WO2021086290A1

WO2021086290A1 - Freeze test system for the plant tissue and organs

Info

Publication number: WO2021086290A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/050971
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cafer KÖSE
Original assignee: Atatürk Üni̇versi̇tesi̇ Bi̇li̇msel Araştirma Projeleri̇ Bi̇ri̇mi̇
Priority date: 2019-10-28
Filing date: 2020-10-22
Publication date: 2021-05-06

Abstract

Freeze test system (100) for the plant tissue and organs, characterized by comprising; thermoelectric module (11) on which the samples to be tested are placed and which transforms the heat changes realized in the test samples into electrical voltage, TEM wells (5) in which thermoelectric modules (11) are placed, slide cover (1) that provides TEM wells (5) and samples to be covered, provides preventing the heat leakages in TEM wells (5) and minimizing data fluctuations, increases the accuracy and reliability of the data and saves time in test processes.

Description

Freeze test system for the plant tissue and organs

Technical Field

The invention relates to a freeze test system for the plant tissue and organs used with computer combinations such as computer + data logger, data logger, computer + multimeter or multimeter etc. or only with devices.

State of the Art

Today, the present model known as thermoelectric module tray (TEM) consists of a trap manufactured from 6 mm PVC with width, length and height values of 23cm x 33 cm x 5.5 cm respectively and a cover with 23 x 33 cm dimensions that is manufactured from the same material (6mm PVC). There are 10 wells (width, length and depth dimension respectively; 40 mm x 40 mm x 15 mm. Edge thickness of 6 mm) on the tray and 9 of these wells have thermoelectric module (TEM) with 40 mm x 40 mm x 3 mm dimensions. There is a temperature termistor (or thermocouple) in 1 well in the middle of the tray. The voltage outputs coming from the thermoelectric modules are transmitted to the data logger (or multimeter) by means of a connector (with at least 18 pins, preferably female type). The temperature data received from the termistor (or thermocouple) is directly transmitted to the data logger (or multimeter) (without connecting to the connector). There are holes on the tray and cover so as to provide the heat circulation within the test chamber.

The plant tissues in the current model are located on the thermoelectric modules (TEM) in nine wells found on a tray and then the cover is closed. After the tray and/or a few trays are located in the test chamber whose temperature can be adjusted, the freeze test is realized according to any connection application.

The plant tissue or tissues placed on TEM (one or a few samples can be placed) produce exothermic heat energy while they are frozen. Produced exothermic heat energy warms one surface of TEM. This heat forms a temperature difference between two surfaces of TEM; this difference allows TEM to produce electrical voltage (millivolt). This generated voltage value is saved to the data logger, multimeter or computer by means of any of the connection applications. At the same time, the temperature values of the wells are recorded by means of the termistor (or thermocouple) located in the well in the middle section of the tray. As soon as the generated electrical voltage is recorded, the temperatures at which plant tissues die is determined by taking the temperature value received from the termistor (or thermocouple) into consideration.

Problems observed in the current model are as follows;

Problem 1 :

In the current model, the cover is located on the tray and fixed to the tray by means of bolts. In this case, the cover and the edges of the thermoelectric module wells are not in full contact with each other due to the flexibility of the material, unbalanced tightening of the bolts and the dimension of the cover and thus heat leakage is experienced from the contact surfaces. The heat leakages cause fluctuations in the electric current values of the thermoelectric module. These fluctuations make the data analysis difficult.

Problem 2:

Trying to tighten the bolts in a balanced manner leads to time and labor loss in the current model so as to fix the covers to the tray by means of bolt and to ensure contact between the tray and the cover properly.

Problem 3:

Freeze tests for the plants are performed in the special test chambers. The internal volumes of these test chambers are small so as to provide the temperature adjustments properly. For this reason, more samples are required to be place in the test chambers so as to use the same more effectively. There are 9 thermoelectric module wells and one thermistor well on the current model, with width, length and height values of 23cm x 33cm x 5.5cm respectively. In this case, only 9 samples can be analyzed on a tray independent from each other. Since the TEM number of the current model is low (9 pieces), the possibility to work with more samples at once independent from each other is eliminated. Pluralities of samples are placed on the TEM so as to overcome this situation. In this case, disorder is seen in the data obtained from TEM. It is not determined that which one of the data obtained from a TEM belongs to which sample on that TEM. On the other hand, the data that occur simultaneously cause data conflict and understanding the data becomes difficult. In the previous system, placing 1 sample on each TEM solves the problem however eliminates the possibility to work with more samples. For this reason, there is a requirement to increase the number of TEM trays and to use more test chambers with larger volumes. Problem 4:

In this case, the infrastructure building cost is increased and large volume and more test cabins are required.

As a result, due to the abovementioned disadvantages and the insufficiency of the current solutions regarding the subject matter, a development is required to be made in the relevant technical field.

Aim of the Invention

The invention aims to provide a structure having different technical features which brings a new development in this field different from the embodiments used in the state of the art.

The main aim of the invention is to reduce the size of the cover and to apply slide system to the edges of the cover so as to prevent heat leakages based on the size and structure of the current model cover and unbalanced tightening of the fixing bolts. Therefore, there will be no temperature changes in TEM wells and data fluctuations can be minimized and data analysis will be facilitated.

An aim of the invention is to eliminate time loss and labor loss caused by closing the covers with bolts in the current model by means of the slide cover system.

Another aim of the invention is to realize usage of more thermoelectric module on a tray so as to fulfill the requirement for more test chambers with larger volumes for a plurality of sample tests due to the fact that the current model has a small number of TEMs on a single tray, and can be able to test fewer samples in a single test chamber. For example, in the current model, totally 36 independent samples can be tested in 4 trays at once in one of the test chamber in a safe manner, in the inventive system, totally 160 independent samples can be tested on 4 trays in the same test chamber.

Another aim of the invention is to decrease the cost of infrastructure by reducing the volume or number of the required test chamber by making more number of TEM available on a tray.

In order to fulfill the above mentioned aims, the invention is a freeze test system for the plant tissue and organs, characterized by comprising; • Thermoelectric module on which the samples to be tested are placed and which transforms the temperature changes realized in the test samples into electrical voltage,

• TEM wells in which thermoelectric modules are placed,

• Slide cover that provides TEM wells and samples to be covered, provides preventing the heat leakages in TEM wells and minimizing data fluctuations, increases the accuracy and reliability of the data and saves time in test processes.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings and therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Figures Clarifying the Invention

(The preferred lengths in mm are stated in the figures.)

Figure 1 , is the view of different connection applications in the inventive system.

Figure 2 is the general view of TEM tray and covers.

Figure 3 is top view of TEM tray and covers.

Figure 4 is the side view of the long side of TEM tray and covers.

Figure 5 is the side view of the short side of TEM tray.

Figure 6 is the front view of TEM tray and covers.

Figure 7 is the bottom view of TEM tray and covers.

Figure 8 is the general view of the slide cover.

Figure 9 is the section view of the slide cover.

The figures are not required to be scaled and the details which are not necessary for understanding the present invention may be neglected. Moreover, the elements that are at least substantially identical or have at least substantially identical functions are shown by the same number.

Description of the Part References

1 . Slide cover

2. TEM tray

3. Heat circulation holes

4. Data cables 5. TEM wells

6. Termistor or thermocouple well

7. Termistor cable or thermocouple

8. Connector (Female type)

9. Foot

10. Termistor or thermocouple tip (preferably T-type)

11 . Thermoelectric module

12. Data logger/multimeter

13. Computer

100. Freeze test system

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the invention is described only for clarifying the subject matter in a manner such that no limiting effect is created.

The inventive system will be used widely in the freeze tests of the plant tissue and organs. The thermoelectric module (11) to be used in the model can also be used to detect the heat changes that will occur in any solid material appropriate to its dimensions. In this part, the operating logic and principle is described by taking its use in the plant freeze tests as the basis.

The slide cover (1) is a structure that provides TEM wells (5) and samples to be covered, provides preventing the heat leakages in TEM wells (5) and minimizing data fluctuations, increases the accuracy and reliability of the data and saves time in test processes.

TEM wells (5) are the wells in which thermoelectric modules (TEM) (11) are placed. The samples to be tested are placed on the thermoelectric modules (11) placed in these wells. In the previous model, there were 9 thermoelectric modules (11) in a tray but in the inventive system, the number was increased to 40. Thus, more samples can be tested independent from each other on one tray.

TEM tray (2) is the main structure on which there are TEM wells (5) and other elements.

Fleat circulation holes (3) enable effective distribution of the heat of the test chamber to the TEM wells (5). The data cables (4) provide transmission of the voltage data received from the thermoelectric modules (TEM) (11) to the data logger/multimeter (12).

The termistor or thermocouple well (6) are the wells in which there are termistor or thermocouples so as to measure the temperature of the TEM wells (5). In the previous model, there was 1 termistor or thermocouple well (6) in a TEM tray (2) but in the inventive system, the number was increased to 4. Thus, temperatures of TEM wells (5) can be determined from more points on a TEM tray (2).

The termistor cable or thermocouple (7) provides transmission of the temperatures of TEM wells (5) to the Data logger/multimeter (12).

20-pin connector (Female type) (8) facilitates the plug-in and out of TEM data cables.

The foot (9) provides forming a distance between the surface on which the TEM tray (2) is placed and the same and thus realizing the heat circulation in a better manner.

The termistor or thermocouple tip (10) (preferably T-type) provides detection of the temperature in TEM wells (5).

Thermoelectric module (11 ) transforms the heat changes realized in the test samples into electrical voltage.

The thermoelectric module (11 ) to be used can also be used to detect the heat changes (temporal, dimensional, point) to occur in any solid material appropriate to its dimensions (maximum measurements, width x length height is respectively 15mm x 15mm x 11 mm).

Temporal: When and how long the heat exchange occurs Dimensional: How big the heat exchange is.

Point: At which temperature the heat exchange occurs.

The plant tissue sample or samples (particularly the buds) to be tested are placed on the thermoelectric module (peltier) (11) contained in the TEM wells (5). Then the slide cover (1 ) is closed so as to prevent heat leakages within TEM wells (5) and to obtain data in a more precise manner. TEM tray (2) is placed in the test chambers or deep freezers after the slide covers (1) are closed. The connection of 20-pin connector (8) that is located on the TEM plate (2) to the data logger / multimeter (12) (voltage measurement channels) is provided (Figure 1). Simultaneously, the termistor cable or thermocouple (7) tips located on the TEM tray (2) are connected to the relevant temperature measurement channels of the logger/multimeter (12). The test chamber is reduced to the required temperature values at determined temperature decrease values by closing the cover of the test chamber. The reduction of the temperature within the test chamber also causes reduction in the temperature of the plant tissue and organs in TEM wells (5). At such a point, water in the plants tissue or organs freezes. A fusion heat comes out in the plant tissue or organs during this freezing. This released heat warms the surfaces (upper surface) of the thermoelectric module (11) on which samples are located. The heat difference between two surfaces causes the thermoelectric module (11) to generate electrical voltage because there is not any heating on the other surface (lower surface) of the thermoelectric module (11 ). The voltage generated by the thermoelectric module (11) (peltier) is transmitted to the 20-pin connector (8) by means of the cables (4). The voltage values (preferably in millivolts) are recorded with the data logger/multimeter (12) connection of the connector (8). If the data logger/multimeter (12) does not have recording feature, these data are recorded in a computer (13) in connection with the data logger or multimeter. Well temperatures (preferably centigrade degree, °C) together with the voltage measured simultaneously by means of the termistor probe or thermocouple (10) located in the termistor or thermocouple wells (6) are similarly recorded by means of the data logger/multimeter (12) (Figure 1).

The temperature value at which the water in the plant tissue freezes and thus the tissue dies is determined as the temperature value received from the thermistor or thermocouple (10) during the voltage generated by the thermoelectric module (11) is at its peak level.

Claims

1. A freeze test system (100) for the plant tissue and organs, characterized by comprising;

• Thermoelectric module (11) on which the samples to be tested are placed and which transforms the heat changes realized in the test samples into electrical voltage,

• TEM wells (5) in which thermoelectric modules (11) are placed,

• Slide cover (1) that provides TEM wells (5) and samples to be covered, provides preventing the heat leakages in TEM wells (5) and minimizing data fluctuations, increases the accuracy and reliability of the data and saves time in test processes.

2. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; TEM tray (2) that is the main structure on which there are TEM wells (5) and other elements.

3. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; heat circulation holes (3) that enable effective distribution of the heat of the test chamber to the TEM wells (5).

4. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; data cables (4) that provide transmission of the voltage data received from the thermoelectric modules (TEM) (11) to the data logger/multimeter (12).

5. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; termistor or thermocouple well (6) in which there are termistor or thermocouples so as to measure the temperature of the TEM wells (5).

6. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; termistor cable or thermocouple (7) that provides transmission of the temperatures of TEM wells (5) to the Data logger/multimeter (12).

7. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; connector (8) that facilitates plug-in and out of TEM data cables.

8. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; foot (9) that provides forming a distance between the surface on which the TEM tray (2) is placed and the same and thus realizing the heat circulation in a better manner.

9. The freeze test system (100) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising; termistor or thermocouple tip (10) that provides detection of the temperatures within TEM wells (5).