System and method for controlling temperature of a rheometer of viscometer

1 . A temperature control system for a rheometer or a viscometer, the temperature control system comprising:

a heater sub-unit comprising at least an electrical resistor heating element;

a Peltier element sub-unit comprising at least a Peltier element and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of at least a part of the Peltier element sub-unit; and

a displacement system arranged to bring the Peltier element sub-unit into and out of contact with the heater sub-unit.

2 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the heater sub-unit further comprise at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of at least a part of the heater sub-unit.

3 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement system is arranged to bring the Peltier element sub-unit into and out of contact with the heater sub-unit based on at least one or more of:

a temperature of the Peltier element sub-unit;

a temperature of the heater sub-unit; and

a temperature of a sample.

4 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the each of heater sub-unit and the Peltier element sub-unit further comprise at least one heat exchanger for removing heat from the sub-unit.

5 . The temperature control system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger comprises one or more of: a liquid heat sink, a gas cooled heat sink, cooling fins, and a fan.

6 . The temperature control system of claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger of the heater sub-unit is positioned between the electrical resistor heating element and the Peltier element.

7 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the heater sub-unit includes a first thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the electrical resistor heating element, and the Peltier element sub-unit includes a second thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the Peltier element and bringing the Peltier element sub-unit into and out of contact with the heater sub-unit includes bringing the first thermally conductive material into and out of contact with the second thermally conductive material.

8 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein a first surface of the heater sub-unit is arranged to be proximal to a sample, and a distance between a second surface of the heater sub-unit and the Peltier element sub-unit is adjustable under the action of the displacement system.

9 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement system is configured to separate the sub-units such that there is a gap of at least 1 mm between the heater sub-unit and the Peltier element sub-unit in response to the temperature of the Peltier element sub-unit being greater than a threshold temperature.

10 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement system brings the Peltier element sub-unit into and out of contact with the heater sub-unit via a displacement actuator or displacement caused by thermal expansion or contraction.

11 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is arranged to control a sample temperature by adjusting one or more of the electrical resistor heating element, the Peltier element, the displacement system, and the heat exchangers.

12 . The temperature control system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is arranged to receive data from the at least one temperature sensor as a control input.

13 . A system for measuring rheological properties of a sample, comprising:

a deformation actuator;

a measuring device arranged for measuring a force and/or torque applied to the sample and a deformation of the sample;

a rotor;

a stator; and

the temperature control system of claim 1 ,

wherein:

the deformation actuator is configured to move the rotor relative to the stator for deforming the sample positioned between the rotor and the stator.

14 . The temperature control system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor provides feedback for controlling the Peltier element sub-unit to maintain the Peltier element sub-unit at a standby temperature when the Peltier element sub-unit is out of contact with the heater sub-unit.

15 . A method of controlling a temperature of a sample analysed by a rheometer or viscometer, comprising:

loading the sample to the rheometer or viscometer;

adjusting the temperature of the sample with one or both of:

a heater sub-unit comprising at least an electrical resistor heating element; and

a Peltier element sub-unit including at least a Peltier element; and

responsive to a temperature of the heater sub-unit, operating a displacement system to bring the Peltier element sub-unit into and out of contact with the heater sub-unit, wherein the method further comprises a first operating mode in which:

at the temperature of the sample below a first threshold temperature, the displacement system is operated to bring the Peltier element sub-unit in contact with the heater sub-unit and heat the sample with the Peltier element sub-unit; and

responsive to the temperature of the sample is increased from below the first threshold temperature to above the first threshold temperature, the displacement system is operated to bring the Peltier element sub-unit out of contact with the heater sub-unit.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein in the first operating mode the method further comprises holding the Peltier element sub-unit at a standby temperature when it is not in contact with the heater sub-unit, wherein the standby temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold temperature.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method comprises a second operating mode in which:

the temperature of the sample is decreased from above a second threshold temperature to below the second threshold temperature; and

the displacement system is operated to bring the Peltier element sub-unit into contact with the heater sub-unit.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the second threshold temperature is the same as a standby temperature.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method comprises a third operating mode in which the temperature of the sample is increased from a first temperature to a second temperature below the first threshold temperature, wherein the temperature of the sample is increased using both the electrical resistor heating element and the Peltier element.