiently smooth so as to reduce the emissivity of the surface;

a conduit in thermal proximity to the polished surface, the conduit in fluid communication with a source of coolant,

wherein when the coolant is circulated through the conduit so as to transfer heat from the surface to the coolant fluid.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the coolant fluid is a compressible refrigerant fluid and the apparatus further comprises a refrigeration assembly adapted to cool the refrigerant fluid and circulate the fluid through the conduit so as to cool the surface to a given temperature.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration assembly comprises a miniature rotary compressor, the compressor having a height of less than 15.5 cm.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration assembly comprises a miniature rotary compressor, the compressor having a height of less than or equal to 9.4 cm.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration assembly is located remotely from the surface and connected to the conduit via a tubing assembly.

6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration assembly is integrally connected to the surface via connection to a common base.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the surface is disposed above the base by no more than 12 cm.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration assembly extends from the base by no more than 18 cm.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a resistive heating element.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the resistive heating element is a sprayed-on resistor.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the emissivity of the surface is less than or equal to 4%.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the surface comprises an aluminum oxide layer disposed on a metallic aluminum substrate.

13. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a block having at least one recess adapted to hold a laboratory vessel or device, the block having a flat bottom surface so as to establish efficient thermal contact when placed atop the polished surface.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the recess has an emissivity of greater than 50%.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the block holds a laboratory device selected from on of a dialysis cell, a chromatography column, a dry-ice maker, and a recirculation conduit.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the block comprises an aluminum substrate and the recess is black-anodized.

17. An apparatus for temperature control comprising:

a vessel having walls;

wherein at least one of the walls is a heat transfer wall that includes a electrically conductive material coated with a durable thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive coating.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the heat transfer wall is positioned for fluid communication with an electrophoresis buffer.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the coating substantially covers the entirety of the heat transfer wall.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the heat transfer wall is a bottom wall.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the thermally conductive, electrically nonconductive coating is a thermally sprayed coating.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the thermally sprayed coating is applied with a thermal spray coater operating at a velocity of at least about Mach 2.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the coating is applied via vapor deposition.

24. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the coating is a thermoplastic coating applied via powder coating.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the thermoplastic coating contains particles that are thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive.

26. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the coating is a porcelain coating.

27. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the coating further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride.

28. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the electrically conductive material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a semi-metal and a cermet.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, steel, aluminum titanium, nickel and silver.

30. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the metal is an alloy.

31. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the thickness of the coating is greater than 1 micron.

32. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a liquid stirring mechanism.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the stirring mechanism drives a stir-bar.

34. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a cooling-core for positioning within the tank.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the cooling-core has a passageway for the flow of a heat-transfer fluid.

36. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the heat transfer wall includes a heat sink.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the heat sink comprises a passageway for the flow of a heat transfer fluid.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the passageway is tortuous.

39. An apparatus according to claim 37, further including a recirculating chiller.

40. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the recirculating chiller includes a peristaltic pump.

41. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the heat sink comprises a thermoelectric device.

42. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the passageway is adapted to receive a heat transfer fluid that is a gas.

43. A temperature controlled platen comprising:

a) a lower chilled metal layer;

b) an insulating dielectric layer;

c) a sprayed-on resistive heater;

d) a second insulating layer; and

e) an upper plate with an upper, polished surface.