posted on 2020-07-17, 16:34authored byNikolay Cherkasov, Samuel Baldwin, Gregory J. Gibbons, Dmitry Isakov
Inspired
by the miniaturization and efficiency of the sensors for
telemetry, we have developed a device that provides the functionalities
of laboratory magnetic stirring and integrated multisensor monitoring
of various chemical reaction parameters. The device, called “Smart
Stirrer”, when immersed in a solution, can in situ monitor physical properties of the chemical reaction such as the
temperature, conductivity, visible spectrum, opaqueness, stirring
rate, and viscosity. This data is transmitted real-time over a wireless
connection to an external system, such as a PC or smartphone. The
flexible open-source software architecture allows effortless programming
of the operation parameters of the Smart Stirrer in accordance with
the end-user needs. The concept of the Smart Stirrer device with an
integrated process monitoring system has been demonstrated in a series
of experiments showing its capability for many hours of continuous
telemetry with fine accuracy and a high data rate. Such a device can
be used in conventional research laboratories, industrial production
lines, flow reactors, and others where it can log the state of the
process to ensure repeatability and operational consistency.