METHOD AND SYSTEM OF RAPID HEATING AND COOLING OF A FLUID

摘要

A system (10) for rapidly changing the temperature of a fluid between an inlet (14) and an outlet (16), the system (10) including a heat exchanger unit (36) connected between the inlet (14) and the outlet (16) and having a first member (52) interleaved with a second member (60) such that a passageway (84) is defined between the first (52) and second (60) members for the fluid to flow through; thermoelectric means (22) linked to one or both the first and second members (52, 60) for altering the temperature of the fluid; a source of electrical energy (20) connected to the thermoelectric means (22); control means (18) linked to the thermoelectric means (22); a first temperature sensor (26) for measuring the temperature of the fluid input to the heat exchanger unit at the inlet (14); a second temperature sensor (28) for measuring the temperature of the fluid output from the heat exchanger unit (36) at the outlet (16);wherein said control means (18) controls the amount of energy drawn by the thermoelectric means (22) to change the temperature of the fluid to match a predetermined temperature difference At of the fluid between the inlet (14) and the outlet (16) or the temperature of the fluid at the outlet (16) based on signals received from each of the first and second temperature sensors (26, 28).