AN INCUBATOR SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention describes an incubator system 1 comprisesingan outer framework (11) with multiple holes (14) into which incubator flasks (20) may be arranged in a vertical position;an inner space (30) being embedded by an insulating material (34), wherein the outer framework (11) is arranged outside the inner space (30); andan air cooling and heating unit (40) connected to a PTC element (50) positioned inside the inner space (30).

Claims

1. An incubator system comprising an outer framework with multiple holes into which incubator flasks may be arranged in a vertical position; an inner space being embedded by an insulating material, wherein the outer framework is arranged outside the inner space; and an air cooling and heating unit connected to a PTC element positioned inside the inner space.

2. The incubator system according to claim 1, wherein the PTC element is a single PTC element for both cooling and heating.

3. The incubator system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the multiple holes have different size.

4. The incubator system according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is arranged to thermally insulate the inner space and also creating the multiple holes.

5. The incubator system according to claim 1, wherein the incubator system comprises wheels on a bottom side to provide for mobility.

6. The incubator system according to claim 1, wherein the incubator system comprises a temperature control unit and a temperature display unit.

7. The incubator system according to claim 6, wherein the temperature control unit is arranged to automatically switch between cooling and heating based on a pre-set temperature.

8. An incubator system kit comprising an incubator system according to claim 1 and multiple incubator flasks, preferably where at least some of the multiple incubator flasks are of different types.

9. The incubator system kit according to claim 8, wherein the multiple incubator flasks each comprises a flask body, a hang-on collar unit and a closing lid unit, wherein the hang-on collar unit is fastened by means of the closing lid unit and wherein the hang-on collar unit is arranged to hold a flask in place freely hanging inside of a hole of the incubator system.

10. The incubator system kit according to claim 8, wherein the multiple incubator flasks comprises one flask type being a digester flask and another flask type being a chemical fixation chamber.

11. The incubator system kit according to claim 8, wherein the incubator system also comprises one or more measuring devices, preferably one or more gas volume and flow meters with working principle based on liquid displacement.

12. A method comprising using of an incubator system kit according to claim 8, for measuring biomethane gas in a biogas flow, such as for measuring biological methane potential of a biosample in anaerobic digestion processes, for measuring oxygen, carbon dioxide and/or biogas volume and/or flow for measuring aerobic biodegradability of plastics or chemicals, or measuring a mixed gas comprising at least carbon dioxide and/or methane for in-vitro digestibility analysis or application of any other microbial respiration tests.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of an incubator system 1 according to the present invention. In this case, the incubator system 1 comprises a thermo chamber 10, including an outer framework 11 with multiple holes 14 into which incubator flasks 20 may be arranged in a vertical position. In this case, the incubator system 1 also comprises a frame 17 for holding gas bags 16. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the incubator system 1 has an inner space 30 being embedded by an insulating material 34, and an air cooling and heating unit 40 connected to a PTC element 50 positioned vertically inside the inner space 30. Moreover, in this case the PTC element 50 is a single PTC element for both cooling and heating. As shown in FIG. 1 at least some of the multiple holes 14 have different sizes, enabling for use of different flask sizes.

[0031] Furthermore, the isolation material 34 is arranged to thermally insulate the inner space 30 and also creating the multiple holes 14.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, incubator system 1 comprises wheels 60 on a bottom side to provide for mobility, as a mobile incubator station, and a removable table for a computer 13. Moreover, in this case the incubator system 1 comprises a temperature control unit and a temperature display unit 80. The temperature control unit may be arranged to automatically switch between cooling and heating based on a pre-set temperature.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3 an incubator system kit is provided, including the incubator system 1 and multiple incubator flasks 20. The multiple incubator flasks 20 may be of different types, such as digester flask or another flask type being a chemical fixation chamber. However, common to all incubator flasks 20 is that they may comprise a flask body 21, a hang-on collar unit 22 and a closing lid unit 23. The hang-on collar unit is fastened by means of the closing lid unit, and the hang-on collar unit is arranged to hold a flask in place freely hanging inside of a hole of the incubator system 1. Incubator flasks 20 with different volume may be suspended without dead corners so that ventilated air can evenly distribute cooling and heating inside the thermo chamber in an effective manner.

[0034] Moreover, the incubator system 1 may also comprise one or more measuring devices 90, preferably one or more gas volume and flow meters with working principle based on liquid displacement. The measuring device 90 may include gas volume and flow measuring devices. The incubator system may also comprise an area 15 intended for placing of the measuring device. The incubator system kit may also include sensors 93 for temperature, pH, gas composition (CH.sub.4, CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, etc.), light intensity, etc.

[0035] According to one example of the present invention, a prototype of the incubator system 1 has been developed. In this prototype a reactor for holding 15 pieces 1 L air chambers with cooling capacity of 100 W was tested together with a preferred thermo isolation material. It turned out that the pre-set temperature between 5 C. to 60 C. was held constant over an extensive incubation time period, and could easily be regulated just as desired.