Test Tube Heater
|
Test Tube Heater 12 V DC 300 C
The Test Tube Heater is designed for uniform and controlled heating of sample holders up to 300 C (570 F) with temperature resolution of 0.1 C. The heating zone is at least 50 mm in height and common glass or other materials test tubes of 20mm diameters or smaller can be used. A suitable 12V DC power source (the heater uses about 35-40 W of power) is needed to operate this instrument. Easily available regulated tabletop power supplies with 12 VDC output (2.5 mm pin, center positive) or utilizing 12V DC output from other instruments, like the extended version of IQIPyc, can be used for the test tube heater operation. Software and elaborated hardware control safeguards are implemented to prevent overheating above 300 C. The extra thermocouple circuit is used for temperature monitoring and it provides voltage proportional to the temperature, which is available for recording. External metal protection prevents accidental access to the hot surfaces. All metal construction makes the instrument robust, durable, and safe. The low power voltage makes it suitable for field and lab applications. The Test Tube Heater can be remotely controlled and easily incorporated into a more complex instrumental setup. As we advance the technologies, plurality of analytical capabilities will be presented later by addition of auxiliary hardware built around this module and IQIPyc gas (helium) pycnometer. In the standalone version, its temperature controller can be set manually to the desired temperature and simple temperature profiles can be programmed. This handy tool is intended for R&D researchers for samples studies and for general laboratory work. |
Design features and specifications:
Temperature range from ambient to 300 C (570 F)
- Temperature controller resolution 0.1 C
- Safe voltage of operation – 12 VDC only
- Low power usage – 35-40 W
- Inner heating chamber – 20.5mm diameter, 55 mm height
- Multiple temperature limit protections
- Prevention against contact with hot surfaces
- All metal construction
- Field and lab applications
Test Tube Heater and Versatile Materials Testing Station (VMTS) accessories
"Ballistic" Coolers Using
The same cooling core and various adapters for rapid cooling
Most heating devices operating from ambient to high temperatures require considerable amount of time to bring them back to ambient temperature again without any additional cooling mechanism. To substantially reduce the waiting time for the next experiment to start at ambient temperature or below it when operating the high temperature Test Tube Heater, a simple design of cooling device using a Peltier module was developed.
Opposite to the heat removing side where the heatsink with fan are installed, the cooling base design allows attachment of various adapters with different functionalities. Changing of the adapters can be done within seconds and does not require any tools. The setup operates from a regulated 12 DC power, like a commonly available 12 VDC table power adapter.
The lower power versions can be conveniently operated from the additional 12 VDC socket at the back panel of Test Tube Heater.
The same cooling core and various adapters for rapid cooling
Most heating devices operating from ambient to high temperatures require considerable amount of time to bring them back to ambient temperature again without any additional cooling mechanism. To substantially reduce the waiting time for the next experiment to start at ambient temperature or below it when operating the high temperature Test Tube Heater, a simple design of cooling device using a Peltier module was developed.
Opposite to the heat removing side where the heatsink with fan are installed, the cooling base design allows attachment of various adapters with different functionalities. Changing of the adapters can be done within seconds and does not require any tools. The setup operates from a regulated 12 DC power, like a commonly available 12 VDC table power adapter.
The lower power versions can be conveniently operated from the additional 12 VDC socket at the back panel of Test Tube Heater.
In the first case presented, a long aluminum rod is attached. Inserting the rod into the test tube heating chamber while the cooler has been powered, causes much faster temperature decrease of the test tube heater then merely by natural heat dissipation. The solid rod can be machined to suitable shapes and sizes to suit other uses. For example, it can be used as a "cold finger" to demonstrate crystals growth due to rapid cooling. Due to continuous cooling on one side and warming of the other side by the solution, development of temperature gradient can be useful in some applications. |
|
|
|
More sophisticated coolers with large temperature depression interval, integral heating and temperature control can be made for more advanced experimentations. However, for majority of cost sensitive or simpler applications such devices are of great practical value.