Surface Temperature Distribution Aluminum Block with Cone Tube Profile Calculated Using ANSYS Fluent

Abstract

Thermal Cycler is the main part of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which becoming a gold standard for Covid-19 diagnosis. The virus multiplication in an order to a detectable concentration is done by placing the virus solution at a deterministic temperature cycle. The solution is placed in a small tube inserted in a temperature block. Temperature distribution of the thermal block is important to make all the tube with sample treated at the same at desired target temperature. Study on the thermal block made of aluminium 7075 was simulated using fluid dynamic finite element method. Heating and colling to the target temperature was done by providing heat source and heat absorber. The temperature distribution on the surface was mapped. The temperature gradient perpendicular to the heat source was calculated. Assuming the environment of the thermal block was still air, the heating and cooling speed at given heat source and heat removal were calculated using the model. The temperature gradient from the top surface to the bottom surface is less than 2.5°C. The temperature difference among point at the surface is less than 0.1°C.