A visual sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization

Abstract

The application provides a portable sample stage for hydrate characterization. The portable sample stage comprises a housing, the housing comprising a sample chamber, a liquid injection chamber, and a communication tube connecting a bottom of the sample chamber and a bottom of the liquid injection chamber. The sample chamber further comprises a chamber cover assembly and a sample fixing assembly arranged in the sample chamber. The liquid injection chamber contains a cooling medium. The device can meet the requirements of direct observation at the excavation site and timely filling of cooling substances. In addition, the device is easy to carry and operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of hydrate detection technology, and more specifically to a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization. Background Technology

[0002] Natural gas hydrates are gaseous hydrates primarily found in seabed sediments or permafrost on land. Natural gas compounds are ice-like crystalline substances formed from natural gas and water under low temperature and high pressure conditions. It is a clean and abundant unconventional energy source.

[0003] However, due to the inherent instability of natural gas hydrates, stable storage is only possible under low temperature and high pressure conditions. Therefore, a suitable environment must be provided to conduct observations of natural gas hydrate samples.

[0004] Currently, conventional natural gas hydrate testing and observation stations can contaminate samples and affect the accuracy of data detection due to the condensation of water vapor in the air on the sample surface during use. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization, which can meet the requirements for direct observation at the excavation site and ensure timely replenishment of liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, the use of liquid nitrogen effectively prevents water vapor condensation, ensuring the stability and non-decomposition of natural gas hydrates during observation. At the same time, this device is easy to carry and operate.

[0006] According to the present invention, a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization is provided, comprising: a housing, the housing including a sample chamber, a liquid injection chamber, and a connecting pipe connecting the bottom of the sample chamber and the bottom of the liquid injection chamber, wherein the sample chamber includes a chamber cover assembly for sealing the sample chamber, and a sample fixing assembly disposed within the sample chamber, the top of the liquid injection chamber is open, and the liquid injection chamber contains a cooling medium, such that the cooling medium enters the sample chamber through the connecting pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment, the chamber cover assembly includes a top cover and a discharge pipe that passes through the top cover and communicates with the sample chamber in a sealed manner.

[0008] In one embodiment, the top cover includes a first cover plate, a second cover plate, and a viewing window. The second cover plate is disposed on the housing, the viewing window is embedded in the second cover plate, and the first cover plate covers the surface of the viewing window circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the second cover plate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the discharge pipe includes an upright section and a curved section, one end of the upright section being connected to the sample chamber and the other end being connected to the curved section.

[0010] In one embodiment, the curved portion includes a first connecting portion with a larger diameter and a second connecting portion with a smaller diameter, wherein the second connecting portion includes an air outlet facing the window.

[0011] In one embodiment, the sample fixing assembly includes a bracket and a sample slot, the bracket being fixed to the bottom of the sample chamber and the sample slot being mounted on the top of the bracket.

[0012] In one embodiment, the support includes a base disposed at its bottom; the sample chamber includes a support base disposed at its bottom; the support base is detachably connected to the base.

[0013] In one embodiment, the height of the cooling medium in the sample chamber is set to be lower than the height of the support.

[0014] In one embodiment, the bracket includes any one of a groove-type bracket, a flat-type bracket, and a clamping bracket.

[0015] In one embodiment, the cooling medium is liquid nitrogen. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic perspective view of the structure of a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a grooved support in a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a flat plate support in a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a clamping support in a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown.

[0022] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals. The drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a visualization sample stage for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG1, the visualization sample stage 100 for hydrate characterization according to the present invention mainly includes a housing 10. In addition, the housing 10 includes a sample chamber 20, a liquid injection chamber 30, and a connecting pipe 11 connecting the sample chamber 20 and the liquid injection chamber 30.

[0025] According to the present invention, the shell 10 can be made of foam material. The foam is preferably made of high-density expanded polyethylene or expanded polystyrene, which has a stable ability to store liquid nitrogen. Because the foam material has extremely low thermal conductivity, it can effectively maintain the external temperature of the foam shell, keeping it close to room temperature, thereby preventing frostbite to the user due to excessively cold foam shell. At the same time, because the foam material will not crack under the low temperature and high pressure environment caused by liquid nitrogen, it can effectively prevent the safety hazard of liquid nitrogen leakage.

[0026] The injection chamber 30 is the inlet for injecting the cooling medium into the visualization sample stage 100. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling medium is liquid nitrogen. As described below, since the injection chamber 30 and the sample chamber 20 are connected by a connecting pipe 11, the liquid pressure in the two chambers is kept in balance, ensuring that the liquid levels in the injection chamber 30 and the sample chamber 20 are always at the same level. Thus, the remaining liquid nitrogen in the sample chamber 20 can be determined in real time simply by monitoring the liquid level in the injection chamber 30. When the liquid nitrogen in the sample chamber 20 is insufficient, it can be replenished by injecting liquid nitrogen into the injection chamber 30.

[0027] A connecting pipe 11 is located at the lower part of the visualization sample stage 100, connecting the sample chamber 20 and the injection chamber 30. Thus, the connecting pipe 11, sample chamber 20, and injection chamber 30 are constructed as a single communicating vessel, allowing liquid nitrogen injected into the injection chamber 30 to flow into the sample chamber 20 via the connecting pipe 11. This maintains a balance in the liquid pressure of the two chambers, ensuring that the liquid levels in the injection chamber 30 and sample chamber 20 remain at the same level. The top of the injection chamber 30 is open. This allows the liquid level in the sample chamber 20 to be determined by observing the liquid level in the injection chamber 30, enabling the injection of liquid nitrogen into the injection chamber 30 when needed. Therefore, liquid nitrogen can enter the sample chamber 20 through the connecting pipe 11, maintaining an ideal liquid nitrogen level in the sample chamber 20.

[0028] Figure 2A schematic diagram of a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the sample chamber 20 includes a chamber cover assembly 40 for sealing the sample chamber 20, and a sample fixing assembly 60 disposed within the sample chamber 20.

[0029] In this invention, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the area of ​​the cover assembly 40 is larger than the area of ​​the opening at the top of the sample chamber 20. This allows the cover assembly 40 to seal the sample chamber 20 when it is placed over it. Furthermore, the cover assembly 40 is threadedly connected to the sample chamber 20 via screws.

[0030] In this invention, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the chamber cover assembly 40 includes an upper cover 41 and a discharge pipe 50. The discharge pipe 50 passes through the upper cover 41 in a sealed manner and communicates with the sample chamber 20 for discharging cold nitrogen gas volatilized from the liquid nitrogen.

[0031] The top cover 41 includes a first cover plate 411, a second cover plate 412 and a viewing window 413. The second cover plate 412 is arranged on the housing 10, and the viewing window 413 is embedded in the second cover plate 412. The first cover plate 411 covers the surface of the viewing window 413 circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the second cover plate 412.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the second cover plate 412 is threadedly connected to the sample chamber 20 by screws. The first cover plate 412 is threadedly connected to the second cover plate 412 by screws, and the viewing window 413 is embedded between the first cover plate 412 and the second cover plate 412.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the discharge pipe 50 includes an upright section 51 and a curved section 52. One end of the upright section 51 is connected to the sample chamber 20, and the other end is connected to the curved section 52. The discharge pipe 50 can guide the cold nitrogen gas generated by the volatilization of liquid nitrogen above the sample fixing assembly 60 into the upright section 51 and discharge it outward through the curved section 52.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the diameter of the curved portion 52 gradually decreases, with the end with the larger diameter being the first connecting portion 521 and the end with the smaller diameter being the second connecting portion 522. The second connecting portion 522 is also provided with an air outlet 523, which faces the surface of the viewing window 413.

[0035] The second connecting part 522 transmits cold nitrogen gas from the upright part 51 to the second connecting part 522 and discharges it through the outlet 523. At this time, the cold nitrogen gas continuously purges the upper surface of the viewing window 413, thus ensuring that the upper surface of the viewing window 413 remains dry and clean during use of the visualization sample stage 100. As shown above, since the sample chamber 20 is filled with liquid nitrogen, and the cold nitrogen gas generated by the evaporation of the liquid nitrogen diffuses above the sample fixing assembly 60, the lower surface of the viewing window 413 located within the sample chamber 20 also remains dry and clean. Therefore, the accuracy of the characterization test data is effectively guaranteed.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the sample fixing assembly 60 includes a support 61 and a sample slot 62, with the sample slot 62 mounted on top of the support 61. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the sample slot 62 is used to hold hydrate samples to meet the requirements for hydrate sample observation.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the support 61 includes a base 611 disposed at its bottom. The sample chamber 20 includes a support base 21 disposed at its bottom, and the support base 21 and the base 611 are detachably connected.

[0038] Specifically, the bracket 21 is made of magnetic material and can be connected to the base 611 by magnetic attraction, so as to realize the replaceability of the bracket 61.

[0039] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a grooved support in a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown. Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a flat plate support in a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown. Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a clamping support in a visualization sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to the present invention is shown. Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the support 61 includes, but is not limited to, a grooved support 70, a flat support 71 and a clamping support 72, and one of the supports 61 is installed in the sample chamber 20 as a support structure for holding the sample.

[0040] Furthermore, different types of supports 61 can be used depending on the type of hydrate sample. For example, a grooved support 70 is preferred for powdery samples, a flat support 71 is preferred for granular or flake samples, and a clamping support 72 is preferred for blocky samples.

[0041] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the visualization sample stage 100 includes the following steps.

[0042] First, a suitable support 61 is selected according to the type of hydrate sample. As mentioned above, a grooved support 70 is preferred for powdery samples, a flat support 71 is preferred for granular or flake samples, and a clamping support 72 is preferred for blocky samples. Simultaneously, the selected support 61 is magnetically mounted on the support base 21.

[0043] Subsequently, according to the requirements of the visualization sample stage 100 of the present invention, a suitable viewing window 413 is selected, and the first cover plate 411, the second cover plate 412 and the viewing window 413 in the cover assembly 40 are assembled. After the assembly is completed, the surface of the viewing window 413 is cleaned.

[0044] Next, liquid nitrogen is injected into the injection chamber 30, and the liquid nitrogen flows into the sample chamber 20 through the connecting pipe 11, pre-cooling the support 61. The height of the injected liquid nitrogen is lower than the height of the support 61, so that there is a certain distance between the sample and the liquid nitrogen.

[0045] After the support 61 has been pre-cooled, the hydrate sample is placed in the sample chamber 62, and the assembled chamber cover assembly 40 is threadedly connected to the sample chamber 20. After installation, the viewing window 413 is checked for clarity and transparency.

[0046] Finally, the hydrate samples are tested. During the testing process, the liquid level in the injection chamber 30 needs to be monitored in real time. When the liquid nitrogen level is insufficient, liquid nitrogen needs to be added to the injection chamber 30 in a timely manner to ensure that the liquid nitrogen level in the sample chamber 20 is at the ideal level.

[0047] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can easily make changes or modifications within the scope of the present invention, and such changes or modifications should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A visual sample stage (100) suitable for hydrate characterization, comprising: a housing (10) comprising a sample chamber (20), a liquid injection chamber (30), and a communication pipe (11) connecting a bottom of the sample chamber (20) and a bottom of the liquid injection chamber (30), wherein the sample chamber (20) comprises a chamber cover assembly (40) for sealing the sample chamber (20), and a sample fixing assembly (60) disposed in the sample chamber (20), a top of the liquid injection chamber (30) is open, the liquid injection chamber (30) contains a cooling medium, so that the cooling medium enters the sample chamber (20) through the communication pipe (11), the chamber cover assembly (40) comprises an upper cover (41) and a discharge pipe (50), the discharge pipe (50) is sealingly communicated with the sample chamber (20) through the upper cover (41), the upper cover (41) comprises a first cover plate (411), a second cover plate (412) and a window (413), the discharge pipe (50) comprises a vertical part (51) and a curved part (52), one end of the vertical part (51) is communicated with the sample chamber (20), the other end is connected with the curved part (52), the curved part (52) comprises a first connecting part (521) with a larger diameter and a second connecting part (522) with a smaller diameter, wherein the second connecting part (522) comprises an air outlet (523), the air outlet (523) faces the window (413).

2. The visualized sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second cover plate (412) is arranged on the housing (10), the window (413) is embedded in the second cover plate (412), and the first cover plate (411) is circumferentially covered on the surface of the window (413) and fixedly connected with the second cover plate (412).

3. The visualized sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The sample fixing assembly (60) comprises a bracket (61) and a sample groove (62), the bracket (61) is fixed at the bottom of the sample chamber (20), and the sample groove (62) is installed at the top of the bracket (61).

4. The visualized sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bracket (61) comprises a base (611) disposed at the bottom thereof; the sample chamber (20) comprises a bracket seat (21) disposed at the bottom thereof; and the bracket seat (21) is detachably connected with the base (611).

5. The visualized sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to claim 3, characterized in that, The height of the cooling medium in the sample chamber (20) is set to be lower than the height of the bracket (61).

6. The visualized sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bracket (61) comprises any one of a groove type bracket (70), a flat plate type bracket (71), and a clamping type bracket (72).

7. A visualizing sample stage suitable for hydrate characterization according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The cooling medium is liquid nitrogen.

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