Patent ID: 7794666

Claim:
Apparatus for controlling the reaction temperature of different substances mixed together in one or more reaction vessels, said apparatus comprising: (a) a heat-exchange block comprising a thermally-conductive material, said block defining (i) one or more first cavities, each being contoured to receive and support a reaction vessel so that the block is in intimate thermal contact with a side and/or bottom wall of said reaction vessel, and (ii) a plurality of second cavities, each being contoured to receive and support a conduit for introducing a substance into said reaction vessel, said conduit being received and supported by said second cavity so that said block is in intimate thermal contact with a portion of a side wall of said conduit, said thermally-conductive block being made by a casting process in which molten metal is poured into a mold that is shaped to define said first and second cavities; (b) a thermal sensor for sensing the temperature of the thermally-conductive block and for producing a control signal indicative of such temperature; and (c) a thermoelectric control device responsive to the control signal for heating or cooling the thermally-conductive block to maintain the temperature of the thermally-conductive block at a temperature adapted to maintain the respective temperatures of said reaction vessel and substances passing through said conduit and entering said reaction vessel within a desired reaction temperature range.