Thermoelectric coolers preserve medical reagents
In reagent storage systems, thermoelectric coolers offer a more efficient, cost- effective and reliable thermal control method compared to other thermal technologies, advocates Laird Thermal Systems. Thermoelectric coolers, like the company’s CP series, provide active cooling below ambient temperatures to extend the life of reagents, keep replacement costs down, and ensure laboratory and medical tests are accurate and reliable.
Laboratory and medical technicians use reagents to cause a chemical or biological reaction to measure or identify a target substance. Reagents, however, react differently to temperature and there is no universal temperature storage standard. Laboratory and medical reagent storage systems have different requirements depending on what they are storing and for how long. Thermoelectric coolers, also known as Peltier coolers, offer both heating and cooling capabilities to maintain the designated temperature. The CP series of thermoelectric coolers is designed for precise thermal control, keeping reagents at their optimal storage and testing temperatures, explained Laird.
They are designed for higher current and larger heat-pumping applications, and offer a cooling capacity of up to 125W in a compact form factor. The solid-state thermoelectric coolers are claimed to offer low power, high reliability operation with no noise in a small footprint. As well as no moving parts, Laird points out, solid-state operation also offers design and integration flexibility, as the thermoelectric device can be mounted in any orientation. The CP series thermoelectric cooler is typically mounted near the reagent storage chamber to closely regulate chamber temperature.
“Temperature fluctuations can affect the life of a reagent, as they may only last a couple of hours at room temperature and this can influence the final test result. The CP Series thermoelectric cooler optimizes reagent cooling system performance, delivering environmentally friendly and precise thermal management compared to compressor-based systems,” said Andrew Dereka, product director at Laird Thermal Systems.
To meet a broad range of laboratory and medical applications, the CP series is available in a wide range of heat pumping capacities, form factors and input voltages. In high temperature environments, enhanced module construction prevents copper diffusion and degradation in performance, which can occur in standard grade thermoelectric coolers.
