Sheet-form membrane sample probe, method and apparatus for fluid concentration analysis

• US 7,111,503 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalog Acquisition LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Datalog Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, W. Bruce, Norquay, Darrell A., Brumboiu, Aurel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARBER, CHARLES D
• Application Number:
  US10/707,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 73/645.6, 738/632.3, 738/638.1, 738/648.1, 738/665
• US Class Current: 73/64.56
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/025 Specific membrane holders
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/06 External membrane module supporting or fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2319/04 Elements in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/087 Single membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/34 Purifying; Cleaning processes or apparatus for extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2232 using a membrane, i.e. pervaporation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/4016 being a selective membrane, e.g. dialysis or osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/146 using membranes

Abstract

A sheet form membrane probe, an apparatus and method, wherein the probe includes a probe body, a sheet-form membrane secured to the probe body and including an open surface exposed to the exterior of the probe; a channel formed between the probe body and the membrane through which a collector fluid can flow; an inlet port opening to the channel to conduct collector fluid to the channel; and an outlet port spaced from the inlet port such that the collector fluid passes through the channel from the inlet port to the outlet port in a flow direction substantially parallel to the membrane. The channel may be formed to provide broad surface contact of the collector fluid with the membrane. The membrane open surface may include an active area open to a sample fluid and open on an opposite side for contact with collector fluid flow in the channel. The active area may be large relative to the total membrane area to provide for an effective use of the expensive membrane material. Another probe includes a fitting end and a membrane stem and secures membranes to at least two sides of the membrane stem such that permeation can occur along a channel passing from the fitting end along the membrane stem and returning to the fitting end from the membrane stem.

Claims

1. A probe for analyzing fluid concentrations in a fluid to be analyzed, the probe comprising:

a probe body;

a sheet-form membrane secured to the probe body and including end and side perimeter edges, an outer facing side exposed at least in part to the exterior of the probe, an inner facing side opposite the outer facing side and a total membrane surface area measured on one of the inner facing side or the outer facing side between the end and side perimeter edges;

a channel formed between the probe body and the membrane through which a collector fluid can flow;

an inlet port opening to the channel to conduct collector fluid to the channel; and

an outlet port spaced from the inlet port such that the collector fluid passes through the channel from the inlet port to the outlet port in a flow direction substantially parallel to the membrane;

the channel being defined by a depth between the probe body and the membrane and a width extending substantially orthogonal to the flow direction between side limits of the channel and the width being at least 5 times greater than the depth;

and the total membrane surface area includes an active area that is open both (i) on the outer facing side to the fluid to be analyzed and (ii) on the inner facing side for contact with collector fluid flow in the channel and the active area is at least 20% of the total membrane surface area.

2. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the membrane is a composite including a membrane.

3. The probe of claim 1 wherein the active area is at least about 40% of the total membrane surface area.

4. The probe of claim 1 wherein the channel width is at least 10 times greater than the channel depth.

5. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the side limits of the channel include a gasket between the membrane and the probe body.

6. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the side limits of the channel include sidewalls defined by the material of the probe body.

7. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the membrane is clamped against the probe body.

8. A probe as described in claim 7 further comprising a frame for clamping the membrane against the probe body.

9. A probe as described in claim 8, wherein the frame includes a clamping part and a return extending from the clamping part.

10. A probe as described in claim 1 further comprising a membrane support in the channel, the membrane support disposed between the membrane and the probe body between the side limits of the channel.

11. A probe as described in claim 10 wherein the membrane support is in contact with the probe body and the membrane.

12. A probe as described in claim 10 wherein the membrane support includes raised portions on the probe body extending up in the channel.

13. A probe as described in claim 10 wherein the membrane support includes raised portions on the probe body extending up in the channel.

14. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the inlet port is in communication with a inlet conduit and the outlet port is in communication with an outlet conduit and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit extend through the probe body.

15. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the probe body includes a membrane stem on which the membrane is mounted and a filling end connected to the membrane stem, and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit each open on the fitting end.

16. A probe as described in claim 15 wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are configured such that the collector fluid flowing through the inlet conduit moves in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the collector fluid flaw through the outlet conduit.

17. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the probe includes a fitting end for mounting the probe in a process and the probe body has a maximum outer dimension less than the maximum outer dimension of the fitting end.

18. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the membrane is in the shape of an elongate ribbon.

19. A probe as described in claim 1 wherein the sheet-form membrane and the channel are considered the first membrane and the first channel and the probe further comprises a second sheet-form membrane secured to the probe body and including an open surface exposed to the exterior of the probe;

a second channel formed between the probe body and the second membrane through which the collector fluid can flow;

an inlet port for the second channel;

an outlet port from the second channel; and

a communication conduit providing fluid communication between the outlet port of the first channel and the inlet port of the second channel such that collector fluid from the first channel can flow through the hole to the second channel.

20. A probe as described in claim 19 wherein the inlet port of the first channel is in communication with an inlet conduit and the outlet port from the second channel is in communication with an outlet conduit and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit extend through the probe body.

21. A probe as described in claim 20 wherein the probe body includes a membrane stem on which the membrane is mounted and a filling end connected to the membrane stem, and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit each open on the fitting end such that the collector flow flows through the first channel in a direction away from the fitting end and flows through the second channel in a direction returning toward the fitting end.

22. A probe as described in claim 19 wherein the first membrane is mounted in a plane substantially parallel to the second membrane.

23. A probe as described in claim 19 wherein the probe includes a fitting end for mounting the probe in a process and the probe body has a maximum outer dimension less than the maximum outer dimension of the fitting end.

24. A probe as described in claim 19 wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are formed as elongate ribbons.

25. A method of analyzing a fluid for the existence of a component of interest, the method comprising:

using a probe as described in claim 1;

inserting the probe to the fluid so that at least the active area of the membrane is in contact with the fluid;

providing a collector fluid to the probe, the collector fluid passing through and exiting the probe; and

,

passing the exiting collector fluid on for analysis.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the collector fluid is continuously or intermittently provided to the probe.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the collector fluid is continuously or intermittently passed on for analysis.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the collector fluid is passed on to an analysis circuit.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the collector fluid is passed on to a unit capable of determining the presence of the component of interest.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the exiting collector fluid is dried.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the fluid is at a pressure greater than the collector fluid and the channel includes a membrane support for supporting the membrane against collapsing to obstruct the channel.

32. The method as described in claim 25 where the fluid to be analyzed is a drilling fluid including but not limited to water-based mud, diesel invert mud, synthetic oil-based mud, or fluids used in underbalanced drilling such as nitrogen, air, or a mixture of the above mentioned drilling fluids.

33. The method as described in claim 25 in an application for mudlogging and the component of interest includes one or more of hydrocarbons, vapors, permanent gases or volatiles.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the component of interest is analyzed using a catalytic combustible detector, a spectrophotometer, a chromatograph or a thermal conductive detector.

35. The method as described in claim 25 wherein the collector fluid flow rate is adjusted to adjust the concentration of the component of interest in the collector fluid.

36. An apparatus for analyzing a fluid for a component of interest, the apparatus comprising:

a membrane probe as described in claim 1;

a mounting configuration to install the probe in the process fluid to be analyzed;

a main unit including any of an analyzer, a flow conditioning/measuring device for a collector fluid, or a power supply; and

connections between the main unit and the probe including an incoming flow line from the main unit to the probe and an outcoming flow line from the probe to the main unit.

37. The apparatus as described in claim 36 where the collector fluid is air.

38. The apparatus as in claim 36 further comprising a membrane coaxial tubing in the outcoming flow line such that the outcoming flow from the probe to the main unit is dried during transport therethrough.

39. The apparatus as in claim 38 wherein the coaxial tubing accommodates the collector flow in its inner core and a flow of drying gas through an outer annulus.

40. The apparatus as in claim 36 further comprising flow control means and wherein a sample concentration range brought to the main unit by the collector fluid is switched using selected flow values for the collector fluid.

41. The apparatus as in claim 36 wherein the analyzer includes a catalytic combustible detector, a spectrophotometer, a chromatograph or a thermal conductive detector.

42. A probe for analyzing fluid concentrations in a fluid to be analyzed, the probe comprising:

a probe body;

a first sheet-form membrane secured to the probe body and including an open surface exposed to the exterior of the probe;

a first channel farmed between the probe body and the first membrane through which a collector fluid can flow;

an inlet port opening to the channel to conduct collector fluid to the channel; and

an outlet port spaced from the inlet port such that the collector fluid passes through the first channel from the inlet port to the outlet port in a flow direction substantially parallel to the first membrane;

a second sheet-form membrane secured to the probe body and including an open surface exposed to the exterior of the probe;

a second channel formed between the probe body and the second membrane through which the collector fluid can flow;

an inlet port for the second channel;

an outlet port from the second channel; and

a communication conduit providing fluid communication between the outlet port of the first channel and the inlet port of the second channel such that collector fluid from the first channel can flow through the communication conduit to the second channel.

43. The probe as described in claim 42 wherein the inlet port of the first channel is in communication with an inlet conduit and the outlet port from the second channel is in communication with an outlet conduit and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit extend through the probe body.

44. The probe as described in claim 43 wherein the probe body includes a membrane stem on which the membrane is mounted and a fitting end connected to the membrane stem, and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit each open on the fitting end such that the collector flow flows through the first channel in a direction away from the fitting end and flows through the second channel in a direction returning toward the fitting end.

45. The probe as described in claim 42 wherein the first membrane is mounted in a plane substantially parallel to the second membrane.

46. The probe as described in claim 42 wherein the probe includes a fitting end for mounting the probe in a process and the probe body has a maximum outer dimension less than the maximum outer dimension of the fitting end.

47. The probe as described in claim 42 wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are formed as elongate ribbons.

48. A probe for analyzing fluid concentrations in a fluid to be analyzed, the probe comprising:

a probe body;

a membrane secured to the probe body, the membrane prior to securing on the probe body having a planar, sheet-form geometry and including perimeter edges and an outer facing surface and inner facing surface between the perimeter edges;

a channel formed in an interstice between the probe body and the inner facing surface of the membrane through which a collector fluid can flow, the channel being defined by a depth between the probe body and the inner facing surface of the membrane and side limits formed by a seal positioned between the membrane and the probe body, a width defined between the side limits of the channel being at least 5 times greater than the depth;

an inlet port opening to the channel to conduct collector fluid to the channel; and

an outlet port spaced from the inlet port such that the collector fluid passes through the channel from the inlet port to the outlet port in a flow direction substantially parallel to the membrane; and

the membrane open surface includes an active area open (i) on the outer facing surface for contact with the fluid to be analyzed and (ii) open on the inner facing surface for contact with collector fluid flow in the channel and the active area is at least 20% of the total membrane surface area between the perimeter edges.

49. The probe as described in claim 48 wherein the seal defining the side limits of the channel include a gasket between the membrane and the probe body.

50. The probe as described in claim 48 wherein the seal defining the side limits of the channel is formed of glue.

51. The probe as described in claim 48 wherein the membrane is clamped against the probe body.

52. A probe as described in claim 48 further comprising a membrane Support in the channel, the membrane support disposed between the membrane and the probe body between the side limits of the channel.

53. A probe as described in claim 48 wherein the membrane support is in contact with the probe body and the membrane.

54. A probe as described in claim 48 wherein the membrane support includes raised portions on the probe body extending up in the channel.

55. A probe as described in claim 48 wherein the membrane support includes raised portions on the probe body extending up in the channel.

56. A probe as described in claim 48 wherein the inlet port is in communication with a inlet conduit and the outlet port is in communication with an outlet conduit and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit extend through the probe body.

57. A probe as described in claim 48 wherein the probe body includes a membrane stem on which the membrane is mounted and a fitting end connected to the membrane stem, and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit each open on the fitting end.

58. A probe as described in claim 48 wherein the membrane is in the shape of an elongate ribbon.