System for the in-line extraction and dilution of a representative sample of a processed medium

• US 6,020,960 A
• Filed: 02/25/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microtrac, Inc. (Nikkiso Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Freud, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Punnoose, Roy M.
• Application Number:
  US09/030,463
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 356/336, 356/335, 356/337, 356/338, 356/73
• US Class Current: 356/336
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/02 Investigating particle size or size distribution by measuring osmotic pressure G01N7/10; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10

Abstract

A system is disclosed for the extraction and delivery of a diluted representative sample of a processed medium, flowing as a process stream in a conduit, for the analysis by a particle measurement instrument. The system includes a shroud tube located within the conduit, longitudinally aligned with the process stream and arranged to receive and allow a portion of the process stream to flow therethrough. A diluent delivery apparatus includes an emitter that is located in the shroud tube arranged to release a stream of diluent into the shroud tube. The diluent released by the emitter mixes with the processed medium within the shroud tube. A sample recirculation apparatus is connected to the particle measurement instrument and includes a collector located in the shroud tube downstream from the emitter and a drain located in the conduit downstream of the collector. The collector captures representative samples of the diluted processed medium flowing past the collector and conveys, on a continual basis, the captured samples to the particle measurement instrument for analysis. The representative samples displaced by the newly arriving samples are conveyed to the drain and returned to the process stream flowing in the conduit. The flow of the diluent from the emitter can be adjusted by manipulating a flow control device. The flow control device can be adjusted manually or automatically by the controlling output of a controller responsive to output signals from the particle measurement instrument.

Claims

1. A system for the extraction and delivery of a diluted representative sample of a processed medium, flowing in a process stream, for the analysis by a particle measurement instrument, said system comprising:

a shroud tube located substantially within and longitudinally aligned with said process stream, arranged to receive and allow a portion of said process stream to flow therethrough;

a diluent delivery apparatus including an emitter extending into said shroud tube, said emitter arranged to release a stream of diluent into the process stream flowing in said shroud tube, said diluent mixing with said processed medium, forming a stream of diluted processed medium flowing in said shroud tube downstream of said emitter;

a sample recirculation apparatus connected to said particle measurement instrument, said sample recirculation apparatus including a collector extending into said shroud tube downstream from said emitter, said collector arranged to capture a representative sample of said diluted processed medium flowing past said collector and said sample recirculating apparatus conveying said diluted representative sample to said particle measurement instrument for analysis, said sample recirculation apparatus further including a drain extending into said process stream downstream of said collector, whereby said drain returns said diluted representative sample to said process stream after analysis by said particle measurement instrument.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diluted representative sample is continuous stream of diluted representative samples that are driven through said recirculating apparatus by said process stream.

3. The system as claimed In claim 1, wherein said diluent delivery apparatus includes a flow control device connected to said emitter and to a source of diluent whereby said flow control device is arranged to be manipulated to connect said source of diluent to said emitter and to control the amount of diluent released by said emitter into said process stream.

4. The system as claimed In claim 3, wherein said flow control device is manually manipulated to control the amount of diluent released by said emitter into said process stream.

5. The system as claimed In claim 3, wherein said system further includes a controller operatively connected to said flow control device, said controller arranged to receive output signals from said measurement instrument representing the dilution concentration of the representative sample under analysis and responsive to said output signals received from said measurement instrument to develop and apply an output to said flow control device that manipulates the flow control device to control the amount of diluent released by said emitter into said process stream.

6. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said process stream is contained within a conduit.

7. A system for the extraction and delivery of a diluted representative sample of a processed medium, flowing in a process stream, for the analysis by a particle measurement instrument, said system comprising:

a conduit arranged to substantially contain and allow said process stream to flow therethrough;

a housing located within said conduit, longitudinally aligned with said process stream, arranged to receive and allow a portion of said process stream to flow therethrough;

a diluent delivery apparatus including an emitter extending into said housing, said emitter arranged to release a stream of diluent into the process stream flowing in said housing, said diluent mixing with said processed medium, forming a stream of diluted processed medium flowing in said housing downstream of said emitter;

a sample recirculation apparatus connected to said particle measurement instrument, said sample recirculation apparatus including a collector extending into said housing downstream from said emitter and a drain extending into said conduit downstream of said collector, said collector arranged to capture representative samples of said diluted processed medium flowing past said collector and, responsive to said process stream flowing in said housing, said sample recirculating apparatus conveys on a continual basis said diluted representative samples to said particle measurement instrument for analysis, replacing previously conveyed diluted representative samples, whereby said replaced diluted representative samples are conveyed to said drain and returned to said process stream.

8. The system as claimed In claim 7, wherein said diluent delivery apparatus includes a flow control device connected to said emitter and to a source of diluent, whereby said flow control device is arranged to be manipulated to connect said source of diluent to said emitter and to control the amount of diluent released by said emitter into said process stream.

9. The system as claimed In claim 8, wherein said flow control device is manually manipulated to control the amount of diluent released by said emitter into said process stream.

10. The system as claimed In claim 8, wherein said system further includes a controller operatively connected to said flow control device, said controller arranged to receive output signals from said measurement instrument representing the dilution concentration of the representative sample under analysis and, responsive to said output signals received from said measurement instrument, to develop and apply an output to said flow control device that manipulates the flow control device to control the amount of diluent released by said emitter into said process stream.

11. A system for the extraction and delivery of a diluted representative sample of a processed medium, flowing in a process stream, for the analysis by a particle measurement instrument, said system comprising:

means for encompassing receiving and channeling therethrough a portion of said process stream, forming an isolated portion of said processed medium from said processed medium flowing in said process stream;

means for delivering and releasing into said isolated portion a stream of diluent, said diluent mixing with said processed medium forming a stream of diluted processed medium flowing in said isolated portion;

means for extracting arranged to capture representative samples of said diluted processed medium flowing in said isolated portion and responsive to said process stream said means for extracting conveys on a continual basis said diluted representative samples to said particle measurement instrument for analysis; and

means for returning arranged to receive from said measurement instrument the representative samples displaced by newly arriving representative samples and return said representative samples displaced to said process stream.