COOLING APPARATUS

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for cooling containers, in particular vials, comprising at least one first cooling zone (200) for receiving containers, with a cooling zone base and a cooling zone wall (201), and a cooling device (300) for cooling air, and a first duct (113) for conducting the cooled air from the cooling device (300) into the cooling zone (200), wherein an outlet of the first duct (113) is spaced apart from the cooling zone base.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. Apparatusfor cooling containers, in particular vials, comprising at least one first cooling zonefor receiving containers, with a cooling zone base and a cooling zone wall, and a cooling devicefor cooling air, and a first ductfor conducting the cooled air from the cooling deviceinto the cooling zone, wherein an outlet of the first ductis spaced apart from the cooling zone base, characterized in that the cooling device comprises a condensate separator, wherewith air can be dried before conducting the air into the first cooling zone.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that it is designed as an open apparatus for cooling containers.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the outlet of the first duct is arranged at a cooling zone edge of the cooling zone wall.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the outlet extends over more than 20%, preferably over more than 50%, of the cooling zone edge of the cooling zone wall.

25. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the cooling device comprises at least one cooling element, in particular a Peltier element, which is in heat-conducting connection at one end with the condensate separator and at the other end with the cooling zone.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the cooling zone comprises a heating plate for cooling a rack, wherein the cooling element is in heat-conducting connection with the heating plate.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the condensate separator is in heat-conducting connection with the cooling element, in particular exclusively via a heat pipe, in particular a heat pipe with a filling of water.

28. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the condensate separator comprises a condensate collector which is air-tight in a condensate flow direction.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that the condensate collector comprises a siphon, in particular a flat siphon.

30. Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that the condensate collector comprises a line with which the condensate can be guided to a hot side of the cooling element for evaporation purposes.

31. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the hot side of the cooling element comprises a ventilator for cooling purposes.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a second duct (110) for supplying air to the cooling device, in particular to the condensate separator, wherein in particular an air inlet of the second duct is arranged on a side of the device opposite the ventilator.

33. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the cooling element comprises a first heat sensor and an edge region of the cooling zone comprises a second heat sensor for controlling a cooling capacity.

34. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the apparatus comprises an outer wall with protruding supporting elements, in particular an encircling flange, with which the apparatus can be inserted into an opening and can be supported at the opening via the supporting elements.

35. Method for cooling a vial in a cooling zone for receiving vials, with a cooling zone base and a cooling zone wall, characterized in that cooled and by a condensate separator dried air is conducted in a region over the cooling zone base, in particular in a region of a cooling zone edge into the cooling zone.

36. Method according to claim 35, characterized in that the cooled and dried air is conducted substantially at a right angle to an opening direction of the cooling zone, in particular onto vial septa of the vials.

37. Method according to claim 35, characterized in that the cooled and dried air is conducted as a laminar airflow into the cooling zone.

38. Method according to claim 35, characterized in that the cooling zone is cooled with a cooling element, wherein a temperature of the cooling zone is controlled with reference to measurement data of a temperature sensor arranged on the cooling element and with reference to measurement data of a temperature sensor arranged in the region of a free edge of the cooling zone wall.

39. Method according to claim 35, characterized in that the cooling element is heated, wherein in particular the cooling element is designed as a Peltier element, wherein the heating is achieved by reversing the polarity of the Peltier element.

40. Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the outlet of the first duct is arranged at a cooling zone edge of the cooling zone wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] In the drawings used for explaining the exemplary embodiment:

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a cooling apparatus for cooling vials;

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the cooling apparatus according to FIG. 1;

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional illustration through the cooling apparatus according to FIG. 1 along a vertical plane; and

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the cooling apparatus along an intersecting plane perpendicular to the intersecting plane of FIG. 3.

[0077] In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

[0078] Ways for Iplementing the Invention

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a cooling apparatus 1 for cooling vials. The present embodiment of the cooling apparatus 1 comprises a housing 100 in which three cooling zones 200, 210 and 220 are arranged. The cooling zones 200, 210, 220 are each separated from one another by walls. Racks 203, 213, 223 for receiving vials are admitted into the cooling zones 200, 210, 220, respectively. The receptacles have different diameters, and therefore vials of different size can be used.

[0080] The present cooling apparatus does not comprise any lid, and therefore the racks 203, 213, 223 can be freely exchanged between the cooling zones 200, 210, 220. However, in an alternative embodiment, the container can be provided with a lid. The latter either has to be removed for extracting a sample, or the rack has to have corresponding openings such that, for example, an autosampler can extract a sample through the openings.

[0081] The housing furthermore comprises an intake shaft 110 for outside air which is cooled by a cooling device 300 for cooling the containers (see, for this purpose, FIGS. 3 and 4). The housing 100 comprises a flange 101 encircling the outside, and therefore the cooling apparatus 1 can be supported on an opening edge of a mounting plate 400.

[0082] Instead of the three cooling zones 200, 210, 220 the cooling apparatus 1 can also have more cooling zones, in particular, for example, four, five or more cooling zones. On the other hand, the cooling apparatus 1 can also merely comprise one or two cooling zones.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the cooling apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1, wherein the cooling apparatus 1 is admitted into an opening in a mounting plate 400. The cooling apparatus 1 is supported on the mounting plate 400 via the flange 101. By means of the encircling flange 101, a sealing effect can be achieved between flange 101 and mounting plate 400. Said mounting variant is of advantage in particular when the cooling device 300 for cooling the cooling apparatus 1 is arranged in the base region. A particularly compact constructional form of the cooling apparatus 1 can therefore be achieved. However, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the cooling apparatus 1 can also be supported on feet, can be fastened to a wall or can be supported in some other way. The type of optimum support substantially depends on the required supply and removal of air for cooling the cooling zones 200, 210, 220.

[0084] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional illustration through the cooling apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1 along a vertical plane. The intersecting plane runs centrally through all three cooling zones 200, 210, 220.

[0085] The housing 100 comprises an insulated outer wall 102 to which the encircling flange 101 is also connected. The outer wall 102 is formed here from plastic. In the interior of the container, the three cooling zones 200, 210, 220 can be seen in cross section. Each of the cooling zones 200, 210, 220 comprises a cooling zone wall 201, 211, 221. The cooling zones 200, 210, 220 are formed here from aluminum because of the good heat conductivity. However, they can also be formed from steel or from other materials which readily conduct the heat.

[0086] In the cooling zone 200, a rack 203 is arranged on a rack substructure 202. The rack 203 comprises a multiplicity of receptacles for vials. A height of the vials is compensated for by the rack substructure 202. The rack substructure 202 is relatively high here since the rack 203 is designed for receiving vials of low height. The rack substructure 202 and also the rack 203 itself are formed here from aluminum. A rack substructure 212 of aluminum, which carries a rack 213, is arranged in turn in the cooling zone 210. The rack 213 is designed for receiving larger vials, and therefore the rack substructure 212 has a lower height than the rack substructure 202. The rack 213 is likewise formed from aluminum. Finally, a rack 223 of aluminum, for large vials, that is to say without a rack substructure, is arranged in the cooling zone 220.

[0087] In a further embodiment, the cooling zone walls 201, 211, 221 are formed from plastic. In this embodiment, the racks 203, 213, 223 are respectively cooled by the Peltier elements 310, 320. For this purpose, as already mentioned above, the racks are formed from a material which readily conducts the heat, in particular, for example, from aluminum, steel or the like.

[0088] The cooling apparatus 1 comprises a cooling device 300 for cooling the cooling zones 200, 210, 220 and for cooling a condensate separator 330. The cooling apparatus comprises a first Peltier element 310 which is connected to a base of the first cooling zone 200. The cooling zone 200 and, indirectly via the rack substructure 202, the rack 203 can therefore be cooled by the Peltier element 310. Cooling ribs 311 which are cooled with outside air by a ventilator 312 are arranged on the side of the Peltier element 310 opposite the cooling zone 200.

[0089] The cooling apparatus furthermore comprises a second Peltier element 320 which is connected to a base of the third cooling zone 220. The cooling zone 220 and therefore the rack 223 can therefore be cooled by the Peltier element 320. Cooling ribs 321 which are cooled with outside air by a ventilator 322 are arranged on the side of the Peltier element 320 opposite the cooling zone 220.

[0090] The cooling zone 210 which is located in the center between the cooling zones 200 and 220 is not directly cooled by a Peltier element. Instead, the base of the cooling zone 210 is connected to the bases of the cooling zones 200 and 220 via an aluminum plate 301. The heat can be conducted to the two Peltier elements 310 and 320 by means of the aluminum plate 301, and therefore the cooling zone 210 in the center can be cooled. In an alternative embodiment, the central cooling zone 210 can also be cooled via a third Peltier element.

[0091] A condensate separator 330 is arranged below the third cooling zone 210, but thermally decoupled therefrom. An insulation layer can additionally be provided (not illustrated here) between the condensate separator 330 and the aluminum plate 301. The condensate separator 330 comprises cooling ribs through which the outside air is guided. The outside air is therefore cooled, and therefore the air moisture condenses at the cooling ribs. The outside air is therefore simultaneously cooled and dried before it is guided into the cooling zones 200, 210 and 220.

[0092] In the present embodiment, the condensate separator does not comprise a dedicated cooling device, but rather is cooled by the two Peltier elements 310, 320 via heat conduction. In the preferred embodiment, the heat is transmitted with heat pipes 331, 332, in particular with water-filled heat pipes 331, 332. The heat pipe 331 connects the condensate separator 330 to the Peltier element 310 in a heat-conducting manner and the heat pipe 332 connects the condensate separator 330 to the Peltier element 320. An identical cooling capacity is achieved in the cooling zones 200 and 220 by the symmetrical coupling of the Peltier elements 310 and 320 to the condensate separator 330. Owing to the fact that the heat pipes are filled with water, the temperature of the condensate separator 330 is kept at above 0 C. in a self-regulating manner. If the temperature of the heat pipe drops below 0 C., the water flow and therefore the transport of heat comes to a stop, and therefore the condensate separator 330 cannot ice up.

[0093] The condensation drips downwards into a condensate-collecting shaft 112. In a manner which is not illustrated, the condensation is either collected in a container or is supplied, preferably via a siphon, to the hot side of the Peltier elements 310, 320 such that the condensation can be evaporated there. Monitoring of the condensation can therefore be dispensed with. The efficiency of the condensate separator is increased by separating the condensate collector from the outside air.

[0094] Air-guiding shafts 113, which are formed by the cooling zone walls 201, 211, 221 are arranged between the cooling zones 200, 210, 220. For this purpose, the aluminum plate 301 is provided with holes 302, and therefore the cooling air can pass from the condensate separator 330 through the holes 302 into the air-guiding shafts 113.

[0095] In an alternative embodiment, further air-guiding shafts 113 can be formed in the intermediate spaces between the cooling zones 200, 210, 220 and the inner side of the outer wall 102 of the housing 100, and therefore the air-guiding shafts 113 can be provided along all of the cooling zone walls 201, 211, 221. The cooling capacity can therefore be uniformly distributed optimally to all of the cooling zones 200, 210, 220.

[0096] Air impact plates 114 are in each case arranged above the air-guiding shafts 113, said air impact plates deflecting the airflow by an angle of 90, and therefore the cooled and dried air is conducted into the cooling zones 200, 210, 220.

[0097] Since the cooled and dried air passes from above into the cooling zones 200, 210, 220, a separating layer with respect to the outside air is achieved, and it is therefore possible to prevent condensation from being able to form on the vials (here, for example, on the vial 214 in the cooling zone 210).

[0098] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the cooling apparatus 1 along an intersecting plane A-A perpendicular to the intersecting plane of FIG. 3. The housing 1 comprises an intake shaft 110 through which outside air is sucked. For this purpose, a ventilator 111 is located in the intake shaft 110. The intake shaft 110 for the outside air to the condensate separator 330 where said outside air is cooled. The air moisture therefore condenses at the condensate separator 330. The now cooled and dried air is subsequently guided upwards through the air-guiding shafts 113 between the cooling zones 200, 210, 220 where it is conducted at the air impact plates 114 into the cooling zones 200, 210, 220. The cooled and dried air is conducted over the lids of the vials 214 such that condensing of outside air on the lids can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0099] In the present cooling apparatus, the outside air is sucked upwards whilst the waste heat is output downwards. Since the cooling apparatus is admitted in a recess of a plate via the encircling flange, the two systems can be held separately from each other. This prevents, for example, the hot exhaust air of the Peltier elements reaching the intake shaft. However, this problem can also be solved in some other way; arbitrary techniques are known to a person skilled in the art. In particular, for example, the intake shaft can be further separated from the waste heat of the Peltier elements via an extended duct.

[0100] The cooling apparatus can also comprise more than the two Peltier elements. The temperature can therefore be kept more homogeneous in the cooling zones.

[0101] It is clear to a person skilled in the art that it is not absolutely necessary for all of the cooling zone walls to be provided with air-guiding shafts. The air-guiding shafts can also be formed merely in regions. In addition, the air-guiding shafts do not absolutely have to be provided for cooling the cooling zones.

[0102] It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the temperature of the cooling zones can also be controlled with the Peltier elements, in particular at a temperature above the customary room temperature, for example at 30 C.

[0103] Instead of a Peltier element, other cooling apparatuses known to a person skilled in the art can also be provided. The heat transfer between the Peltier element and the cooling zones 200, 220 does not have to take place directly, but can also take place via a heat carrier, in particular a heat pipe.

[0104] In summary, it should be emphasized that, according to the invention, an apparatus for cooling sample containers is provided which is particularly simple to handle and, in addition, can at least effectively minimize the formation of condensation on the sample containers.