Process water sampling immersion probe
By employing a non-horizontal tilted or vertical air outlet opening in the water sampling immersion probe and intermittent pump control, the problem of easy clogging of the air outlet was solved, the life of the cleaning air pump was extended, and the operating efficiency of the equipment and the cleaning quality of the bubble curtain were improved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HACH LANGE HACH LANGE
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-17
AI Technical Summary
The air outlet opening of existing fixed water sampling immersion probes is easily blocked by wastewater substances, which leads to a decline in the quality of the cleaning air bubble curtain, requiring frequent manual cleaning and continuous operation of the cleaning air pump, thus affecting the equipment's lifespan and efficiency.
A clean air generator with a non-horizontal or vertical air outlet opening was designed. Combined with an intermittent operation pump controller, it ensures that the clean air pump does not need to run continuously. The pressure difference between the inside and outside of the bubble generator housing prevents clogging, and the inverted V-shaped opening structure reduces the impact of clogging.
It effectively prevents air outlet clogging, extends the life of the cleaning air pump, reduces the frequency of manual cleaning, maintains the cleaning quality of the bubble curtain, and improves the operating efficiency and reliability of the equipment.
Smart Images
Figure CN121889652A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a process water sampling immersion probe for continuously filtering water samples from wastewater. Background Technology
[0002] A stationary process water sampling immersion probe is used as part of a process water analysis setup to analyze one or more analytes in the water, such as one or more analytes in wastewater in a wastewater tank (which is part of a wastewater treatment plant).
[0003] A typical stationary water sampling immersion probe is disclosed in DE 10 2004 037 226 B3. The probe has two filter screens, each located in a plane inclined relative to the vertical axis of the ground. At the bottom of each filter screen are several horizontally arranged air outlet openings. Pumped air exits through these openings, creating a curtain of clean air bubbles along the designated filter screen. These air outlet openings can become overgrown and clogged with wastewater material, causing a continuous decline in the cleanliness of the air curtain. Therefore, manual cleaning of the air outlet openings is necessary from time to time, which is inconvenient. The air pump supplying pressurized clean air must operate continuously to reduce the tendency to clog and the rate of clogging over time. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to improve the processing and performance of process water sampling immersion probes.
[0005] This objective is achieved by using the process water sampling immersion probe featuring the main claim 1.
[0006] A process water sampling immersion probe for continuously filtering water samples from water (preferably wastewater) includes a filter module having a filter screen for filtering water, through which water is drawn in and pumped to a land-based analyzer unit where analytes are quantitatively determined. The process water sampling immersion probe also includes a clean air generator arranged adjacent to the vertical bottom end of the filter screen. The clean air generator includes a bubble generator housing having at least one air outlet opening with a non-horizontal opening plane.
[0007] Preferably, at least two air outlet openings are provided in the bubble generator housing. Clean air pumped into the bubble generator housing exits through the air outlet openings, causing bubbles to be generated on the distal side of the air outlet openings. These bubbles rise along the distal surface of the filter screen, which has a vertical component. The opening plane of the air outlet openings is not located in a horizontal plane, but in a more vertical inclined plane or even in a completely vertical plane.
[0008] The air outlet opening has a vertical top and a vertical bottom; however, the horizontal top width of the air outlet opening at the top is smaller than the bottom width of the air outlet opening at the bottom. The width of the air outlet opening is the distance from a point on the opening edge to a horizontal point on the opposite edge.
[0009] Generally, it is impossible to avoid some blockage of the air outlet opening, especially in wastewater applications. Because the air outlet opening widens horizontally in the downward direction, the pressure difference between the pressurized clean air inside the bubble generator housing and the wastewater outside the housing creates a braking force relative to the blockage structure; however, the total breaking force increases proportionally to the horizontal width of the air outlet opening. Even if the blockage structure is to be relatively strong, it will break at a relatively lower position of the air outlet opening (where the air outlet width is relatively large). Another effect of the downwardly extending air outlet opening is that the blockage structure is continuously eroded by the clean airflow at the horizontal center of the opening, creating an indentation effect at the center. Although the vertical position of the actual air outlet location can be varied according to the vertical extension of the blockage structure within the opening, the horizontal position of the actual air exit location remains substantially unchanged, and this vertical position is relatively precisely defined at the center of the horizontal opening, independent of the vertical extension of the blockage structure.
[0010] Therefore, the structure of the bubble blanket is not substantially affected by the blockage of the air outlet opening. Since the blockage of the air outlet opening does not substantially affect the structure and quality of the clean air bubble blanket, the clean air pump does not need to be continuously running at maximum pumping performance, thereby extending the life of the clean air pump.
[0011] In 2023, the process water sampling immersion probe was tested in a field test in a tank at a wastewater treatment plant. Even after 160 days without any manual cleaning of the probe, the cleaning air generator remained operational, and the quantity and quality of the generated bubble curtain did not deteriorate. Consequently, the pumping performance decreased only from 1600 ml / h to 1400 ml / h, which is the pumping performance for continuously pumping filtered wastewater from the process water sampling immersion probe to the land-based analyzer station. As a practical result, the manual cleaning interval can be substantially extended by at least a factor of 2.0.
[0012] Preferably, the air outlet opening widens continuously between its top and bottom ends. From its vertical top to its vertical bottom, the width of the air outlet opening widens continuously rather than abruptly.
[0013] Preferably, the air outlet opening is substantially inverted V-shaped; however, the lateral edge of the air outlet opening is not necessarily linear, but can be curved, such that the opening edge of the air outlet opening defines a gradually increasing opening width in the vertically downward direction. More preferably, the average total opening angle of the inverted V-shaped air outlet is greater than 15°, and more preferably greater than 30°.
[0014] Preferably, each filter screen has at least two air outlet openings. More preferably, two parallel filter screens are provided, and each filter screen has at least two air outlet openings.
[0015] Preferably, the bubble generator housing has an inverted cup-shaped structure with a housing opening having a horizontal housing opening plane. An air outlet opening extends into the horizontal housing opening such that it does not have an opening edge that closes the lower side of the air outlet opening. The bottom end of the air outlet opening extends seamlessly into the horizontal housing opening. Therefore, the air outlet opening can be easily accessed from the bottom side of the bubble generator housing, and the air outlet opening can be easily cleaned manually or automatically.
[0016] Preferably, the bubble generator housing includes substantially vertical sidewalls that include air outlet openings. Therefore, the lateral distance of the actual air outlet defined by the blocking structure remains constant relative to the approximate plane of the filter screen, ensuring that bubbles leaving the clean air generator always remain close to the filter screen, regardless of the amount of expansion of the blocking structure in the air outlet opening.
[0017] Preferably, a guide arrangement with vertical guide walls is provided for guiding the bubble curtain. The guide walls are horizontally spaced apart from the corresponding filter screen on the distal side, thereby defining a vertical bubble channel between the filter screen and the guide walls. The vertical bubble channel keeps the bubble blanket close to the filter screen, thus maintaining a constant cleaning effect above the vertical height of the filter screen. Preferably, when viewed horizontally, the guide walls completely cover the corresponding filter screen. More preferably, the vertical guide walls have a bottom edge that is arranged not vertically above the air outlet opening.
[0018] Preferably, the bubble generator housing is provided with an air inlet opening through which pressurized clean air is pumped by a suitable pump. The lowermost edge of the air inlet opening is vertically at least 1.0 mm above the top edge of the air outlet opening. The wastewater surface level is always kept vertically below the air inlet opening, thus safely preventing the air inlet opening from clogging caused by wastewater substances.
[0019] Preferably, a check valve is provided upstream of the clean air inlet opening, and more preferably, the check valve is arranged fluidly 15 cm closer to the clean air inlet opening. The check valve opens in the direction of clean air flow, which is the clean air pumped into the bubble generator housing. Even when the clean air pump is not running, the static pressure of the air cushion in the bubble generator housing 41 remains relatively high, keeping the wastewater level below the clean air inlet opening.
[0020] According to independent claim 13, a process water sampling arrangement is provided, comprising a process water sampling immersion probe having the features described in any of the preceding claims. The process water sampling arrangement also includes a clean air pump and an intermittent operation pump controller that causes the clean air pump to start and stop intermittently. The clean air pump is started and stopped intermittently, for example, due to a stored cleaning schedule or due to a measured or determined height of a blockage structure in the outlet opening. Because the clean air pump is not continuously driven, its lifespan can be reasonably extended. Attached Figure Description
[0021] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,
[0022] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates a process water analysis setup, which includes a process water sampling immersion probe observed in a vertical profile, and...
[0023] Figure 2 Showing more details Figure 1 The process involves immersing the probe in water during sampling. Detailed Implementation
[0024] Figure 1 A process water analysis arrangement 100 is schematically illustrated for continuously analyzing water samples in wastewater W. Wastewater W continuously flows into wastewater tank 130 through a tank inlet and continuously flows out of wastewater tank 130 through a tank outlet, resulting in a general wastewater flow within wastewater tank 130. Alternatively, wastewater tank 130 can be periodically filled and emptied. Wastewater tank 130 may be part of a wastewater treatment plant.
[0025] A process water analysis setup 100 is provided for nearly continuous determination of the concentration of one or more analytes (e.g., ammonium and / or phosphate) in wastewater W.
[0026] The process water analysis setup 100 substantially includes a process water sampling immersion probe 10, which is completely immersed in wastewater W and held in place by a rigid retaining structure (not shown). The immersion probe 10 is fluidly, electrically, and / or electronically connected to a land-based analyzer station 105, which includes an electric sampling pump 132, an electric cleaning air pump 110, an electronic intermittent operation pump control device 122 for controlling the cleaning air pump 110, and an analyzer unit 120 for analyzing the concentration of one or more analytes in a water sample of wastewater W.
[0027] The immersion probe 10 is typically configured as a flat, planar, or rectangular body. The immersion probe 10 substantially includes a filter module 20, a clean air generator 40, and a flow guide arrangement 30. The filter module 20 has two parallel vertical filter screens 24, 24'. The clean air generator 40 is arranged vertically directly adjacent to the vertical bottom end of the filter module 20. The flow guide arrangement 30 has two vertical guide walls 34, 34'.
[0028] The two filter screens 24 and 24' of filter module 20 are located in the vertical plane yz, parallel to each other, and together with the two vertical sidewalls 33 and 33', the horizontal bottom wall 38, and the horizontal top wall 39, enclose the rectangular filter module cavity 36. At the top of the filter module cavity 36, the housing of filter module 20 has a sample outlet opening 32. The filtered water sample is continuously pumped by sample pump 32, via sample line 133, through the sample outlet opening 32 to analyzer unit 120. Analyzer unit 120 determines the concentration of the corresponding analyte in the water sample almost continuously.
[0029] The clean air generator 40 is positioned vertically adjacent to the vertical bottom ends d24 of the two filter screens 24, 24', and directly adjacent to the bottom wall 38 of the filter module housing. The clean air generator 40 includes a substantially rectangular bubble generator housing 41 having a total of four air outlet openings 51, 52. The opening planes p54 of the air outlet openings 51, 52 are respectively located in the vertical plane yz, and substantially in the same vertical plane as the corresponding filter screens 24, 24'. The rectangular bubble generator housing 41 is provided with a horizontal top wall 42, two parallel vertical end walls 46, 47, and two vertical side walls 44, 45, each side wall 44, 45 including two of the air outlet openings 51, 52, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown. The bubble generator housing 41 has an inverted cup-shaped structure that encloses the rectangular housing interior 60, has no bottom wall, and defines a horizontal housing bottom opening 50 with a horizontal housing opening plane p50.
[0030] One end wall 47 of the bubble generator housing 41 is provided with a clean air inlet opening 141, through which pressurized clean air is pumped into the bubble generator housing interior 60 when the clean air pump 110 is running. When the clean air pump 110 is running, clean air is drawn in through the suction opening 126 and pumped to the clean air inlet opening 141 via the clean air line 111. Two check valves 116 and 117 are provided in the path of the clean air line 111; one check valve 116 is located upstream of and adjacent to the clean air inlet opening 141, and the second check valve 117 is located downstream of and relatively close to the clean air pump 110. However, under normal circumstances, only a single check valve is required, preferably the check valve 116 located near the clean air inlet opening 141.
[0031] Each vertical bubble generator housing sidewall 44, 45 is provided with two air outlets 51, 52 respectively. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the air outlet openings 51 and 52 are designed to widen continuously horizontally in the vertically downward direction. The four air outlet openings 51 and 52 are identical in shape and substantially symmetrically form an inverted V-shape, with a total opening angle A of approximately 50°. Each air outlet opening 51 and 52 has a vertical opening plane p54. The horizontal opening apex width wt54 at the top t54 of the opening is smaller than the downward opening width wd54 at the bottom d54 of the opening, as shown. Figure 2 As shown. The edges 54 of the air outlet openings 51 and 52 transition into the horizontal opening edge of the horizontal housing bottom opening 50 of the bubble generator housing 41. Therefore, the air outlets 51 and 52 can be perfectly reached in the vertical direction y for manual cleaning of the air outlet openings 51 and 52.
[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the top or top edge of the air outlet openings 51 and 52 has a vertical distance y54 of at least 2 cm below the bottom edge of the clean air inlet opening 141 of the bubble generator housing 41.
[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the process water sampling immersion probe 10 is provided with a guide arrangement 30, which has two planar vertical guide walls 34, 34', which are parallel to each other and parallel to the filter screens 24, 24'. Each guide wall 34, 34' is horizontally spaced a few centimeters from the corresponding filter screen 24, 24', thereby confining the vertical bubble channels 28, 28' between the filter screens 24, 24' and the corresponding guide walls 34, 34'. Figure 1As shown, the linear bottom edge e34 of the two guide walls 34, 34' is not above the air outlet openings 51, 52 in the vertical direction, but is at least below the bottom edge d54 of the air outlet openings 51, 52.
[0034] The intermittent operation pump controller 122 is provided with an operation schedule memory 123, which stores an intermittent operating schedule for the clean air pump 110. The intermittent operation pump controller 122 controls the activity of the clean air pump 110 by intermittently starting and stopping the clean air pump 110, wherein the start rate is, for example, 50%, and the interval length of a complete start / stop cycle is, for example, five minutes. Alternatively or additionally, the activity of the clean air pump 110 can be controlled in a closed-loop control loop, which includes a blockage sensor for determining the blockage rate of the air outlet openings 51, 52.
Claims
1. A process water sampling immersion probe (10), comprising: A filter module (20) includes filter screens (24, 24'); as well as A clean air generator (40) is arranged vertically adjacent to the lower vertical end of the filter screen (24, 24'). The clean air generator (40) includes a bubble generator housing (41) having air outlet openings (51, 52) having a non-horizontal opening plane (p54). The air outlet openings (51, 52) widen in the vertically downward direction, such that the top width (wt54) of the air outlet opening at the top (t54) of the opening is smaller than the bottom width (wd54) of the air outlet opening at the bottom (d54) of the opening.
2. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air outlet opening (51, 52) continuously widens between the top end (t54) and the bottom end (d54) of the opening of the air outlet opening (51, 52).
3. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air outlet openings (51, 52) are substantially inverted V-shaped.
4. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as described in claim 3, wherein the average opening angle (A) of the inverted V-shaped air outlet opening (51, 52) is greater than 15°, more preferably greater than 30°.
5. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two air outlet openings (51, 52) are assigned a filter screen (24, 24').
6. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bubble generator housing (41) has a cup-shaped structure with a housing opening (50) having a horizontal housing opening plane (p50) such that the air outlet openings (51, 52) have no opening edge at their bottom ends.
7. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bubble generator housing (41) includes substantially vertical sidewalls (44, 45) including the air outlet openings (51, 52).
8. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter screen (24, 24') is arranged vertically.
9. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a flow guiding arrangement (30) is provided having vertical guide walls (34, 34'), and the guide walls (34) are spaced apart from corresponding filter screens (24, 24') on the distal side, thereby defining a vertical bubble channel (28, 28') between the filter screens (24, 24') and the guide walls (34, 34').
10. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vertical guide wall (34, 34') has a bottom edge (e34) arranged not above the air outlet opening (51, 52) in the vertical direction.
11. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the top of the air outlet opening (51, 52) is located at a vertical distance (y54) at least 1.0 mm below the clean air inlet opening (141) of the bubble generator housing (41).
12. The process water sampling immersion probe (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein clean air flows into the bubble generator housing (41) via a clean air inlet opening (141), and a check valve (116, 117) is disposed upstream of the clean air inlet opening (141).
13. A process water sampling arrangement (100) comprising a process water sampling immersion probe (10) having the features of any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a clean air pump (110) and an intermittent operation pump controller (122) that intermittently starts the clean air pump (110).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Effluent water sample abstraction apparatus for waste water treatment plant has surrounding membrane cleared by rising gas bubbles
DE102004037226B3