METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING LIQUIDS TO ANALYSIS UNITS AND LIQUID HANDLING SYSTEMS

• US 20130139894A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grunenthal GMBH (Grünenthal Pharma GmbH & Co. KG), Nevolab GmbH
• Original Assignee: Grunenthal GMBH (Grünenthal Pharma GmbH & Co. KG), Nevolab GmbH
• Inventors: Oberbrsch, Stefan, Metzger, Martin, Fuhr, Martin, Lorenz, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 9,234,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/08 for liquids or viscous products water-main or service pipe systems E03B7/04; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/20 by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/06 having means for controlling the supply or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/324 speed, flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/32 of pressure or speed G01N30/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for supplying at least one analysis apparatus with at least one liquid. In the method, the liquid is kept available in a storage tank, from where it is transported into at least one buffer tank. The liquid is fed to the analysis apparatus from the buffer tank, whose filling level is monitored. Here, the buffer tank is arranged above the analysis apparatus and the storage tank is arranged below the analysis apparatus. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method as well as to an analysis apparatus in which this device is employed.

Claims

1. A method for supplying at least one analysis apparatus with at least one liquid, whereby the liquid is kept available in at least one storage tank,

comprising transporting the liquid is transported from the storage tank into at least one buffer tank, and in that the liquid is fed from the buffer tank to the analysis apparatus, whereby the buffer tank is arranged above the analysis apparatus and the storage tank is arranged below the analysis apparatus, and monitoring the filling level of liquid in the buffer tank.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the storage tank is pressurized, whereby a gas is used for the pressurization, and the liquid is transported from the storage tank into the buffer tank via a riser.

3. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the liquid in the buffer tank is made available to the analysis apparatus without being pressurized.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein,

in order to monitor the filling level of liquid in the buffer tank, the weight of the buffer tank is determined.

5. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

measured data about the buffer tank is acquired and evaluated by an electronic unit, whereby this measured data constitutes the filling-level data about the liquid in the buffer tank.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the electronic unit emits a signal when the filling level of liquid in the buffer tank falls below a prescribed limit value, whereby this signal is considered as an indication that the buffer tank needs to be filled.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the buffer tank is alternately supplied from one of at least two storage tanks.

8. The method according to claim 7,

wherein

the buffer tank is filled from one storage tank while a second storage tank is being replaced.

9. A device for supplying at least one analysis apparatus with at least one liquid, whereby the liquid is kept available in at least one storage tank,

the device comprising at least one buffer tank, whereby the buffer tank is arranged above the analysis apparatus and the storage tank is arranged below the analysis apparatus, and whereby the liquid can be transported from the storage tank into the buffer tank, and whereby the liquid can be fed from the buffer tank to the analysis apparatus, and the device further comprising a measuring instrument, whereby the measuring instrument is configured to monitor the filling level of liquid in the buffer tank.

10. The device according to claim 9,

wherein

the storage tank and the buffer tank are connected to each other via a riser.

11. The device according claim 9,

wherein

the measuring instrument for monitoring the filling level of liquid in the buffer tank is configured as a set of scales (203).

12. The device according to claim 9,

wherein

the measuring instrument is connected to an electronic unit for evaluating measured data, whereby this measured data constitutes filling-level data about the liquid in the buffer tank.

13. The device according to claim 9,

wherein

the buffer tank is configured as a closed tank that has at least one inlet and one outlet for the liquid.

14. The device according to claim 9,

wherein

the device has at least two storage tanks, whereby the buffer tank can be filled alternately from one of the storage tanks.

15. An analysis apparatus,

comprising at least one device according to claim 9 for supplying the analysis apparatus with at least one liquid.