Process analysis device

Abstract

The invention relates to a process analysis device (10) for continuously determining water parameters of water (14) at a stationary water intake point (12), comprising an automatic analysis unit (100) and a water sample supply pump (30) for pumping a water sample flow from the stationary water intake point (12) to the automatic analysis unit (100). The automatic analyzer unit (100) comprises: a physical analyzer (66) having an analysis chamber (60) in which a water parameter is physically determined; a separate gripping sample container (110) of at least 20 ml for collecting a gripping sample volume; and a fluid control device (200) for selectively directing the analyser sample from the water sample stream to the analysis chamber (60) and / or directing the grabbed sample to the grabbed sample container (110), the fluid control device (200) includes an electronic control unit (90) with a grab sampling controller (92) and a grab sampling standard device (94, 95, 96) for initiating a grab sampling action controlled by the grab sampling controller (92). The automatic analyzer unit can provide a grabbing sample, so that manual grabbing and sampling are not needed any more.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a process analysis device for continuously determining water parameters of water at a fixed water intake point. Background Art

[0002] A process analysis device generally includes a sample probe in a water tank having, for example, drinking water or sewage, and an automatic analyzer unit remote from the sample probe and the water tank. A water sample supply pump is arranged to continuously pump a water sample stream from the sample probe to the automatic analyzer unit, where one or more parameters of the water are physically determined in a physical analyzer (such as a photometer, a fluorometer, an electrochemical measurement unit, a turbidimeter, etc.) in a quasi - continuous manner. Typical water parameters controlled in the process analysis device include ammonium, phosphate, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand (COD), etc.

[0003] A typical process analyzer is disclosed in US20220136961A1.

[0004] The results of the process analysis device are periodically verified by manually taking water grab samples from the fixed water intake point and manually determining the relevant water parameters in a separate laboratory analyzer. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to simplify the verification of the results of the process analysis device.

[0006] This object is achieved by a process analysis device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] The process analysis device according to the present invention for continuously determining water parameters of water at a fixed water intake point is provided with an automatic analyzer unit and a water sample supply pump for pumping a water sample stream from the fixed water intake point to the automatic analyzer unit. Since the automatic analyzer unit is usually located at a position remote from the fixed water intake point, a feed pump is necessary. The water sample supply pump can generally be any type of pump, such as a positive displacement pump or a flow pump. Usually, the water sample supply pump is a peristaltic pump.

[0008] The automatic analyzer unit includes a physical analyzer having an analysis chamber, in which the water parameters are physically determined. The physical analyzer can be a photometer, a fluorometer, an electrochemical measurement unit, a turbidimeter or other types of physical analyzers. Typical water parameters determined by the physical analyzer include ammonium, phosphate, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, etc.

[0009] The automatic analyzer unit is provided with a separate grab sample container having a volume of at least 20 ml for collecting a grab sample volume. The grab sample container is provided separately from the physical analyzer and allows receiving and storing a grab sample of water pumped by a feed pump to the automatic analyzer unit. The volume of the grab sample container is preferably 50 to 200 ml.

[0010] The automatic analyzer unit is provided with a fluid control device for selectively guiding an analyzer sample from a water sample stream from a fixed water intake point to an analysis chamber of the physical analyzer, and / or for selectively guiding a grab sample to the grab sample container. The fluid control device includes a plurality of valves that allow alternately or synchronously fluid guiding the water sample stream to the analysis chamber and the grab sample container.

[0011] The fluid control device further includes an electronic control unit having a grab sampling controller and a grab sampling criterion device for initiating a grab sample action controlled by the grab sampling controller. The grab sampling criterion device causes a grab sampling action.

[0012] The grab sampling criterion device may preferably be a manually triggered device that allows manually initiating and triggering pumping water from the water sample stream into the grab sample container.

[0013] Preferably, the grab sampling criterion device may be an electronic grab time memory that defines one or more time points for pumping water from the water sample stream into the grab sample container. The electronic control unit initiates a grab sampling action, for example, once every 24 hours at the same time every day, and uses a grab sample volume that is high enough to allow manual supervision of the normal operation of the process analysis device once a day. Alternatively, the electronic control unit may initiate a grab sampling action once per hour with a relatively small grab sample volume so as to ultimately provide a qualified grab sample after, for example, 24 hours, which represents the 24-hour average value of the water parameter under discussion.

[0014] Preferably, the grab sampling criterion device is a water parameter limit memory for storing the limits of the parameter under discussion. If the automatic analyzer unit detects an extreme value of the water parameter, a grab sampling action is initiated to allow later manual verification of whether the water parameter under discussion exceeds the limit and the extent to which it exceeds the limit.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, a second criterion may be monitored and a grab sampling may be caused. The second criterion may be, for example, pressure, flow rate, temperature or pH value.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the grab sample container is provided outside the analyzer unit housing of the autoanalyzer unit. More preferably, the grab sample container is simply removably provided at the autoanalyzer unit and is located outside the analyzer unit housing. The sample container can be manually removed and taken out of the autoanalyzer unit without using any tools. However, access to the grab sample container can be secured by a key lock so that it can only be removed after the grab sample container is accessible or unlocked with the corresponding key.

[0017] Preferably, the grab sample container has an additional top opening, and the autoanalyzer unit is provided with a grab sample supply line leading to this access top opening. When the grab sample container is removed from the autoanalyzer unit, the grab sample supply line remains at the autoanalysis location so that only the grab sample container is removed from the autoanalyzer unit. The grab sample container can simply be removed from the autoanalyzer unit and can be sent to a separate laboratory analysis device for providing a determination of the water parameter in question or another water parameter.

[0018] As an alternative or supplement to manually determining the water parameter in a separate laboratory analyzer unit, the physical analyzer of the autoanalyzer unit itself can provide a determination of the water parameter. For example, if the grab sample container contains a qualified grab sample accumulated from many small grab sample volumes, or if the liquid in the grab sample container is a standard liquid with known parameter values, this can be indicated.

[0019] Preferably, the autoanalyzer unit includes a separate volumetric metering pump for pumping a quantified water sample volume to the physical analyzer and to the grab sample container. The displacement volume of the metering pump is typically 1 to 10 ml and is preferably a piston pump. The piston pump allows very precisely pumping a smaller volume from the water sample stream to the physical analyzer, which allows for economical consumption of reagents, and pumping a smaller volume to the grab sample container, which allows for providing a qualified grab sample.

[0020] Generally, the water sample supply pump can be positioned away from the autoanalyzer unit. However, preferably, the water sample supply pump is integrated into the autoanalyzer unit so that all the pumps of the process analysis device become part of the autoanalyzer unit.

[0021] Preferably, the sample probe is located at a fixed water intake point positioned away from the autoanalyzer unit. The sample probe can be provided with an efficient filtering device for mechanically purifying the water sample stream flowing from the sample probe to the autoanalyzer unit.

[0022] Preferably, the autoanalyzer unit is provided with a reagent tank containing a liquid reagent. The liquid reagent is added to the water sample to initiate a reaction, which allows for determining the water parameter in the analysis chamber in question. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings schematically show a process analysis device having a fixed water intake point and an automatic analyzer unit remote from the water intake point. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The drawings schematically show a process analysis device 10 having a fixed water intake point 12 which, in the present embodiment, is a water treatment tank of a water treatment plant, and the drawings show a separate automatic analyzer unit 100 positioned remote from the water intake point 12. The tank contains water 14, the water parameters of which are quasi - continuously controlled by the automatic analyzer unit 100. Typical water parameters are ammonium, phosphate, nitrate or chemical oxygen demand (COD).

[0025] The process analysis device 10 includes a sample probe 20 which is immersed in the water 14 at the water intake point 12 and which is provided with a filter element 22. The sample probe 20 is fluidly connected to the automatic analyzer unit 100 via a fluid feed line l1.

[0026] The automatic analyzer unit 100 includes, within an analyzer unit housing 101, an integrated fluid control device 200 for controlling the sampling process within the automatic analyzer unit 100. A part of the analyzer unit housing 101 is a front panel 100' with a manual trigger device 96' and a grab sample container 110, both of which are easily accessible to the user from the outside. The grab sample container 110 is provided with an additional top opening 116 at the top and is received in a container carrier 102 which includes a container recess 104 for safely storing the container at the automatic analyzer unit 100. The grab sample container 110 can be manually removed from the container carrier 102 without using any tools. However, the grab sample container 110 can also be fixed to the container carrier 102 with a key lock (not shown in the figures).

[0027] The water 14 is continuously pumped from the water intake point 12 into an intermediate chamber 40 by an electric water sample supply pump 30 via a fluid feed line l1, and the water continuously flows back from the intermediate chamber 40 to the water intake point 12 via a fluid return line l2. The water sample supply pump 30 is a peristaltic hose pump with a pump rotor 32. The water sample supply pump 30 and the intermediate chamber 40 are part of the automatic analyzer unit 100 and the fluid control device 200.

[0028] The intermediate chamber 40 is fluidly connected to the dosing chamber 48 via a fluid line including an inlet valve 42. A separate positive displacement dosing pump 50 is provided at the vertical top of the dosing chamber 40. The dosing pump 50 is a piston pump which includes a pump cylinder 54 and an electric piston actuator 50 for actuating the pump piston, and the pump piston is slidably disposed within the pump cylinder 54. The displacement of the dosing pump 50 is 3.0 ml.

[0029] An exhaust line 56 with an exhaust valve 58, an analyzer line 69' with an analyzer line valve 69, and a grab line l4 with a grab line valve 103 are all fluidly connected to the dosing chamber 48. The grab line l4 leads into a vertical grab sample supply line 112 having a downwardly directed outlet opening 114, and the grab sample supply line 112 passes through the outlet 114 into the interior of the grab sample container 110.

[0030] The analyzer line 69' fluidly connects the dosing chamber 48 to a physical analyzer 66 which, in this embodiment, is a photometric device that includes a fluid measurement unit 60, a photometric emitter 67, and a photometric receiver 68. The automatic analyzer unit 100 also includes a reagent tank 64 which contains a suitable liquid reagent 65. The reagent tank 64 is fluidly connected to the fluid measurement unit 60 via a positive displacement reagent pump 62. A waste liquid container 70 is provided downstream of the fluid of the fluid measurement unit 60. The reagent 65 initiates a colorimetric reaction with the relevant water parameter, so that the concentration of the relevant water parameter can be determined by measuring the transmittance or absorbance at one or more specific wavelengths using the physical analyzer 66.

[0031] The automatic analyzer unit 100 includes an electronic control unit 90 for controlling the valves 42, 69, 58, 103, pumps 30, 50, 62, and the physical analyzer 66. The electronic control unit 90 includes a grab sampling controller and also includes three different grab sampling standard devices 94, 95, 96 for initiating the grab sample operation.

[0032] The first grab sampling standard device 96 is merely a manual trigger device 96' located at the front panel 100'. If the manual trigger device 96' is manually touched, the grab sampling controller 92 will immediately start and initiate the grab sample operation.

[0033] The second grab sampling standard device 95 is the water parameter limit memory 95', which is used to store at least one parameter limit of relevant water parameters. If the determination result of the relevant valid parameters provided by the physical analyzer 66 exceeds the parameter limit, the grab sampling controller 92 will be immediately activated and start the grab sampling operation. The stored parameter limits can be used to ensure that if extreme parameter values outside the measurement range of the physical analyzer 66 occur, the true value of the parameter can be more accurately determined when the parameter of the water sample in the grab sample container 110 is determined for the second time (manually).

[0034] The third grab sampling standard device 94 is the electronic grab time memory 94', which defines one or more fixed grab time points and the volume of a single grab sample. The third grab sampling standard device 94 can be used to provide qualified grab samples for 24 hours, for example, through the grab sampling operation every 60 minutes.

[0035] During the measurement operation, water 14 is continuously pumped from the fixed water intake point 12 to the intermediate chamber 40 by the water sample supply pump 30 and returned to the water intake point 12 through the return pipeline l2. The metering pump 50 sucks water from the intermediate chamber 40 into the metering chamber 48, and then pushes a relatively small volume (such as 10 ml) into the analysis chamber 60, where the reagent 65 is added to the liquid in the analysis chamber 60. After waiting for the reaction time (such as 10 minutes), the physical analyzer 66 determines the concentration of the parameter under discussion. The metering chamber 84 is emptied, and a new measurement cycle begins.

[0036] When the grab sample operation is started by one of the grab sampling standard devices 94, 95, 96, the dosing pump 50 pushes an appropriate grab sample volume Vg from the dosing chamber 48 into the grab sample container 110.

[0037] This embodiment schematically shows a single grab sample container 110. However, the automatic analyzer unit 100 can be provided with two or three separate grab sample containers, and each grab sample container is used for one of the three grab sampling types.

Claims

1. A process analysis device (10) for continuously determining water parameters of water (14) at a fixed water intake point (12), the process analysis device having an automatic analyzer unit (100) and a water sample supply pump (30) for pumping a water sample stream from the fixed water intake point (12) to the automatic analyzer unit (100). The automatic analyzer unit (100) comprises: A physical analyzer (66) having an analysis chamber (60), in which the water parameters are determined physically; A separate grab sample container (110) of at least 20 ml for collecting a grab sample volume; and A fluid control device (200) for selectively guiding an analyzer sample from the water sample stream to the analysis chamber (60) and / or guiding a grab sample to the grab sample container (110); Wherein the fluid control device (200) comprises an electronic control unit (90), the electronic control unit having a grab sampling controller (92) and a grab sampling criterion device (94, 95, 96) for initiating a grab sample action controlled by the grab sampling controller (92).

2. The process analysis device (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The grab sampling criterion device (96) is a manual triggering device (96').

3. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grab sampling criterion device (94) is an electronic grab time memory (94') defining a grab time point (t) and a grab sample volume (Vg).

4. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grab sampling criterion device (95) is a water parameter limit memory (95').

5. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grab sample container (110) is arranged outside the analyzer unit housing (100').

6. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grab sample container (110) is removably arranged at the automatic analyzer unit (100).

7. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grab sample container (110) has an access top opening (116), and a grab sample supply line (112) leads to the access top opening (116).

8. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The automatic analyzer unit (100) includes a separate positive displacement metering pump (50) for pumping a quantified water sample volume (Vd) to the analyzer (66).

9. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The positive displacement metering pump (50) is a piston pump with a displacement volume of less than 10.1 ml.

10. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The water sample supply pump (30) is integrated into the automatic analyzer unit (100).

11. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a sample probe (20) located at a fixed water intake point (12) remote from the automatic analyzer unit (100).

12. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, A grab container suction line (114) is provided to allow pumping of a water sample from the grab sample container (110) to the physical analyzer (66).

13. The process analysis device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The automatic analyzer unit (100) is provided with a reagent tank (64) containing a liquid reagent (65), and the fluid control device selectively guides the liquid reagent (65) from the reagent tank (64) to the analyzer sample.

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