METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF REACTION VOLUMES

摘要

A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of one or more reaction volumes contained in respective reaction vessel (s) through absorption of electromagnetic energy by a reactant medium of the reaction volume (s) . The i method comprises providing one or more- reaction volumes in respective reaction vessel (s) such . that the reaction volume (s) each have a given depth; providing at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having selected spectral characteristics; directing the electromagnetic radiation into each of the one or more reaction vessel (s) to pass along an absorption path through the reaction volume (s) ; selecting the spectral characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation for providing substantially uniform energy absorption by the reactant medium along the full length of said absorption path; and providing the absorption path for each of the one or more reaction volumes to be greater than or equal to a substantial proportion of a width of that reaction volume in a direction perpendicular to the depth thereof .