Bubble removing device, system and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a bubble removing device, system and method.The bubble removing device comprises a shell with a containing cavity and a rectification structure, a liquid outlet is formed in the lower portion of the shell, a degassing opening is formed in the top wall of the shell, and the rectification structure is arranged on the bottom wall of the shell and comprises at least two rectification pipes fixedly connected together; the pipe diameters of the at least two rectifying pipes are sequentially reduced from bottom to top to form a step pipe, a bottom opening of the rectifying structure is a liquid inlet, a top opening of the rectifying structure is located below the degassing opening, and a gas escape area is formed in an area between the top opening of the rectifying structure and the degassing opening. The rectifying structure is of a step structure with a large lower part and a small upper part, the large-diameter end of the rectifying structure is a liquid inlet, bubbles are randomly distributed when gas-liquid mixed fluid enters the rectifying pipes with larger diameters according to the laminar flow characteristic of the fluid, and when the gas-liquid mixed fluid enters the second rectifying pipe, the bubbles are changed into a linear queue from a dispersed state and are separated from a degassing port after passing through a gas escape area; the separation effect is good, the cost is low, the factory cost of biochemical analysis instruments is reduced, and the market competitiveness is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of liquid circuits of in vitro diagnostic equipment, and in particular to a bubble removal device and a bubble removal device, system and method. Background Art

[0002] During the operation of in vitro diagnostic equipment, there are often a lot of cleaning and perfusion actions. For example, during the magnetic bead cleaning process, the cleaning solution needs to be perfused multiple times, and suction is required after each perfusion. The bubbles in the liquid have a great impact on the performance of the in vitro diagnostic equipment, and are prone to deviations in the accuracy of sample addition, false triggering of the system sensor, and abnormal instrument test results. Traditional fluid debubbling methods mainly include room temperature standing and degassing membranes to remove bubbles in the washing solution. Room temperature standing requires a long time of placement in a room temperature environment. For crystalline washing solutions, long-term placement will crystallize and block the pipeline, and cannot meet the degassing needs of biochemical analysis equipment; the surface of the degassing membrane is evenly distributed with micropores, and the gas continuously moves into the hollow membrane through the micropores and is taken away (needs to be vacuumed away). Although the degassing effect is good, the system is complex and the cost is high. There are certain requirements for the proportion of gas, and the larger the flow rate, the larger the size of the degassing membrane needs to be selected, which further increases the production cost of in vitro diagnostic equipment. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the first object of the present invention is to provide a debubble device, the second object is to provide a debubble system, and the third object is to provide a debubble method.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The debubbling device of the present invention comprises a shell having a containing cavity and a rectifying structure arranged in the shell, a liquid outlet is arranged at the lower part of the shell, a degassing port is opened on the top wall of the shell, the rectifying structure is arranged on the bottom wall of the shell, and comprises at least two rectifying tubes fixed together, the tube diameters of the at least two rectifying tubes decrease from bottom to top to form a step tube, the bottom opening of the rectifying structure is a liquid inlet, the top opening thereof is located below the degassing port, and the area between the top opening of the rectifying structure and the degassing port forms a gas escape area; The inner diameter of the top rectifier tube of the rectifier structure is r n , which is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the degassing port R .

[0005] The beneficial effect is that the rectifying structure of the present invention is a stepped structure with a larger bottom and a smaller top, and the large diameter end of the rectifying structure is the liquid inlet end. According to the "laminar flow" characteristics of the fluid, the gas-liquid mixed fluid enters the rectifying tube with a larger diameter, and the bubbles are randomly distributed in the rectifying tube. When it enters the second rectifying tube, the bubbles change from a dispersed state to a linear queue, and escape from the degassing port after passing through the escape area, thereby realizing gas-liquid separation, with good separation effect and low cost, thereby reducing the factory cost of biochemical analysis instruments and improving market competitiveness.

[0006] Preferably, a degassing pipe joint is connected to the degassing port; the rectifying structure and the bottom wall of the shell are connected in a sliding seal. The rectifying structure of the present invention and the bottom wall of the shell are connected in a sliding seal, so that the installation height of the rectifying structure can be flexibly adjusted relative to the shell to meet the degassing requirements at different liquid inlet flow rates.

[0007] Preferably, the rectification structure is installed at the middle position of the bottom wall of the shell, and the degassing port is located at the middle position of the top wall of the shell, further ensuring that the bubbles are centrally distributed when escaping, avoiding bubbles from escaping from the escape area due to uneven distribution, and ensuring the degassing rate of the bubbles to reduce the impact on the instrument.

[0008] The present invention also provides a degassing system, comprising a container for containing washing liquid or purified water, a water pump, and a degassing device, wherein the degassing device comprises a shell with a accommodating cavity and a rectifying structure arranged in the shell, a liquid outlet is arranged at the lower part of the shell, a degassing port is opened on the top wall of the shell, and the rectifying structure is arranged on the bottom wall of the shell, and comprises at least two rectifying tubes fixedly connected together, the tube diameters of at least two rectifying tubes decrease from bottom to top to form a step tube, the bottom opening of the rectifying structure is a liquid inlet, and the top opening thereof is located below the degassing port, and the area between the top opening of the rectifying structure and the degassing port forms a gas escape zone; the inner diameter of the top rectifying tube of the rectifying structure is r n , which is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the degassing port R ; The inlet of the water pump is connected to the container, the outlet of the water pump is connected to the liquid inlet of the debubble device, the liquid outlet of the debubble device is connected to the sampling needle of the biochemical analyzer, and its degassing port is connected to the container through a flow regulating pipeline (a flow regulating valve is provided on the flow regulating pipeline), and can flow back into the container (entering from the top of the container) to adjust the liquid usage of the instrument.

[0009] The present invention also proposes a debubbling method, which adopts a debubbling device, wherein the debubbling device comprises a shell with a accommodating cavity and a rectifying structure arranged in the shell, the lower part of the shell is provided with a liquid outlet, the top wall of the shell is provided with a degassing port, the rectifying structure is arranged on the bottom wall of the shell, and comprises at least two rectifying tubes fixedly connected together, the tube diameters of the at least two rectifying tubes decrease from bottom to top to form a step tube, the bottom opening of the rectifying structure is a liquid inlet, and the top opening thereof is located below the degassing port, and the area between the top opening of the rectifying structure and the degassing port forms a gas escape zone; the inner diameter of the top rectifying tube of the rectifying structure is r n , which is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the degassing port R ; The method is to rectify the gas flow by the degassing device, and the degassing condition is: the axial running time of the bubbles from the rectifying structure is t y ≤The radial movement time of the bubble t x ; Among them, the height difference between the top of the rectifier structure and the degassing port L , the flow rate at its inlet Q , flow rate at the outlet Q x , flow rate at the degassing port Q y , the axial velocity of the bubble V y and the radial velocity of the bubble V x Satisfy the following formula: ① Q = Q x + Q y ;② Q x =2π r n V x ③ Q y =2π r n V y ④ L=V y t y ⑤ R = V x t x ; From the above formulas ①~⑤ and t y≤ t x It can be seen that L / Q y ≤ R / Q x .

[0010] In the present invention, the velocity of the bubble after it comes out of the rectifying structure can be decomposed into radial velocity and axial velocity. t y ≤ Radial movement time t x It can be ensured that the bubbles are separated from the degassing port. According to the test, the degassing rate of the bubbles other than dissolved oxygen can reach 100%, and the degassing effect is good. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the degassing device of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 It is a path diagram of the fluid and bubbles in the degassing device of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure and dimensions of the degassing device of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the degassing system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following is a detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. This embodiment is implemented on the premise of the technical solution of the present invention, and a detailed implementation method and a specific operation process are given, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0016] It should be noted that, in the description of the present invention, relational terms such as “first” and “second” are merely used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

[0017] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" that may appear should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0018] like Figure 1-3As shown, the present invention proposes a degassing device, including a shell 1 with a accommodating cavity and a rectifying structure arranged in the shell 1, the lower part of the shell 1 is provided with a liquid outlet 2 (the liquid outlet 2 can be one, or two or more), and a degassing port 3 is opened at the center of the top wall of the shell 1; the rectifying structure is installed on the bottom wall of the shell 1 and corresponds to the degassing port 3 up and down (preferably coaxially installed), the rectifying structure includes two rectifying tubes fixedly connected together (respectively recorded as a primary rectifying tube 4 and a secondary rectifying tube 5), the primary rectifying tube 4 and the secondary rectifying tube 5 are fixedly connected together and the diameter decreases from bottom to top to form a step tube (of course, in actual installation, the rectifying structure can also be a step tube composed of three or more rectifying tubes); the bottom opening of the rectifying structure is the liquid inlet, and the top opening thereof is located directly below the degassing port 3 (which is a circular hole), the area between the top opening of the rectifying structure and the degassing port 3 forms a gas escape zone, and the inner diameter of the upper rectifying tube (i.e., the secondary rectifying tube 5) r n ≤Inner diameter of degassing port 3 R , ensure that the bubbles coming out of the secondary rectifier tube 5 are distributed in the center when escaping, avoid the bubbles leaving the escape area due to uneven distribution, ensure the degassing rate, and reduce the impact on the instrument.

[0019] The rectifying structure of the present invention is a stepped structure with a larger top and a smaller bottom. According to the "laminar flow" characteristics of the fluid, the bubbles are randomly distributed after the gas-liquid mixed fluid enters the primary rectifying tube 4 with a larger diameter. When entering the secondary rectifying tube 5, the bubbles change from a dispersed state to a linear queue. By controlling the speed of the bubbles and the height difference between the rectifying structure and the degassing port 3, the bubbles can be completely discharged from the degassing port 3, achieving a 100% degassing rate.

[0020] The present invention can achieve 100% degassing by installing a step pipe in the housing 1, has a simple structure, is easy to process, and has low cost, which significantly reduces the cost of the biochemical analysis instrument and improves the competitiveness of the manufacturer.

[0021] In actual processing, since liquid will also flow out from the degassing port 3, a degassing pipe joint 6 is installed at the degassing port 3 to connect the degassing pipe to discharge the gas discharged from the housing 1; The rectifying structure and the outer shell 1 can be connected by a sliding seal, so that the rectifying structure can be flexibly adjusted relative to the outer shell 1, and then the height difference between the rectifying structure and the degassing port 3 can be adjusted, so that the degassing device of the present invention can meet the bubble removal requirements in a large flow range and improve the scope of application; of course, during actual installation, the rectifying structure and the outer shell 1 can also be fixedly connected to meet the needs of biochemical analysis instruments with smaller flow changes.

[0022] Combination Figure 4It can be seen that the present invention also proposes a debubble system, including a container 7 (for containing cleaning liquid or purified water, etc.), a water pump 8, and also includes a debubble device F in this embodiment, the inlet of the water pump 8 is connected to the container 7 (the water inlet pipe of the water pump 8 penetrates into the bottom of the container), the outlet of the water pump 8 is connected to the liquid inlet of the debubble device F, and the degassing port of the debubble device F is connected to the container 7 through a flow regulating pipeline (a flow regulating valve 9 is provided on the flow regulating pipeline), so that part of the fluid can flow back into the container (entering from the upper part of the container to make the bubbles float on the liquid surface of the container) to adjust the liquid usage of the instrument.

[0023] When working, start the water pump 8 (which can be a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump, etc.), and the water pump 8 pumps the fluid containing bubbles into the debubble device. The fluid first enters the primary rectifier tube 4. According to the laminar flow characteristics, the bubbles are randomly distributed in the primary rectifier tube 4 and are in a dispersed state; after entering the secondary rectifier tube 5, the bubbles change from a dispersed state to a linear queue, enter the gas escape zone one by one and are discharged from the degassing port 3 at the top; as the water level of the rectifier structure rises, the liquid overflows into the accommodating cavity of the outer shell to achieve gas-liquid separation, providing gas-free cleaning liquid or purified water for the biochemical reaction, thereby reducing the impact on the biochemical analysis instrument; during operation, part of the liquid flows out from the degassing port, and the flow rate of the degassing fluid flowing out of the liquid outlet can be adjusted to meet the instrument requirements.

[0024] The present invention also proposes a method for removing bubbles, which uses the debubbling device of the present invention to rectify the flow, so that the axial running time of the bubbles coming out of the rectifying structure is shortened. t y ≤Radial movement time of bubbles t x , that is, to ensure that the bubble's movement time in the axial length L is as short as possible than its radial movement time in the range R, so that the bubble can t y The degassing port 3 can be entered within the time. The specific conditions are as follows: The height difference between the top of the rectifying structure and the degassing port 3 is L , the flow rate at the liquid inlet of the rectifier structure is Q (This flow rate can be obtained during the operation of the biochemical analyzer and is a known parameter that can be changed). The flow rate at outlet 2 is Q x (This flow value can be obtained during the operation of the instrument), the flow rate at the degassing port 3 is Q y , the axial velocity of the bubble is V y and the radial velocity of the bubble is V x , they satisfy the following formula: ① Q =Q x + Q y ;② Q x =2π r n V x ; ③ Q y =2π r n V y ④ L=V y t y ⑤ R = V x t x ; From the above formulas ①~⑤ and t y ≤ t x It can be seen that L / Q y ≤ R / Q x (i.e., formula ⑥). During degassing, L / Q y ≤ R / Q x This ensures that the bubbles coming out of the rectifying structure completely enter the degassing port 3. According to tests, the degassing rate of the bubbles in the fluid except for dissolved oxygen can reach 100%, and the degassing effect is good.

[0025] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the aforementioned embodiments without creative work, or replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents. Therefore, any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A degassing device, characterized in that: It comprises a shell with a containing cavity and a rectifying structure arranged in the shell, a liquid outlet is arranged at the lower part of the shell, a degassing port is opened on the top wall of the shell, the rectifying structure is arranged on the bottom wall of the shell, and comprises at least two rectifying tubes fixed together, the tube diameters of the at least two rectifying tubes decrease from bottom to top to form a step tube, the bottom opening of the rectifying structure is a liquid inlet, the top opening of the rectifying structure is located below the degassing port, and the area between the top opening of the rectifying structure and the degassing port forms a gas escape area; The inner diameter of the top rectifier tube of the rectifier structure is r n , which is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the degassing port R .

2. The degassing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The degassing port is connected with a degassing pipe joint; the rectifying structure is connected to the bottom wall of the shell in a sliding and sealing manner.

3. The degassing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rectifying structure is installed at the middle position of the bottom wall of the shell, and the degassing port is located at the middle position of the top wall of the shell.

4. A bubble removal system, comprising a container for containing washing liquid or purified water and a water pump, characterized in that: It also includes the degassing device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the inlet of the water pump is connected to the container, the outlet of the water pump is connected to the liquid inlet of the degassing device, the liquid outlet of the degassing device is connected to the sampling needle of the biochemical analyzer, and its degassing port is connected to the container through a flow regulating pipeline.

5. A method for removing bubbles, characterized in that: The degassing device according to claims 1 to 3 is used, and the method is to rectify the flow by the degassing device, and the degassing conditions are as follows: The axial running time of the bubbles coming out of the rectification structure t y ≤The radial movement time of the bubble t x ; The height difference between the top of the rectifier structure and the degassing port L , the flow rate at its inlet Q , flow rate at the outlet Q x , flow rate at the degassing port Q y , the axial velocity of the bubble V y and the radial velocity of the bubble V x Satisfy the following formula: ① Q = Q x + Q y ;② Q x =2π r n V x ; ③ Q y =2π r n V y ④ L=V y t y ⑤ R = V x t x ; From the above formulas ①~⑤ and t y ≤ t x It can be seen that L / Q y ≤ R / Q x .

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