How does a Thermal Cooler Work?

A thermal cooler works by dramatically slowing down the transfer of heat. It may slow down the heat either to or from the liquid that is placed inside of it. This allows the liquid that is placed inside to remain at its same temperature. The basic idea of a thermal cooler is to limit or cease the amount of heat transfer. While it is not possible to stop all heat transfer, scientists have found a way to eliminate most of it. Slowing down this heat transfer helps to keep hot liquids hot and cold liquids cold for a longer period of time. To slow down the natural heat transfer process, the processes that conduct heat must be slowed down. These three heat processes are conduction, convection, and radiation. 

 

 A thermal cooler is designed to slow down these three processes and it does just that. A vacuum is a great way to reduce the heat transfer process. The vacuum’s purpose is to limit the amount of atoms surrounding the liquid. By eliminating the amount of atoms, you drastically reduce the amount of convection and conduction that occur. A thermal cooler also contains a glass flask.  This flask is silver in color and aids in limiting radiation. Reducing these three processes significantly reduces the amount of heat transfer, which in tern, allows the liquid in the container to remain its same temperature for a longer period of time.  This phenomenon is quite interesting and it is amazing that this idea continues to be used today. This idea is critical in designing a useful and beneficial thermal cooler.