EP3823759A1

EP3823759A1 - Temperature-regulating device for laboratory vessels

Info

Publication number: EP3823759A1
Application number: EP19742177.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Steffen Gehrig
Original assignee: Brand GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Brand GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2018-07-16
Filing date: 2019-07-16
Publication date: 2021-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-16
Also published as: US20220212195A1; EP3823759B1; WO2020016219A1; CN112368080A

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature-regulating device for receiving laboratory vessels, which device has a hollow housing filled with a temperature-regulating medium. The temperature-regulating device is thermally conditioned before use, and during use the conditioned thermal energy is either received from the laboratory vessels or emitted to said vessels in a finite time sequence. The housing has a base at the bottom and opposite that at the top a receiving region which delimits the hollow inner region of the housing towards the top. Inwardly directed recesses on the receiving region serve as receptacles for the laboratory vessels to be temperature-regulated. An air space separated from the inner region is provided in the hollow housing. In the inner region, the temperature-regulating medium flows at least partially around and/or through a horizontally extending absorber element and is thermally conductively connected to the receiving region. The laboratory vessels inserted into the recesses in the receiving region are thus kept at a constant temperature by the temperature regulating medium over a relatively long time period.

Description

Temperature control device for laboratory vessels

The invention relates to a temperature control device for holding laboratory vessels around the contents of the laboratory vessels over a longer period of time

to maintain the predetermined temperature.

Patent publication WO92 / 12071A1 shows a storage and transport device for thermally sensitive products. With the device described, particularly biologically active substances are to be stored in a certain temperature window in the cooled and not frozen state. For this purpose, a container carrier of the device has recesses for glass ampoules with the substances contained and to be protected. The container carrier is made of thermoplastic material and forms a closed space around the depressions and around a hollow, circumferential edge region projecting over the depressions. Inside the closed room up to the height of the

Wells is a changing state of matter

Temperature control medium, which has a large heat of fusion. Water or gel materials can be used as the temperature control medium. The hollow edge area serves to expand the phase change executing

Tempering.

A disadvantage of this device is that when this device is thermally conditioned, the temperature control medium on the outside of the hollow space begins the phase change and the volume expansion occurs most strongly in the area in which the phase change takes place last. Since the hollow space filled with air only occupies the edge area, deformation occurs in the center of the container carrier, the depressions no longer being at the same height as the standing surface of the container carrier. Only with the opposite

Phase change is the geometric determination again.

The use of such a container carrier in an automated laboratory device for handling the substances in the glass ampoules or other vessels is not possible if there is no constant geometric determination. Even when several substances are handled manually in adjacent recesses, errors can occur due to the deformation of the container carrier. Furthermore, this type of container carrier has the disadvantage that the opposite phase change, which does not run uniformly, which begins in the edge region of the hollow space and ends in the center of the container carrier. A

predetermined temperature over a required period of time is not in everyone

Deepening possible. Also, the heat of fusion is not used constantly during the phase change and is distributed over all depressions.

Another patent publication EP2428273A1 discloses a temperature control device for sample vessels in a non-self-sufficient design. This temperature control device has two temperature control zones that are insulated from one another and that heats and cools the sample vessels in sections. In the first temperature control zone, a heating element is used and in the second temperature control zone, a flow-through

Heat transfer medium set the desired temperature. This temperature control device therefore requires the connection of electrical and thermal energy and is complex in structure and the number of functional elements.

The invention has for its object to provide a temperature control device for receiving laboratory vessels of the type mentioned, which keeps the content of the laboratory vessels over the largest possible area of the recording and without supply or withdrawal of thermal energy over a longer period of time at a predetermined temperature and functional is improved by their dimension, which can be influenced thermally, and is less expensive to produce.

The object is achieved by a temperature control device of the type mentioned at the outset with the features of claim 1 and a temperature control method for laboratory vessels according to claim 11. Advantageous configurations are in the

Subclaims specified. According to the invention, a temperature control device for receiving laboratory vessels is provided with a hollow one with an inner area and one

Provide tempering medium filled housing. The temperature control device is thermally conditioned before use without laboratory vessels. During its use, the temperature control device takes the conditioned thermal energy in a finite time course, i.e. Warmth, either from the

Laboratory vessels or delivers them to the laboratory vessels. For this purpose, the housing has a bottom at the bottom and a receiving region on the opposite side, which delimits the hollow inner region of the housing from above. Indentations on the top of the receiving area serve as receptacles for the laboratory vessels to be tempered.

The hollow housing preferably has, in addition to the inner region receiving the temperature control medium, a separate air space. In an alternative formulation, the interior can have a separation that the

Divides the interior into subspaces, in particular a first interior and a second interior. Ultimately, it is crucial that the air space is separated from the temperature control medium by the structural design of the housing, i.e. that at least essentially no mixing of air space and temperature control medium takes place. This can be done in particular by a corresponding

Component, such as a partition, can be realized. According to the invention, an embodiment is also possible in which the interior of the housing is only filled with the temperature control medium and with air, the air contained ultimately forming the air space in the sense of the invention. In particular, an interface is formed between the temperature control medium and the air space.

An absorber element is arranged in the inner region of the hollow housing, which extends horizontally in the inner region and around which and / or through which the temperature control medium flows. The absorber element is thermally conductively connected to the receiving area. The laboratory vessels inserted into the wells in the receiving area are thus passed through the temperature control medium kept at a constant temperature for a longer period of time. The

Absorber element is designed in particular as a plate.

In the context of the present invention, a material or a component is regarded as "thermally conductive" if its thermal conductivity is at least 5 W / (m K) on average.

The heat of fusion of the temperature control medium is absorbed by the absorber element and transported evenly to the receiving area. The absorber element that extends horizontally in the temperature control medium enables the thermal energy of the mass of the temperature control medium to be fully used. Even when the temperature control device is thermally conditioned, the absorber element accelerates the heat transfer from the environment via the

Inclusion area in the temperature control medium. The time for conditioning is shorter. In the present case, a “horizontal” extension relates to the orientation of the temperature control device in the state of use and means that the absorber element is at least essentially transverse to the effect of the

Gravity stretches. In particular, this also includes such an arrangement in which the absorber element does not run parallel to the floor.

In a preferred construction, the interior of the housing is parallel to the footprint, i.e. to the floor, separated. The air space can advantageously be arranged opposite the receiving area, with the

Receiving area adjacent part of the inner area receives or contains the temperature control medium. This enables direct contact and heat exchange of the temperature control medium with the absorber element and the receiving area.

In a further preferred construction, a partition is arranged between the inner regions of the housing. The partition seals the two

Interior areas against each other and is flexible. The partition allows the volume of the temperature control medium to be changed in a dimensionally stable manner Casing. The flexibility of the partition is achieved through the use of a resilient material, such as silicone. With the elasticity of the partition, the direct contact of the temperature control medium with the

Absorber element and the recording area improved.

A material or component is "flexible" in the sense of the invention if it has sufficient elasticity to return to its original shape after being deformed by the forces which act on the material or component during the phase change due to a change in volume of the temperature control medium. A particularly suitable flat component, such as a partition, can have a spring rate of less than 5 N / mm per mm 2. The area normalization refers to the area of the component on which a corresponding pressure is exerted. According to one embodiment, the temperature control device can be used for cooling or keeping warm. For this purpose, the housing with the temperature control medium is heated or cooled, preferably the temperature control medium

Physical state changes and the energy is used for phase change. In a cost-effective manner, water or an aqueous solution, which freezes on cooling, is used as the temperature control medium.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the temperature control medium has a lower or higher density in the solid phase than in its liquid phase. When changing the phase from the outside, this leaves some fluid again

Tempering medium float or sink the still solid tempering medium. Due to the different densities, this solid temperature control medium pushes against the absorber element. In a special way, the thermal energy of the receiving area with the laboratory vessels used is caused by the contact of the solid temperature medium with the absorber element, its thermally conductive connection to the receiving area and the

Transfer of heat changed. The heat is transferred from the Absorber element to the receiving area, then the thermal energy of the receiving area is increased and the laboratory vessels are heated. If the heat is transferred from the receiving area to the absorber element, then the thermal energy of the receiving area is reduced and the laboratory vessels are cooled.

The heat transfer from or to the receiving area takes place evenly and sufficiently. The constant temperature of the phase change

Temperature control medium can be used over a long period of time and a certain temperature of the laboratory vessels, essentially defined by the physical property of the temperature control medium, can be maintained. In the previous conditioning, the phase change from liquid to solid takes place simultaneously on the almost complete surface of the absorber element in the temperature control medium, and not only in the center of the recording area.

According to a preferred embodiment, the absorber element is arranged at a spatial distance from the receiving area. The absorber element can be designed as a plate and the absorber element can be connected to the receiving area by means of one or more thermally conductive spacer elements. In an advantageous embodiment, the plate, spacers and

Recording area made of a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / (m K). With this minimum value, complete absorption of heat by the absorber element or the plate and uniform temperature control of the laboratory vessels with simultaneous heat transfer to the temperature control medium can be guaranteed.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the receiving area of the

Housing is designed as a separate part. This enables a reduced heat dissipation of the housing or advantageously enables the receiving area to be made of a material with a higher thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / (m K). Aluminum is a dimensionally stable and extremely easy to machine, cost-effective material. The other parts of the hollow housing can consist of a material with a significantly lower thermal conductivity of maximum 1 W / (m K) and can be made of plastic. Especially when a temperature control medium is used, the density and / or volume of which can change during the phase change of its physical state, the air space above the temperature control medium serves to equalize the volume and limits the pressure build-up to the housing and the receiving area. In the

Temperature control device according to the invention protrudes the absorber element with its underside towards the bottom or as a plate into the temperature control medium. According to the invention, the absorber element can be deformed flexibly or elastically towards the receiving area. The absorber element preferably has an area-related spring rate of less than 1 N / mm per mm ² area of the underside of the absorber element or is held such that a spring rate of less than 1 N / mm per mm ² area of the underside of the absorber element results.

The absorber element is either designed as a plate or, as an alternative embodiment, a structured, elastic molded body, the plate or the molded body preferably also being provided on the receiving area

Spacers are held resiliently. Both variants of one

Temperature control devices are not damaged during a phase change and allow the volume of the temperature control medium to be changed even in the solid state without loss of their function or deformation of the housing. Further preferred configurations of the invention

Temperature control device result from the following description in connection with the figures and their description.

The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing of the preferred embodiment.

1 shows a temperature control device according to the invention in a sectional view. Fig. 2 shows the temperature control device of Fig. 1 in a preferred

Embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the temperature control device from FIG. 1 in an alternative preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the temperature control device from FIG. 1 in an alternative preferred embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of temperature profiles on the

Tempering.

1 shows a temperature control device 1 according to the invention for receiving laboratory vessels 2. The temperature control device 1 is thermally conditioned before use, that is to say without the laboratory vessels 2, and for this purpose in a cooling or

Warming cabinet tempered. During use, the

Temperature control device 1 in a finite temporal course either the conditioned thermal energy from the laboratory vessels 2 and the environment or releases it.

The temperature control device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a hollow housing 3 which is at least partially filled with a temperature control medium 4 in the interior of the housing 3. The housing 3 is used in the laboratory as a stand-alone device and, in the state of use, has a receiving area 3.1 at the bottom or at the bottom, a bottom 3.2 and opposite at the top or at the top, which delimits the hollow interior of the housing 3 at the top. On the receiving area 3.1 from above in the direction of the bottom 3.2 and inward-facing depressions 5 are formed which serve as receptacles for the laboratory vessels 2 to be tempered. The floor 3.2 can be in SBS format (Society of Biomolecular Screening) dimensioned and the number of wells 5 arranged in the grid of the SBS standard 12 x 8, 24 x 16, etc.

The temperature control device 1 can stand on the floor 3.2 or on the

Wells 5 lying in any case thermally conditioned before use with laboratory vessels 2, that is, heated or cooled to a certain

Operating environment to assume different temperatures.

In Fig. 1, a temperature control device 1 is shown, which represents an embodiment. The receiving area 3.1 can, however, be arranged on the housing 3 in a manner detachable, in particular from above, contrary to the representations. The housing 3 can cover the spaces around the recesses 5 as shown.

Contrary to the illustrations, this part can be made separately from the housing 3. Likewise, the receiving area 3.1 can be arranged detachably from above on the housing 3, contrary to what is shown.

2 shows the temperature control device 1 according to the invention with the hollow housing 3, which is one of the temperature medium 4 receiving or

containing the inner region has separated air space 6. The separation of the inner area runs at least essentially parallel to the floor 3.2, which serves in particular as a standing area. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the air space 6 is arranged opposite the receiving area 3.1 and represents part of the inner area. The remaining part of the inner area adjacent to the receiving area 3.1 receives the temperature control medium 4. Thus, heat transfer between the temperature control medium 4 and the receiving area 3.1 also takes place directly.

In an advantageous embodiment, a partition 3.3 is arranged between the hollow inner regions or the standing surface, ie the floor 3.2, and the housing 3, which seals the two inner regions against one another and is designed to be flexible. The partition 3.3 can also be arranged between other parts of the housing 3. 1 and 2, in which the standing surface or the floor 3.2 has a part of the hollow inner area, is an advantageous embodiment in this regard.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the standing surface or the floor 3.2 has a bore 3.4 which aerates and / or vents the air space 6. Alternatively, the air space 6 is sealed and its change in pressure can be used to force the temperature control medium 4 against the receiving area 3.1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature control medium 4 at least substantially completely fills the inner region of the housing 3 adjacent to the receiving region 3.1, which is desirable in practice, but mostly only

is imperfectly possible. When filling the inner area with temperature control medium 4 and then closing it with the partition 3.3, air can still be included. The interior is therefore completely filled with temperature control medium 4 or partially with temperature control medium 4 and air. The closer and more direct the temperature control medium 4 is to the receiving area 3.1, the better its thermal connection. That the smaller the distance between the temperature control medium 4 and the receiving area 3.1, and the fewer intermediate elements transfer the heat, the higher the heat transfer. Optimal is one

direct contact between the temperature control medium 4 and the receiving area 3.1. It is therefore preferable to fill the inner area adjacent to the receiving area 3.1 as much as possible with tempering medium 4. The part of the inner area bordering the receiving area 3.1 is therefore preferably predominantly filled with tempering medium 4. In particular, the volume of the temperature control medium contained in the part of the interior area bordering the receiving area 3.1 is greater than the volume of the air contained therein.

The temperature control device 1 according to FIG. 2 has an absorber element 7 in the hollow housing 3, which is designed as a plate and extends horizontally in the housing 3. The absorber element 7 is to the receiving area 3.1 and

Housing 3 arranged at a spatial distance and the amount of Temperature control medium 4 selected so that the absorber element 7 from the

Temperature medium 4 is at least partially flowed around, that is, has contact with the temperature-controlled temperature medium 4 and / or is immersed therein. The absorber element 7 can have one or more openings 7.1, which allow air bubbles to flow through and, depending on the dimensions of the openings 7.1 and the viscosity of the temperature control medium 4, to allow the temperature control medium 4 to flow through the absorber element 7 at least partially. The absorber element 7 is thermally conductively connected to the receiving area 3.1 for the transfer of thermal energy and thus transfers the

Temperature of the temperature control medium 4 on the laboratory vessels 2.

The temperature control device 1 according to the invention is exposed to the desired temperature for a sufficiently long time before it is used. The housing with the temperature control medium 4 of the temperature control device 1 is heated or cooled, depending on the required temperature window of the substances in the laboratory vessels 2.

The temperature control medium 4 used in the housing 3 changes its physical state when heated or cooled. When it cools down, it freezes

Temperature control medium 4 and it melts when heated. The energy of the phase transition (for example in the case of water: 333.4 KJ / Kg at 0 ° C) is used effectively. Water, an aqueous solution, a glycol / water mixture and / or a gel material, in particular an aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose gel, is preferably used as the inexpensive temperature control medium 4 for cooling the laboratory vessels 2. As an alternative to heating or keeping laboratory vessels 2 warm, is used as

Temperature control medium 4 uses a mixture of cyclodextrin and 4-methylpyridine. A polymer solution consisting of several soluble substances with different phase temperatures and a concentration-dependent mixture gap, such as a phenol / water mixture, can also be used. The temperature control device 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is alternatively used for heating laboratory vessels 2 between 30 ° C. and 45 ° C. For this purpose, the housing 3 is filled with the mixture of cyclodextrin and 4-methylpyridine already mentioned. The temperature control device 1 is conditioned at approximately 50 ° C. or higher. The

In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the absorber element 7 extends over a larger extent in the inner region of the housing 3.

The temperature control device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is specially designed for temperature control medium 4, which has a lower density in its solid phase than its liquid phase. Such a temperature control medium 4, which is already partially liquid again during melting, floats in the still partially solid state and urges against the absorber element 7. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the temperature control medium 4 which is still solid also urges against the receiving area 3.1. By touching the fixed tempering medium 4 with the absorber element 7 and possibly also the receiving area 3.1, the tempering medium 4 melts over a large area. That tempered

Absorber element 7 supplies the heat from the receiving area 3.1 with the laboratory vessels 2 used to the tempering medium 4 and increases its thermal energy or vice versa. The frozen state of the

Temperature control medium 4 in the housing 3 and receiving area 3.1

enclosed volume is used in particular completely. The

Laboratory vessels 2 can be cooled or heated over a long period of time.

1 shows how effective the embodiment according to the invention according to FIG. 1 or 2 is compared to an embodiment without an absorber element 7, with the respective course of a water-cooled housing 3 of both embodiments, measured in the recesses 5 thereof. The temperature curve "A" corresponds to that

Version without absorber element and “B” of the embodiment according to the invention according to FIG. 1 or 2. The temperature limit of 7 ° C. is below twice as long for “B” as for “A”. Depending on the temperature control medium 4 one achieves one according to its physical property, different temperature limits and curves.

2 shows the temperature control device 1 according to the invention with the housing 3, which has an air space 6 which is separated from the inner region. The separation of the interior is at least essentially parallel to the floor 3.2.

The embodiment according to FIG. 2 shows not only design improvements. Advantages are also surprisingly expressed in the effect and in the resulting temperature profile “B”. The flexible partition 3.3 enables the spatial division of the temperature control medium 4 and air space 6 and the compensation of changes in volume of the temperature control medium 4 into or from the air space 6. In the particularly preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the partition 3.3 is made of a flexible, i.e. resilient, material,

for example made of silicone.

The increase in volume of the solid or frozen tempering medium 4 is made possible by the expansion of the partition 3.3 into the air space 6 by prestressing. The solid temperature control medium 4 is pressed against the absorber element 7. When using the temperature control device 1, the heat transfer is increased by pressing and the temperature profile “B” is kept below the temperature limit for an even longer time. This effect lasts even longer if the partition 3.3 also has a low thermal conductivity.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment with a plate as the absorber element 7, which is arranged horizontally in the hollow housing 3. The plate is in this

Embodiment with several spacer elements 8 attached to the receiving area 3.1. The spacer elements 8 also connect the plate 7 with the

Recording area 3.1 thermally conductive and in such a number that the

Temperature of the tempering medium 4 is transferred to the laboratory vessels 2. The materials used are also decisive in the embodiment according to the invention according to FIG. 1 or 2. The absorber element 7 or the plate that

Spacer elements 8 and / or the receiving area 3.1 consist in particular of a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / (m K).

According to a preferred embodiment, the receiving area 3.1 of the housing 3 is designed as a separate part. The materially separated from the housing 3

Recording area 3.1 consists of a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / (m K). Aluminum in particular is used as a suitable material. The other parts of the hollow housing 3 can consist of plastic or have a plastic and preferably have one

Thermal conductivity of maximum 1 W / (m K) and thus a rather heat-insulating effect.

The housing 3 can be constructed even more discretely. 1 and 2, the housing 3 is provided with a separate base 3.2, which represents the standing area in relation to the receiving area 3.1. The floor 3.2 and the

Receiving area 3.1 are sealed with seals 3.5 against the housing 3. As shown in Fig. 2, projecting feet 3.6 are arranged on the floor.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the temperature control device 1, the absorber element 7 is designed to be flexible with its absorber underside directed towards the bottom 3.2 towards the receiving area 3.1. The increase in volume of the temperature control medium 4 is tolerated by the absorber element 7. In a preferred embodiment, the absorber element 7 is a structured elastic molded body 7 ', as shown in FIG. 3. This flat shaped body 7 'preferably has sufficient flexibility with a spring rate of less than 1 N / mm per mm ² surface of the underside of the shaped body 7' in order to prevent deformation of the housing 3. The molded body 7 'shown in Fig. 3 is a layer of metal mesh or foam. The molded body 7 'is arranged on the underside of the receiving area 3.1. Such a mesh or foam serves as an absorber for receiving and at the same time for transporting the thermal energy to the receiving area 3.1. The braid or foam is also positioned so that it is below the

Receiving area 3.1 extends through the air space 6 and is at least partially surrounded by the temperature control medium 4 and thereby penetrated as completely as possible. The structure itself enables the required flexibility and the choice of the material and the cross-sectional density sufficient heat conduction to the receiving area 3.1. As a simplified variant, the braid or the foam can also only serve as flexibly resilient spacing elements 8 ′ of the plate.

In the execution of a plate with spacers 8 hold the

Spacer 8 resiliently resiliently the plate in relation to the receiving area 3.1. As shown in Fig. 1, the plate is at least partially surrounded by the tempering medium 4. When the volume of the tempering medium 4 expands in the solid state, it presses against the plate and is tolerated by its flexible positioning or its elastic shape change. Furthermore, the absorber element 7 is located on the receiving area 3.1

preferably releasably or non-releasably connected. In Fig. 3, the absorber element 7 is connected to the underside of the receiving area 3.1 several times, e.g. welded with ultrasound. 1 or 2, the spacer elements 8 are integrally formed on the receiving area 3.1 and / or on the plate, so that good heat conduction takes place. 4 shows an embodiment of a flexible spacer element 8 '. This

Spacer 8 'is part of the plate.

Notches not shown expose the spacer 8 'and allow a meandering bend, as shown in Fig. 4. The free end of the spacer element 8 'bent in this way is welded in particular to the receiving area 3.1. Alternatively, the spacer elements 8 can be screwed on releasably be, i.e. non-positively / positively / frictionally held or permanently attached such as welded, soldered, bonded, glued, or otherwise materially connected.

Claims

claims:

1. temperature control device (1) for laboratory vessels (2), which is designed to be thermally conditioned before use without laboratory vessels (2) and to absorb the conditioned thermal energy from the laboratory vessels (2) in a finite time course during use and / or to be given to the laboratory vessels (2),

with a hollow housing (3),

which has an inner region which is at least substantially filled with a temperature control medium (4),

wherein the housing (3) has a bottom (3.2) and

Opposite has a receiving area (3.1) on an upper side, which delimits the inner area of the housing (3) towards the upper side and the recesses (5) pointing inward on its upper side for receiving the

has tempering laboratory vessels (2),

characterized,

that the housing (3) has an air space (6),

that in the interior of the housing (3) a horizontally extending

Absorber element (7) is arranged, wherein the tempering medium (4) flows around and / or through the absorber element (7) at least partially, and that the absorber element (7) and the receiving area (3.1) are thermally conductively connected.

2. Temperature control device according to claim 1, characterized in

that the inner region of the housing (3) is separated at least substantially parallel to the floor (3.2) and / or the air space (6) on the

The receiving area (3.1) is arranged on the opposite side of the inner area and the part of the inner area adjacent to the receiving area (3.1) contains the temperature control medium (4).

3. Temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner region of the housing (3) at least partially with the

Temperature control medium (4), preferably reaching to the absorber element 7, is filled and the remaining part of the interior contains the air space (6), and / or that the interior of the housing (3) is separated in such a way that the

The temperature control medium (4) is contained in a first inner area and the air space (6) is contained in a second inner area, preferably with a partition (3.3) arranged between the first inner area and the second inner area of the housing (3), which seals both inner areas from one another and is flexible is executed, the partition (3.3) in particular from a

resilient material, preferably silicone, or a

has resilient material.

4. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in

that the temperature control medium (4) is designed to at least partially change its physical state from a solid phase to a liquid phase when absorbing thermal energy from the laboratory vessels (2) and / or when thermal energy is being released to the laboratory vessels (2) change its physical state from a liquid phase to a solid phase, in particular wherein the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) has a lower or higher density than the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4), so that the solid phase in the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4) floats or sinks and presses against the absorber element (7),

5. Temperature control device according to claim 4, characterized in

that the temperature control device (1) is designed to transfer the thermal energy of the receiving area (3.1) to the laboratory vessels (2) by contacting the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) with the absorber element (7) and transferring heat from the absorber element (7 ) to the receiving area (3.1) for heating the laboratory vessels (2) or the thermal energy of the recording area (3.1) with the used

Laboratory vessels (2) by contacting the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) with the absorber element (7) and transferring heat from the receiving area

(3.1) to reduce the absorber element (7) for cooling the laboratory vessels (2).

6. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in

that the absorber element (7) at a spatial distance from the receiving area

(3.1) is arranged,

in particular wherein the absorber element (7) comprises a plate or is designed as a plate and / or wherein the absorber element (7) with the receiving area

(3.1) is connected by means of one or more thermally conductive spacer elements (8), and, preferably, the plate, the one or more

Spacer elements (8) and / or the receiving area (3.1) consist of a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / (m K).

7. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that the receiving area (3.1) of the housing (3) is designed as a separate part, preferably wherein the receiving area (3.1) consists of a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / (m K), in particular aluminum, and the other parts of the Housing (3) made of a material with a thermal conductivity of maximum 1 W / (m K), in particular made of plastic.

8. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in

that the absorber element (7) is designed to be elastically deformable towards the receiving area (3.1) at least on an underside of the absorber facing the floor (3.2),

preferably wherein the absorber element (7) is a structured elastic molded body (7 ') and / or the spacer element (8) is the Hold the absorber element (7) resiliently on the receiving area (3.1), preferably with the absorber element (7) being held at a spring rate of less than 1 N / mm per mm ² surface of the underside of the absorber element (7).

9. Temperature control device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized

in

that the absorber element (7) is a structured elastic molded body (7 ″), the molded body (7 ″) being directed towards the floor (3.2)

The underside of the absorber towards the receiving area (3.1) is designed to be elastically deformable, the spring rate of the underside of the absorber preferably being less than 1 N / mm per mm ² area of the underside of the absorber.

10. Temperature control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature control medium (4) is water or an aqueous solution.

1 1. Temperature control process (1) for laboratory vessels (2), comprising the following steps:

- Provision of a temperature control device, in particular according to one of the

previous claims, with at least partially with one

Temperature control medium (4) filled inner area and with a housing (3) with a receiving area (3.1), a hollow inner area of the housing (3) being delimited upwards from the receiving area (3.1), and with from at the top of the receiving area 3.1 internal depressions (5),

- thermal conditioning before use without laboratory vessels (2),

- inserting the laboratory vessels (2),

- Absorption or release of the conditioned thermal energy from the

Laboratory vessels (2) or to the laboratory vessels in a finite temporal course,

characterized,

that a horizontally extending in the interior of the housing (3)

The tempering medium (4) at least partially flows around the absorber element (7) and / or is flowed through and the absorber element (7) and the receiving area (3.1) are connected in a thermally conductive manner.

12. Temperature control method according to claim 11, characterized in

that the housing (3) is heated or cooled with the temperature control medium (4), the temperature control medium (4) preferably changing its physical state, in particular wherein the temperature control medium (4) is water or an aqueous solution.

13. Temperature control method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the temperature control medium (4) is selected such that the solid phase of the temperature control medium (4) has a lower or higher density than the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4), so that the solid phase in the liquid phase of the temperature control medium (4) floats or falls and due to

different densities in the phases push against the absorber element (7), whereby, preferably, the thermal energy of the receiving area (3.1) with the laboratory vessels (2) used by contact of the solid temperature medium (4) with the absorber element (7) and the transfer of Warmth from that

Absorber element (7) to the receiving area (3.1) for heating the

Laboratory vessels (2) is increased or the thermal energy of the receiving area (3.1) with the laboratory vessels (2) used by contact of the solid

Temperature control medium (4) with the absorber element (7) and the transfer of heat from the receiving area (3.1) to the absorber element (7) for cooling the laboratory vessels (2) is reduced.