Sensor cleaning and calibration devices and systems
Active Publication Date: 2021-01-14
HACH CO
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- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
The present invention provides a sensor holder assembly that allows for easy visual inspection of the electrode during normal operation and cleaning / calibration procedures. The holder assembly is made from a transparent or translucent material, such as acrylic or a similar plastic, and may include a magnifying lens and LED lights to improve visibility. The holder assembly may also have an internal chemical distribution manifold or needle valves to allow for manual cleaning and calibration of the sensor. The invention also includes a computerized system for automating cleaning and calibration functions, which reduces labor and improves safety by limiting exposure to potentially hazardous materials. The sensor holder assembly may accommodate a plurality of sensor cleaning methods and can be used in water processing and treatment systems. The invention also includes features that make it particularly applicable to systems that receive, process, and treat dirty or contaminated aqueous streams. Overall, the invention improves the visibility and safety of the sensor while also automating the cleaning and calibration process.
Problems solved by technology
While some methods and systems have been developed that enable automated cleaning of sensors to prevent accumulation of foulants, such devices are generally configured to employ only a single cleaning function, or in some cases dual cleaning functions, which is typically inadequate to prevent accumulation of the full array of foulants that may be encountered.
Thus, even those systems employing an automated cleaning function require periodic manual cleaning to remove those foulants not removed, or not completely removed, by an air burst and / or water jet.
Additional complications and drawbacks of existing automated sensor cleaning methods and systems include the fact that such methods and systems are generally ineffective to clean the sensor while the sensor is submerged in the aqueous analyte stream.
Cleaning of sensors by water jetting or aeration is ineffective or less effective when carried out underwater, and cleaning treatments that utilize a rinse or soak of the sensor in a foreign chemical (e.g. acid or hot water) are not feasible unless the sensor is physically removed from the aqueous analyte stream.
Ultrasonic cleaning is likewise ineffective when the sensor is positioned in water, as sonic waves generated by a transducer dissipate through the aqueous stream and away from the targeted sensor.
While such systems improve the ease of cleaning and calibration, whether in a manual or automated mode, such methods and systems still require retrieval of the sensor / electrode before it can be cleaned and / or calibrated.
Method used
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[0077]In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments disclosed herein. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that various embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope or applicability of the disclosure. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the preceding description omits a number of known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scopes of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should however be appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond ...
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An electrode cleaning and calibration system generally comprises a sensor holder assembly machined from a block of solid acrylic or similar plastic material, which can accommodate a variety of types and sizes of sensors for use in monitoring and measurement of water processing and treatment processes. Examples of sensors suitable for use in the system include pH sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, chlorine sensors, ozone sensors, total suspended solid sensors, mixed liquor suspended solid sensors, ammonia sensors, monochloramine sensors, and ultraviolent transmittance sensors.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62 / 995,873, filed 18 Feb. 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62 / 921,821, filed 7 Jun. 2019, the entireties of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to devices and systems for holding, cleaning, and calibrating analytical sensors, and particularly to such devices and systems in which the sensors can be held, inspected, cleaned, and / or calibrated in either a manual mode or an automated mode without the need to remove the sensors from the device or system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]To maintain and verify accurate water quality and process performance and comply with regulatory requirements, water processing and treatment facilities (e.g. municipal drinking water and wastewater facilities and water processing units in food processing plants, chemical processing...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): G01N33/18G01N35/00G01N35/10
CPCG01N33/1893G01N33/1886G01N35/1004G01N35/00623G01N35/00693G01N27/38G01N27/4165G01N35/1097G01N2001/205G01N2001/2064G01N1/2035G01N27/4163
InventorMCLEOD, GREGG ALLAN
OwnerHACH CO