Thermal block unit

A thermal block unit for thermal treatment of samples comprising:

• a plurality of temperature regulating units comprising one or more thermoelectric coolers and a heat sink,
• a sample block for holding multiple sample vials, the sample block being in close thermal contact with the thermoelectric coolers, wherein the thermoelectric coolers are positioned over the heat sink and between the sample block and the heat sink, and the number of the thermoelectric coolers is less than the number of the sample vials.
• a heatable cover for closing the sample vials and preventing condensation of sample vapors within the sample vials, the heatable cover comprising holes in correspondence of each sample in the sample vials for optical detection,
• one or more temperature sensor(s) for measuring temperature at one or more different locations of the thermal block unit, wherein the number of the temperature sensors is less than the number of sample vials held by the sample block, and the number of temperature regulating units is less than the number of sample vials held by the sample block,
• one or more converter(s) for converting signals from the temperature sensors into digital signals,
• at least one processor for processing said digital signals and configured to control the one or more temperature regulating units to restore condition of well-to-well homogeneity and reproducibility in case of a minimum bias from homogeneity, and
• one or more thermal block interface(s) for communicating with an instrument.