Calorimeter functional components

Figure 11. Scheme of one of the microcalorimeters used for the simultaneous measurements of O2 consumption and heat production rates in perfused preparations. The thermal gradient layers (1) are made of semiconductor thermocouples mounted in series on each chamber. The preparation (2) is placed near the upstream extremity of one of the 8-cm long tantalum chambers, so that most of the heat it produces is transmitted to the surrounding aluminium block that functions as a heat sink. The four-way distributor, driven from outside the thermostatic jacket by a torsion bar and a pneumatic valve, directs the effluents of the preparation chamber and the control chamber to the drain, alternately via a jet in front of the O2 cathode (3) or directly (4) every 2 to 5 min. Immediately upstream of the calorimeter chambers, the downstream components of the heat exchangers (5) are wound together, in co-current, in close contact with an extension of the aluminium block (not represented on the drawing) (Reproduced from Reference [70] with permission). 

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