Sample probe with temperature monitoring and/or control

• US 5,398,559 A
• Filed: 12/08/1992
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wolcott, Duane K., Westlake, Theodore N. III
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/986,838
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 73/864.73, 73/864.74, 73/866.5, 73/863.11, 73/863.12, 73/863.01-863.03, 73/863.41, 73/863.81, 73/863.86, 73/31.07 , 73/61.55, 73/61.58, 73/61.59, 73/64.56, 73/64.55, 73/19.12, 73/29.05, 73/863.23, 73/25.03, 95/151, 95/158, 96/151, 96/219, 96/220, 210/321.74, 374/142, 374/147, 374/148
• US Class Current: 73/863.81
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 Tubular membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/068 with flexible membrane tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/20 for flowing or falling materials G01N1/2035 G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2247 Sampling from a flowing stream of gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2264 with dilution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/025 Gas chromatography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/146 using membranes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/3007 same temperature for whole column
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/8423 using permeable separator tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/60 Construction of the column
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6004 end pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6047 with supporting means; Holders

Abstract

An apparatus for use in determining the presence and/or concentration of one or more selected materials in a given stream or aggregation in a conduit or vessel, the apparatus comprising (a) a support member constructed from a thermally conductive material and having a first, internal end for inserting into the stream or aggregation when the apparatus is placed in service and a second end positioned externally of the conduit or vessel in use, wherein the support member defines a groove therein of which at least a portion extends into the stream or aggregation in use, (b) a conduit positioned and supported substantially wholly within at least that portion of the groove in the support member which extends into the stream or aggregation in use, and (c) a temperature monitoring device positioned within the support member, whereby the temperature of the conduit/stream or aggregation interface may be measured by thermal conduction from the supporting groove portion of the support member to the temperature monitoring device contained within the support member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in determining the presence and/or concentration of one or more selected materials in a given stream or aggregation of flowable materials in a conduit or vessel, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a support member constructed from a thermally conductive material and having a first, internal end for inserting into the stream or aggregation when the apparatus is placed in service and a second end positioned externally of the conduit or vessel in use, wherein the support member defines a groove therein of which at least a portion extends into the stream or aggregation in use;

(b) a conduit positioned and supported substantially wholly within at least that portion of the groove in the support member which extends into the stream or aggregation in use; and

(c) a temperature monitoring device positioned within the support member, whereby the temperature of the conduit/stream or aggregation interface may be measured by thermal conduction from the supporting groove portion of the support member to the temperature monitoring device contained within the support member.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising one or more heaters placed within the thermally conductive support member.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the conduit is positioned and supported wholly within the groove.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the groove extends continuously from an interior wall of the conduit or vessel to the first internal end of the support member, and wherein the support member defines a second groove therein in communication with the first groove which extends continuously from the first internal end of the support member to the interior wall.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the first and second grooves of the support member consist of alternating helical flights of a double lead threaded support member, and wherein the conduit is positioned in troughs of such flights and is flanked by walls defining the flights of the support member, crests of walls on either side of the conduit in a respective flight extending above the trough and laterally from the support member to a greater extent than the conduit.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the conduit is a tubular membrane, and the apparatus further comprises means for communicating the one or more materials collected from the stream or aggregation of flowable materials by the tubular membrane to an analytical device.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising a protective spacer attached to the support member at the first, internal end of the support member.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the conduit is positioned and supported wholly within the groove.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the groove extends continuously from an interior wall of the conduit or vessel to the first internal end .of the support member, and wherein the support member defines a second groove therein in communication with the first groove which extends continuously from the first internal end of the support member to the interior wall.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first and second grooves of the support member consist of alternating helical flights of a double lead threaded support member, and wherein the conduit is positioned in troughs of such flights and is flanked by walls defining the flights of the support member, crests of walls on either side of the conduit in a respective flight extending above the trough and laterally from the support member to a greater extent than the conduit.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the conduit is a tubular membrane, and the apparatus further comprises means for communicating the one or more materials collected from the stream or aggregation of flowable materials by the tubular membrane to an analytical device.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a protective spacer attached to the support member at the first, internal end of the support member.

13. An apparatus for use in determining the presence and/or concentration of one or more selected materials in a given stream or aggregation of flowable materials within a conduit or vessel, comprising:

(a) a support member constructed from a thermally conductive material and having a first, internal end for inserting into the stream or aggregation when the apparatus is placed in service and a second end positioned externally of the conduit or vessel in use, wherein the support member defines a groove therein of which at least a portion extends into the stream or aggregation in use;

(b) a conduit positioned and supported substantially wholly within at least that portion of the groove in the support member which extends into the stream or aggregation in use;

(c) a temperature monitoring device positioned within the support member, whereby the temperature of the conduit/stream or aggregation interface may be measured by thermal conduction from the supporting groove portion of the support member to the temperature monitoring device contained within the support member; and

(d) analytical means, associated and in communication with the conduit in use, for determining the presence and/or concentration of the one or more selected materials.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising one or more heaters placed within the thermally conductive support member.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising means for programmably actuating the analyzing means.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising means for altering the course and/or composition of the stream or aggregation of materials responsive to the presence of a given concentration of the one or more selected materials in said stream or aggregation.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising means for programmably actuating the analyzing means.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising means for altering the course and/or composition of the stream or aggregation of materials responsive to the presence of a given concentration of the one or more selected materials in said stream or aggregation.