Heating Chamber and Screening Methods
The invention provides, in one aspect, a parallel heat treatment device, including an inner heating chamber defined at least in part by a plurality of heating plate assemblies, each of the plurality of heating plate assemblies including a pair of separate and spaced heating plates. At least one heating element is disposed between each of the pair of heating plates. A test plate is disposed within the inner heating chamber, the test plate being sized and shaped to receive a plurality of sample pans and samples and a temperature controlled support plate is positioned underneath the test plate.
1 . A parallel heat treatment device, comprising:
an inner heating chamber including a plurality of inner heating chamber walls;
a plurality of heating plate assemblies, each of the plurality of heating plate assemblies disposed outside of and spaced-apart from a respective one of the plurality of inner heating chamber walls;
a bottom heating plate assembly positioned within a bottom portion of the inner heating chamber;
at least one heating element disposed in heating operative communication with each of the plurality of heating plate assemblies and the bottom heating plate assembly;
a test plate positionable within the inner heating chamber on the bottom heating plate assembly, the test plate being sized and shaped to receive a plurality of sample pans; and
a temperature-controlled support plate positioned underneath the bottom heating plate assembly.
2 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein there are four inner heating chamber walls.
3 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the inner heating chamber walls are vertically oriented.
4 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heating plate assemblies includes a pair of heating plates.
5 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of heating plates are in direct physical contact with each other.
6 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 4 , wherein each of the pair of heating plates includes a half-cylindrical recess formed in facing sides of respective pairs of heating plates and together defining a heating element receptacle when corresponding pairs of heating plates are assembled into the heating plate assemblies.
7 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating elements include electrical heaters.
8 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one heating elements include one or more cartridge heater.
9 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the heating plate assemblies and the plurality of inner heating chamber walls are spaced-apart a distance of about 5 millimeters.
10 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the bottom heating plate assembly includes a pair of heating plates.
11 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 10 , wherein the bottom heating plate assembly is oriented horizontally.
12 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 10 , wherein the pair of heating plates of the bottom heating plate assembly is in direct physical contact.
13 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 10 , wherein each of the pair of heating plates includes a half-cylindrical recess formed in facing sides thereof, the half-cylindrical recesses together defining a heating element receptacle when the pair of heating plates are assembled into a bottom heating plate assembly.
14 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 13 , including a cartridge heater disposed within the heating element receptacle.
15 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , further comprising a source of fluid and wherein the temperature-controlled support plate includes a tortuous path, and wherein the temperature-controlled support plate is heated by circulating fluid from the source of fluid through the tortuous path.
16 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 15 , wherein the bottom heating plate assembly includes a passage formed therein that is in fluid communication with the tortuous path formed in the temperature-controlled support plate for conveying a heated gas to the inner heating chamber.
17 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 15 , wherein the source of fluid supplies a pre-conditioned gas.
18 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature-controlled support plate has a greater thermal mass than the test plate, sample pans and samples.
19 . The parallel heat treatment device of claim 1 , wherein outer edges of the temperature-controlled support plate are spaced-apart from outer edges of the test plate.
20 . A method of performing parallel thermogravimetric screening of a plurality of samples in sample pans, comprising:
(a) providing a parallel heat treatment device, comprising:
an inner heating chamber including a plurality of inner heating chamber walls;
a plurality of heating plate assemblies, each of the plurality of heating plate assemblies disposed outside of and spaced-apart from a respective one of the plurality of inner heating chamber walls;
a bottom heating plate assembly positioned within a bottom portion of the inner heating chamber;
at least one heating element disposed in heating operative communication with each of the plurality of heating plate assemblies and the bottom heating plate assembly;
a test plate positionable within the inner heating chamber on the bottom heating plate assembly, the test plate being sized and shaped to receive a plurality of sample pans; and
a temperature-controlled support plate positioned underneath the bottom heating plate assembly;
(b) weighing the tare weight of each of the plurality of sample pans in an empty condition;
(c) adding a sample to each of the plurality of sample pans;
(d) weighing the gross weight of each of the samples plus its sample pan prior to any thermal and/or other treatments;
(e) subjecting the samples simultaneously to the same thermal and/or other treatment in the parallel heat treatment device; and
(f) measuring the gross weight of each of the samples plus its sample pan after the thermal and/or other treatment.