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Team:Paris Saclay/PS-PCR/detailed description
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When powered, the peltier block transfers heat from one of its sides to the other, thus cooling the former while heating the latter. The "heat pumping" direction can be flipped by inverting the direction of the current in the device. | When powered, the peltier block transfers heat from one of its sides to the other, thus cooling the former while heating the latter. The "heat pumping" direction can be flipped by inverting the direction of the current in the device. | ||
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Revision as of 22:33, 16 September 2013
Contents |
PSPCR
The Paris-Saclay open source PCR thermal cycler project.
Introduction
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a very useful procedure in the field of synthetic biology. However, this technique requires a device called a thermal cycler, which is designed to cycle the samples through different temperature steps. Commercial PCR thermal cyclers are traditionally very expensive, with prices starting at $2000, which makes them hard to afford for small labs and DIY projects.
This project aims at creating a thermal cycler for under 30€ with easily accessible parts.
Comparison with other open source projects
Some open source PCR thermal cycler projects already exist, but the aim of the PSPCR project is to provide a better and more affordable system, thus filling a gap in the list of existing projects.
| Project | Price | Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| OpenPCR | $649 | Heated lid, good performance, hard to manufacture. |
| Arduino PCR | $85 | No heated lid, room for only 2 tubes, fan-only cooling. |
| Lava-Amp | "pennies" | No data available, probably slow with no heated lid. |
| Coffee Cup PCR | $350 | 7 slots, no heated lid, fan-only cooling. |
| PSPCR | Under 30€ | Fast solid state heating/cooling, 16 slots, heated lid. |
Design overview
Tolerant design
The PSPCR cycler uses a novel approach for DIY construction : part tolerance. Indeed, the system has the unique property of being tolerant to reasonable component variations. This lets users choose parts they may already have, or that they can get more easily.
Solid state heating/cooling
By using a peltier thermoelectric device, the system achieves fast heating and compressor-less cooling, enabling it to reach temperatures ranging from -3°C to 120°C in a relatively short time.
When powered, the peltier block transfers heat from one of its sides to the other, thus cooling the former while heating the latter. The "heat pumping" direction can be flipped by inverting the direction of the current in the device.
Construction
