Temperature adjustment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024192711-A1
Application number	US-202218555298-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2022
Priority date	Apr 21, 2021
Publication date	Jun 13, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A temperature adjustment device is provided to gradually change the temperature of a load to a target temperature while adjusting the temperature of the load to the target temperature in the middle of temperature adjustment. A time-dependent set temperature of the load is calculated from a target temperature gradient at each elapsed time of a plurality of timings within a target reach time period, and the time-dependent set temperature is compared with a time-dependent measured temperature inputted from a measurement input unit. A control output unit controls a heating unit and a cooling unit based on a result of comparison between the time-dependent set temperature and the time-dependent measured temperature.

First claim

1 . A temperature adjustment device to adjust a temperature of a load to a target temperature, the temperature adjustment device comprising:
a circulating liquid circuit configured to cyclically deliver, to the load, circulating liquid returned from the load after heat exchange with the load; a heating unit located in the circulating liquid circuit and configured to heat the circulating liquid in the circulating liquid circuit; a cooling unit located in the circulating liquid circuit and configured to cool the circulating liquid in the circulating liquid circuit; and a controller configured to control an output of the heating unit and an output of the cooling unit, the controller including
a measurement input unit to which a measured temperature of the load is inputted,
a setting input unit to which the target temperature, serving as a target set temperature, and a target reach time period for the temperature of the load to reach the target set temperature from start of temperature adjustment are inputted,
an arithmetic unit configured to determine, based on an initial set temperature at the start of temperature adjustment as well as the target set temperature and the target reach time period inputted from the setting input unit, a target temperature gradient to the target set temperature, and
a control output unit configured to control the output of the heating unit and the output of the cooling unit such that the measured temperature of the load changes along the target temperature gradient determined by the arithmetic unit.

2 . A temperature adjustment device to adjust a temperature of a load to a target temperature, the temperature adjustment device comprising:
a circulating liquid circuit configured to cyclically deliver, to the load, circulating liquid returned from the load after heat exchange with the load; a heating unit located in the circulating liquid circuit and configured to heat the circulating liquid in the circulating liquid circuit; a cooling unit located in the circulating liquid circuit and configured to cool the circulating liquid in the circulating liquid circuit; and a controller configured to control an output of the heating unit and an output of the cooling unit, the controller including
a measurement input unit to which a measured temperature of the circulating liquid heated and cooled or to be heated and cooled is inputted,
a setting input unit to which a target set temperature of the circulating liquid that corresponds to the target temperature and a target reach time period for the temperature of the circulating liquid to reach the target set temperature from start of temperature adjustment are inputted,
an arithmetic unit configured to calculate, based on an initial set temperature at the start of temperature adjustment as well as the target set temperature and the target reach time period inputted from the setting input unit, a target temperature gradient to the target set temperature, and
a control output unit configured to control the output of the heating unit and the output of the cooling unit such that the measured temperature of the circulating liquid changes along the target temperature gradient determined by the arithmetic unit.

3 . The temperature adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein the circulating liquid circuit includes a return passage through which the circulating liquid returned from the load is received, a discharge passage through which the circulating liquid subjected to temperature adjustment by the heating unit and the cooling unit is delivered to the load, a tank unit connected to the return passage and the discharge passage and configured to store the circulating liquid, and a circulation pump configured to deliver the circulating liquid in the tank unit to the discharge passage.

4 . The temperature adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein
the cooling unit includes a heat-dissipating water circuit through which heat-dissipating water flows and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the heat-dissipating water flowing through the heat-dissipating water circuit and the circulating liquid flowing through the circulating liquid circuit, the heating unit includes a heater, the heat-dissipating water circuit includes a flow control valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the heat-dissipating water flowing through the heat-dissipating water circuit, and the control output unit controls the output of the heating unit and the output of the cooling unit by controlling the heater and the flow control valve.

5 . The temperature adjustment device according to claim 1 , wherein
the arithmetic unit calculates a time-dependent set temperature of the load from the target temperature gradient at each of a plurality of timings within the target reach time period and compares the time-dependent set temperature with the measured temperature of the load inputted from the measurement input unit, and the control output unit controls, based on a result of comparison between the time-dependent set temperature and the measured temperature, the output of the heating unit and the output of the cooling unit.

6 . The temperature adjustment device according to claim 2 , wherein
the arithmetic unit calculates a time-dependent set temperature of the circulating liquid from the target temperature gradient at each of a plurality of timings within the target reach time period and compares the time-dependent set temperature with the measured temperature of the circulating liquid inputted from the measurement input unit, and the control output unit controls, based on a result of comparison between the time-dependent set temperature and the measured temperature, the output of the heating unit and the output of the cooling unit.

Assignees

• Smc Corp

Inventors

• Adachi Makoto

Classifications

• G05D23/1904

  variable in time · CPC title

• F28F27/00

  Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus (control arrangements in general G05) · CPC title

• G05D23/19 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F25D13/00

  Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms · CPC title

• F25D17/02 Primary

  for circulating liquids, e.g. brine · CPC title