A precipitation stable isotope automatic collection device and method

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of automatic acquisition devices and methods of stable isotopes of precipitation, including collection component, filling component, storage component and control component.Collection component includes the shell with water inlet hole and water storage container;Filling component includes pump power piece, collection pipeline and conveying piece, water inlet hole, water storage container, pump power piece and conveying piece are sequentially connected by collection pipeline, at least part pipeline end is connected with conveying piece;Storage component includes multiple sample bottles, and sample bottle has sealing structure;Control component includes controller and multiple control valves, controller is electrically connected with control valve, pump power piece, and control valve is at least arranged on collection pipeline.By the cooperation of controller and pump power piece, control valve, the structure of precipitation collection device is stable, not easy to be consumed, suitable for extreme environment in the field, and the evaporation fractionation effect of precipitation sample is significantly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of precipitation sampling technology, specifically relating to an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (18O, 2H) in atmospheric precipitation are important natural tracers for tracing the water cycle and exploring meteorological environmental indicators.

[0003] There have been many explorations in the collection of precipitation isotope samples in terms of evaporation prevention and automation. For example, some schemes use integrated intelligent air conditioning and robotic arms to maintain low temperature and transfer samples; others rely on mechanical structures such as turntables and springs to achieve automatic opening and closing of sample containers.

[0004] However, in the process of realizing this application, the inventors found that the prior art has at least the following problems: precipitation collection devices are generally placed in the field environment, complex mechanical operation is prone to fatigue wear, and the anti-evaporation fractionation effect of precipitation samples is poor. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application aims to provide an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device and method, which at least solves the problems of fatigue wear from complex mechanical operations and evaporation and fractionation of precipitation samples.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application disclose an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device, comprising: The collection assembly includes a housing with a water inlet and a water storage container disposed within the housing, the water storage container being used to collect and store precipitation samples; The filling assembly disposed within the housing includes a pump power unit, a collection pipeline, and a delivery unit. The pump power unit is located between the water storage container and the delivery unit. The water inlet, the water storage container, the pump power unit, and the delivery unit are connected in sequence through the collection pipeline, and at least a portion of the end of the collection pipeline is connected to the delivery unit. The storage component disposed within the housing includes multiple sample bottles for preserving precipitation samples transported by the conveyor. Each sample bottle has a sealing structure, the conveyor passes through the sealing structure, and one end of the conveyor is located inside the sample bottle. The control components housed within the housing include a controller and multiple control valves. The controller is electrically connected to the control valves and the pump power unit. The control valves are located at least on the data collection pipeline.

[0007] Secondly, embodiments of this application also disclose an automatic method for collecting stable isotopes from precipitation, comprising: When a precipitation signal is detected, the first control valve is opened to store the precipitation sample in the first water storage tank. If no precipitation signal is detected for a preset time period, the first control valve is closed, and the third control valve, the pump power component, and the sixth control valve of the corresponding filling branch are opened to fill the precipitation sample in the first water storage tank into the sample bottle through the filling branch. If a new precipitation signal is detected during the filling process, the second control valve is opened to allow the precipitation sample to flow into the second water storage tank, thus enabling the filling and collection operations to be carried out in parallel. After filling is completed, the fifth control valve is opened, and the residual liquid in the water storage container and the collection pipeline is discharged from the automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device through the pump power component and the waste liquid discharge pipeline. Then, all control valves are closed, and the device waits for the next precipitation signal.

[0008] In summary, in this embodiment, by inserting the conveyor into the sealed structure of the sample bottle and positioning one end inside the sample bottle, a permanent sealed fit is formed between the conveyor and the sample bottle. This avoids damage to the airtightness caused by repeated insertion and removal or mechanical transfer of the sample bottle, thereby effectively suppressing the evaporation and fractionation of precipitation samples and ensuring the authenticity and validity of isotope test data. The pump power unit can overcome the air pressure resistance inside the sealed sample bottle to achieve filling. Moreover, the combination of the pump power unit and multiple collection pipelines with control valves replaces traditional sample collection structures, such as robotic arms or other equipment requiring complex mechanical operations. This results in a device without complex moving parts, a simplified structure, and reduced power consumption, thereby significantly improving long-term operational reliability and endurance in extreme field environments. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion of region A in the middle; Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an automatic precipitation stable isotope acquisition method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0010] Figure label: 10. Collection component; 20. Filling component; 30. Storage component; 40. Control component; 11. Housing; 12. Water storage container; 13. Fixing component; 14. Funnel; 111. Water inlet; 121. First water storage tank; 122. Second water storage tank; 21. Pump power component; 22. Collection pipeline; 23. Conveying component; 24. Water separator; 25. Waste liquid discharge pipeline; 26. Power supply battery; 31. Sample bottle; 32. Support component; 41. Controller; 42. Control valve; 43. Control 44. Power supply; Integrated control panel; 221. First water inlet pipe; 222. Second water inlet pipe; 223. First water outlet pipe; 224. Second water outlet pipe; 225. Filling branch pipe; 311. Sealing structure; 312. Thick butyl plug; 313. Sealing aluminum cap; 321. Positioning groove; 421. First control valve; 422. Second control valve; 423. Third control valve; 424. Fourth control valve; 425. Fifth control valve; 426. Sixth control valve. Detailed Implementation

[0011] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0012] The terms "first" and "second" in the description and claims of this application may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. Furthermore, in the description and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0013] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0014] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0015] Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (18O, 2H) in precipitation are important natural tracers for tracking water cycle processes and are widely used in meteorology, hydrology, and paleoclimate reconstruction. Automated precipitation stable isotope collection refers to the process where, during natural precipitation events in the field, a collection device automatically completes a series of operations, including precipitation sensing, temporary storage and distribution, sealing and filling, evaporation prevention, and cross-contamination prevention, ultimately obtaining raw water samples suitable for high-precision isotope analysis. However, existing equipment generally suffers from the following technical problems: unreliable sample bottle sealing or reliance on high-energy-consuming refrigeration to suppress evaporation leads to poor evaporation prevention and failure after power failure; the use of complex moving parts such as robotic arms and conveyor belts for sample transfer is prone to fatigue wear or jamming in harsh environments such as wind, sand, and temperature differences in the field; residual liquid in the pipeline cannot be effectively removed, easily causing cross-contamination of precipitation samples from different periods; and the overall power consumption is too high, making long-term deployment in remote areas without power supply or unattended operation difficult.

[0016] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device and method.

[0017] The automatic precipitation stable isotope acquisition device and method provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and through specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0018] Firstly, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, Figure 1 This is an isometric schematic diagram of the automatic precipitation stable isotope acquisition device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 and Figure 3 They are respectively Figure 1 Two different views of the internal structure Figure 4 Then it is Figure 3Enlarged schematic diagram of region A; This application proposes an automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device, including a collection component 10, a filling component 20, a storage component 30, and a control component 40; the collection component 10 includes a housing 11 with a water inlet 111 and a water storage container 12 disposed within the housing 11, the water storage container 12 being used to collect and store precipitation samples; the filling component 20 disposed within the housing 11 includes a pump power component 21, a collection pipeline 22, and a conveying component 23, the pump power component 21 being located between the water storage container 12 and the conveying component 23, the water inlet 111, the water storage container 12, the pump power component 21 and the conveying component 23 being connected. The components 23 are connected sequentially through the collection pipes 22, and at least part of the collection pipes 22 are connected to the end of the transport components 23; the storage component 30 disposed in the housing 11 includes multiple sample bottles 31 for storing precipitation samples transported by the transport components 23. The sample bottles 31 have a sealing structure 311, the transport components 23 pass through the sealing structure 311, and one end of the transport components 23 is located inside the sample bottles 31; the control component 40 disposed in the housing 11 includes a controller 41 and multiple control valves 42. The controller 41 is electrically connected to the control valves 42 and the pump power component 21. The control valves 42 are at least disposed on the collection pipes 22.

[0019] Specifically, the shell 11 is a hollow cylindrical tube, made of welded or integrally formed stainless steel sheet. For example, the outer diameter of the shell 11 is approximately 500 mm, and the total height is approximately 1050 mm. The water inlet 111 is an inverted cone shape (i.e., a flared shape with a larger top and smaller bottom), communicating with the outside atmosphere to receive natural precipitation. A maintenance door is provided on the side of the shell 11, which is basically flush with the outer wall of the shell 11 when closed. By opening the maintenance door, operators can inspect and adjust the various functional components inside the shell 11, and can remove the filled sample bottles 31 for sample recovery. For example... The water storage container 12 may include at least two water storage tanks to achieve alternating water collection between the two tanks. The two tanks are respectively fixed to the mounting brackets inside the housing 11 by stainless steel clamps. The pump power component 21 is a peristaltic pump, which provides forced pressurization to the pipeline during drainage and filling processes to overcome the air pressure resistance inside the sample bottle 31 and complete the filling. The conveying component 23 is a sample needle, which is pre-inserted into the sample bottle 31 and is only pulled out as a whole when the precipitation sample is recovered. The sealing structure 311 of the sample bottle 31 may include a thick butyl stopper 312, a sealing aluminum cap 313, and an oil film liquid seal to thoroughly and physically seal all sample bottles 31.

[0020] Furthermore, a rain gauge is installed on the outside of the housing 11 to detect precipitation events in real time and send rainfall signals to the controller 41. The rain gauge can be a commercially available, mature balance-type rain gauge with a measurement threshold of 0.2 mm. That is, it outputs a pulse signal when the cumulative rainfall reaches 0.2 mm, which has high detection accuracy and stability.

[0021] It should be noted that the controller 41 can be located on the inner wall of the housing 11 and fixed by metal spokes. The controller 41 can use a microcontroller unit (MCU) as its core, and the onboard embedded software can be written in C language to realize the independent control of multiple control valves 42 and the coordinated scheduling of pump power components 21. The controller 41 performs operations such as precipitation collection, water storage tank switching, filling and emptying by detecting rain gauge signals, control valve 42 status and pump power component 21 operation parameters, so as to ensure that the device can operate stably for a long time under unattended conditions.

[0022] In some embodiments, a filter assembly, such as a filter screen, filter cotton, or sedimentation cup, is detachably installed at the water inlet 111 to intercept debris such as leaves, sand, and insects to prevent pipe blockage.

[0023] In some embodiments, the collection pipeline 22 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene flexible tubing or polyetheretherketone rigid tubing, which has the characteristics of chemical corrosion resistance, low adsorption, and smooth inner wall. It can effectively reduce the residue of precipitation samples on the pipe wall and reduce the risk of cross-contamination. The inner diameter of the collection pipeline 22 can be determined according to the specifications of the pump power component 21 and the filling flow requirements. For example, a pipe diameter of 2mm to 5mm can be selected. The outer wall of the pipeline can be covered with an insulation layer or a heat tracing cable as needed to prevent the pipeline from freezing and blocking in low-temperature outdoor environments.

[0024] In some embodiments, the controller 41 also integrates a data transmission module, which can periodically upload the device status to a remote cloud platform, such as battery voltage, number of valve actions, filling records, number of remaining sample bottles 31, etc. When the device malfunctions, the controller 41 actively sends alarm information to facilitate timely intervention by maintenance personnel.

[0025] In some embodiments, a power supply battery 26 may be provided at the inner bottom of the housing 11 to power the pump power component 21, and a controller power supply 43 may be provided together with the controller 41 on the inner side wall of the housing 11.

[0026] In some embodiments, each control valve 42 may be equipped with an integrated control panel 44 for manual switching. The control panel is located in a sealed box inside the housing 11 and is normally not in operation. It is used for centralized inspection, maintenance and debugging of each control valve 42.

[0027] In this embodiment, by inserting the conveyor 23 through the sealing structure 311 of the sample bottle 31 and placing one end of it inside the sample bottle 31, a permanent sealing fit is formed between the conveyor 23 and the sample bottle 31. This avoids damage to the airtightness caused by repeated insertion and removal or mechanical transfer of the sample bottle 31, thereby effectively suppressing the evaporation and fractionation of precipitation samples and ensuring the authenticity and validity of isotope test data. The pump power component 21 can overcome the air pressure resistance inside the sealed sample bottle 31 to achieve filling. Moreover, the combination of the pump power component 21 and multiple collection pipelines 22 with control valves 42 replaces the traditional sample collection structure, such as robotic arms or other equipment requiring complex mechanical operation. This makes the device as a whole free of complex moving parts, with a simplified structure and reduced power consumption, thereby significantly improving the long-term operational reliability and endurance in extreme field environments.

[0028] Optionally, such as Figure 2 As shown, the water storage container 12 includes a first water storage tank 121 and a second water storage tank 122; the collection pipeline 22 includes a first water inlet pipeline 221 and a second water inlet pipeline 222; the control valve 42 includes a first control valve 421 and a second control valve 422; the water inlet 111 is connected to the first water storage tank 121 and the second water storage tank 122 respectively through the parallel first water inlet pipeline 221 and the second water inlet pipeline 222; the first water inlet pipeline 221 is provided with a first control valve 421, and the second water inlet pipeline 222 is provided with a second control valve 422.

[0029] Specifically, the first water storage tank 121 and the second water storage tank 122 are arranged side by side inside the housing 11. Their volumes can be set to be the same, and the volume of a single tank can be set according to the sampling period and expected rainfall intensity. The first control valve 421 and the second control valve 422 open and close alternately under the control of the controller 41. When the first control valve 421 is open and the second control valve 422 is closed, rainfall flows only into the first water storage tank 121; conversely, rainfall flows only into the second water storage tank 122. Meanwhile, the inner diameters of the first inlet pipe 221 and the second inlet pipe 222 are the same, and the lengths of the two pipes are approximately equal to ensure consistent flow resistance. This allows rainfall to transition smoothly when switching valves, preventing backflow or overflow due to sudden changes in flow resistance.

[0030] In this embodiment, by setting up a first water storage tank 121 and a second water storage tank 122, and coordinating the alternating opening and closing of the first control valve 421 and the second control valve 422, a dual-tank alternating water collection function is achieved. When one water storage tank is being filled or emptied, the other water storage tank can continue to receive new precipitation, thereby avoiding sample loss caused by the filling process occupying the water collection path and achieving seamless sampling under continuous rainfall conditions. At the same time, the alternating use of the two water storage tanks also increases the system's sampling capacity for long-term, multi-event rainfall, meeting the time-series sample collection requirements of high-resolution precipitation isotope research.

[0031] The collecting component 10 may include a funnel 14, which may be disposed below the water inlet 111. The larger end of the funnel 14 is connected to the water inlet 111, while the smaller end of the funnel 14 is connected to the first water inlet pipe 221 and the second water inlet pipe 222 after the flow is split.

[0032] In other embodiments, the first water storage tank 121 and the second water storage tank 122 are respectively provided with liquid level sensors. The liquid level sensors are electrically connected to the controller 41 and are used to monitor the liquid level in the tank in real time. When the liquid level reaches a preset threshold, the controller 41 automatically triggers filling or switching of the water storage tank to prevent overflow.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first water storage tank 121 and the second water storage tank 122 are covered with an insulation layer, which can be rubber-plastic sponge or polyurethane foam, and the thickness can be 10mm to 20mm, in order to mitigate the impact of outdoor temperature differences on the temperature of precipitation samples inside the tank, and further improve the preservation stability of precipitation samples.

[0034] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the collection pipeline 22 also includes a first outlet pipeline 223 and a second outlet pipeline 224; the control valve 42 also includes a third control valve 423 and a fourth control valve 424; the bottom of the first water storage tank 121 is provided with a first outlet pipeline 223, and the first outlet pipeline 223 is provided with a third control valve 423; the bottom of the second water storage tank 122 is provided with a second outlet pipeline 224, and the second outlet pipeline 224 is provided with a fourth control valve 424; the first outlet pipeline 223 and the second outlet pipeline 224 merge and are connected to the water inlet end of the pump power component 21, which is a peristaltic pump.

[0035] Specifically, the first water outlet pipe 223 and the second water outlet pipe 224 are respectively led out from the lowest point of the first water storage tank 121 and the second water storage tank 122. The two water outlet pipes can use flexible hoses with the same inner diameter and the pipe lengths are basically equal to ensure consistent flow resistance, so that the controller 41 can use the same filling parameters. The first water outlet pipe 223 and the second water outlet pipe 224 can be joined together by a Y-type connector, and the shared pipe after joining is connected to the water inlet of the peristaltic pump.

[0036] Understandably, the pump power unit 21, as the power source for the entire filling process, directly determines whether filling of the sealed bottle is possible through its selection and connection method. This application uses a peristaltic pump as the pump power unit 21, which has the following advantages: First, the fluid only contacts the inner wall of the pump tube and does not contact any mechanical parts of the pump body, fundamentally avoiding cross-contamination of samples, making it particularly suitable for trace analysis of isotope samples; Second, the peristaltic pump has self-priming capability and dry-running characteristics. Even if there is a small amount of gas in the pipeline or the pump chamber is empty after the water tank is emptied, the pump body will not be damaged, and it can resume liquid aspiration on its own; Third, the peristaltic pump can provide continuous and stable positive pressure. According to the selection parameters of the peristaltic pump and actual operating condition tests, its output pressure is approximately 0.1MPa to 0.2MPa. This pressure range can effectively overcome the air compression resistance inside the sealed sample bottle 31 and meet the filling requirements.

[0037] In this embodiment, by setting a third control valve 423 and a fourth control valve 424 on the first water outlet pipe 223 and the second water outlet pipe 224 respectively, independent water outlet control of the two water storage tanks can be achieved. When it is necessary to fill the water sample in one tank, only the corresponding water outlet valve is opened, and the other water outlet valve remains closed, thereby avoiding mixing of the water samples from the two tanks. After the first water outlet pipe 223 and the second water outlet pipe 224 merge, they share the same peristaltic pump, which not only simplifies the pipeline layout and reduces the number of pump power components 21, reducing costs and power consumption, but also ensures the consistency of the driving force when the two water storage tanks are discharging water. As the pump power component 21, the fluid of the peristaltic pump only contacts the inner wall of the pump pipe and does not contact the mechanical parts of the pump body, avoiding cross-contamination of samples. At the same time, the peristaltic pump has self-priming capability and dry running characteristics, which can generate sufficient positive pressure to overcome the air pressure resistance in the sealed sample bottle 31, and can also reverse or continuously rotate forward to discharge residual liquid when emptying the pipeline, meeting the dual needs of filling and emptying.

[0038] In some embodiments, a one-way valve is also provided between the confluence point and the peristaltic pump, with the flow direction of the one-way valve pointing towards the water inlet of the peristaltic pump. This one-way valve can prevent water samples in one pipeline from flowing back into the other water storage tank due to pressure fluctuations when switching the outlet valve, further ensuring the independence of the two water samples.

[0039] In some embodiments, a flexible buffer pipe may be installed on the common pipeline between the junction point and the peristaltic pump inlet to absorb the pulsation generated when the peristaltic pump is running, so as to make the filling flow more stable.

[0040] Optionally, such as Figure 2As shown, the filling assembly 20 also includes a waste liquid drain pipe 25; the control valve 42 also includes a fifth control valve 425; after the first water outlet pipe 223 and the second water outlet pipe 224 merge, they are connected in parallel with the liquid drain pipe, and the waste liquid drain pipe 25 is equipped with a fifth control valve 425; the end of the waste liquid drain pipe 25 leads to the outside of the housing 11.

[0041] Specifically, one end of the waste liquid discharge pipeline 25 is connected to the common section of the first outlet pipeline 223 and the second outlet pipeline 224 via a T-joint. The connection point is located between the third control valve 423, the fourth control valve 424 and the inlet of the peristaltic pump. The fifth control valve 425 is installed on the waste liquid discharge pipeline 25. During the discharge procedure, the controller 41 closes the third control valve 423 and the fourth control valve 424, opens the fifth control valve 425, and starts the peristaltic pump to rotate forward or in reverse, so that the liquid remaining in the collecting pipeline section and the bottom of the corresponding water storage tank is discharged from the housing 11 through the waste liquid discharge pipeline 25. After the discharge is completed, the controller 41 closes the fifth control valve 425, so that the filling assembly 20 returns to a sealed state.

[0042] In this embodiment, by connecting a waste liquid drainage pipe 25 and a fifth control valve 425 in parallel on the collection pipeline, and combining this with the drive of a peristaltic pump, the residual liquid in the collection pipe 22 and the water storage tank is actively drained after filling. This design effectively prevents the stagnant water residue in the collection pipe 22 from the previous precipitation sample from causing cross-contamination of subsequent precipitation samples, ensuring the purity of samples at each time period and the accuracy of isotope analysis. At the same time, the draining operation does not require an additional independent draining pump, but can be completed using the existing peristaltic pump, simplifying the system structure and reducing component costs and overall power consumption. In addition, since the waste liquid drainage pipe 25 leads directly to the outside of the housing 11, the discharged waste liquid can naturally flow into the environment, eliminating the need for manual waste liquid cleaning and maintenance, making it particularly suitable for long-term unattended deployment scenarios in the field.

[0043] In some embodiments, the end of the waste liquid discharge pipeline 25 is connected to a detachable waste liquid collection bottle so as to collect waste liquid in areas with high environmental protection requirements (such as nature reserves and water sources) and avoid direct discharge that could have an impact on the environment.

[0044] In some embodiments, a dust cap or spring-loaded self-closing cover is installed at the outlet end of the waste liquid discharge pipeline 25. When the liquid is discharged, the liquid pressure pushes open the self-closing cover to discharge the liquid. After the liquid is discharged, the self-closing cover closes automatically, which further enhances the sealing and dustproof performance of the system.

[0045] In some embodiments, a drain bend is provided at the bottom of the housing 11. This drain bend is independent of the waste liquid discharge pipeline 25 and is specifically used to discharge residual water samples in the water distributor 24 and filling branch 225.

[0046] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the filling assembly 20 also includes a water distributor 24; the collection pipeline 22 includes filling branches 225; the control valve 42 includes multiple sixth control valves 426; the inlet of the water distributor 24 is connected to the outlet of the pump power unit 21, and the outlet of the water distributor 24 is provided with multiple filling branches 225 in a ring, each of the filling branches 225 is provided with a sixth control valve 426, and the end of each filling branch 225 is connected to a conveying component 23, which is a sample needle.

[0047] Specifically, the distributor 24 is a fluid distribution element with one inlet and multiple outlets. Its inlet is connected to the outlet of the peristaltic pump through the collection pipe 22. Its outlet has multiple interfaces evenly arranged along the circumference, each interface connecting to an independent filling branch 225. The inner diameter and length of each filling branch 225 are the same to ensure uniform flow distribution in each branch. A sixth control valve 426 is connected in series on each filling branch 225, and the sixth control valve 426 is electrically connected to the controller 41. The distributor 24 can be injection molded or machined, with smooth internal flow channels and no dead corners to reduce sample residue. The distributor 24 is fixedly installed on the central support in the inner cavity of the housing 11. The multiple filling branches 225 are arranged radially around the distributor 24, and the branches are separated from each other to avoid pipe entanglement.

[0048] It is understood that the number of outlets of the water distributor 24 is equal to the number of sample bottles 31, preferably 14, and the annular distribution radius of the outlet of the water distributor 24 matches the circumferential distribution radius of the slot that fixes the sample bottle 31, so that the sample needle at the end of each filling branch 225 is naturally aligned with the bottle mouth of the corresponding sample bottle 31, without the need for additional bending or stretching of the pipeline, ensuring the verticality of the needle insertion angle and the reliability of the seal.

[0049] In this embodiment, the precipitation sample delivered by the peristaltic pump is evenly distributed to multiple parallel filling branches 225 by the water distributor 24. With the independent control valve 42 on each branch, selective and sequential filling of multiple sample bottles 31 is achieved. Each branch corresponds to one sample bottle 31. The controller 41 can precisely control the opening of a specific branch, filling the water sample in the current storage tank into the designated sample bottle 31. After one filling is completed, the controller 41 closes the valve of the current branch and can sequentially open the valve of the next branch, waiting for the next filling trigger. This "one-to-many" structural design avoids configuring a separate pump power component 21 for each branch, significantly reducing system cost and power consumption. It also supports independent collection of samples from multiple time periods within a single rainfall event and separate storage of samples from multiple rainfall events, greatly improving the temporal resolution and flexibility of sampling. Meanwhile, the combination structure of the water distributor 24 and the valves of each branch does not require any mechanical moving parts. It relies entirely on fixed pipelines and solenoid valve switching to achieve sample distribution, which fundamentally avoids the problems of easy failure and jamming of moving mechanisms such as robotic arms or turntables in the field environment, and improves the reliability and service life of the system under unattended conditions.

[0050] In some embodiments, the number of filling branches 225 is not limited to 14 and can be configured according to actual sampling requirements. The number of outlets of the water distributor 24 matches the number of filling branches 225. The embedded software in the controller 41 can dynamically adjust the filling sequence and loop logic according to the actual configured number of branches without modifying the hardware.

[0051] In some embodiments, the sixth control valve 426 on each filling branch 225 is equipped with a manual reset button or an indicator light. The manual reset button is used to manually open / close the branch during on-site debugging or troubleshooting. The indicator light is used to indicate the current working status of the branch, such as solid light indicating standby, flashing light indicating filling, and off light indicating fault, so that operators can easily observe and troubleshoot problems through the inspection door.

[0052] Optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, the sealing structure 311 includes a thick butyl stopper 312 encapsulated at the mouth of the sample vial 31, a sealing aluminum cap 313 that presses the thick butyl stopper 312, and an oil film liquid seal layer covering the liquid surface inside the sample vial 31. The sample vial 31 is a vial.

[0053] Specifically, the thick butyl stopper 312, with a thickness ≥3mm, is inserted into the mouth of the sample vial 31 using an interference fit, forming a radial compression seal between the stopper and the inner wall of the vial mouth. The sealing aluminum cap 313 is pressed onto the outside of the vial mouth of the sample vial 31 and tightly presses against the upper surface of the thick butyl stopper 312. It is then fixed by a capping machine in a single pass, creating an irreversible mechanical locking seal between the aluminum cap and the vial mouth. The oil film seal layer uses an inert oil that is immiscible with the water sample, such as paraffin oil, dimethyl silicone oil, or mineral oil. The oil layer covers the surface of the water sample inside the vial, with a thickness of approximately 1mm, forming a clear interface with the water sample. The density of the oil film seal layer is less than that of water, allowing it to float on the surface of the water sample. In a static state, it completely isolates the water sample from direct contact with the air inside the vial, inhibiting the diffusion of water vapor into the air. Simultaneously, it does not participate in the isotope exchange reaction of the water sample and does not affect subsequent analytical results.

[0054] In this embodiment, a composite sealing structure 311, consisting of a thick butyl stopper 312, a sealing aluminum cap 313, and an oil film liquid seal layer, achieves an absolute physical seal for the precipitation sample inside the vial. The thick butyl stopper 312 provides an elastic seal and self-healing capability after needle puncture, the sealing aluminum cap 313 provides a durable mechanical clamping force to prevent the stopper from loosening, and the oil film liquid seal layer acts as a gas barrier to further inhibit the diffusion of water vapor into the air inside the vial. The synergistic effect of these three components allows the sample vial 31 to maintain the original state of the internal water sample for extended periods without relying on any refrigeration equipment under unattended conditions in the field, effectively avoiding evaporation and fractionation of the precipitation sample and fundamentally ensuring the authenticity and validity of the isotope testing data. Simultaneously, this sealing structure 311, combined with the design of a permanently mounted sample needle, eliminates the risk of seal failure caused by repeated insertion and removal or mechanical transfer of the sample vial 31, significantly improving the reliability and sampling success rate of the system in extreme environments.

[0055] In some embodiments, the puncture area of ​​the thick butyl plug 312 can be pre-set with a cross-shaped or dot-shaped weak area to reduce the resistance when the sample needle punctures, while not affecting the rebound sealing performance after puncture; the top center of the sealing aluminum cap 313 has an opening with a diameter of 5mm to 8mm, so that the corresponding area of ​​the thick butyl plug 312 is exposed to the outside, and the sample needle can directly puncture from this opening, avoiding contact between the needle and the metal edge of the aluminum cap, reducing needle wear and puncture resistance.

[0056] In some embodiments, the vials are made of borosilicate glass with an inner diameter of 12 mm at the mouth, an outer diameter of 22 mm at the body, and a total volume of 20 mL. The vials are cleaned, dried, and sterilized at high temperature before sealing, and residual moisture inside the vials is completely removed to avoid diluting precipitation samples or introducing interference from foreign isotopes.

[0057] In some embodiments, the sealing structure 311 further includes a removable protective film that is adhered to the top of the sealing aluminum cap 313, completely covering the opening in the center of the aluminum cap and the exposed area of ​​the thick butyl plug 312. The protective film is made of aluminum foil or polyester film and has easy-tear ears on the edges to prevent dust, moisture or microorganisms from adhering to the surface of the butyl plug before equipment deployment.

[0058] Optionally, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the storage component 30 also includes a carrier 32, which has a plurality of positioning grooves 321 spaced along the circumference, and the sample bottle 31 is inserted into the positioning grooves 321.

[0059] Specifically, the support member 32 is a disc-shaped plate made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel, and is fixedly installed at the bottom of the housing 11. The upper surface of the support member 32 is provided with multiple positioning grooves 321 at equal angles along the circumferential direction. The number of positioning grooves 321 matches the number of sample bottles 31. Each positioning groove 321 is a cylindrical recess with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sample bottle 31. The groove depth is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the height of the sample bottle 31, which is used to accommodate the lower part of the sample bottle 31 and to radially limit it.

[0060] In this embodiment, by setting a carrier 32 with circumferentially spaced positioning grooves 321, multiple sample bottles 31 are arranged radially and evenly at the bottom of the housing 11. Each sample bottle 31 is independently inserted into its corresponding groove, without contact or interference with each other. This facilitates quick handling by operators and avoids damage from collisions during transportation. The circumferential arrangement corresponds one-to-one with the annular arrangement of the water separator 24 outlet and the radial routing of the filling branch 225, shortening the distance from the sample needle to the bottle mouth, reducing pipeline redundancy, and making the overall structure compact and orderly. At the same time, the inner diameter of the positioning groove 321 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bottle, ensuring smooth handling and providing sufficient radial constraint through the sidewall of the groove. This ensures that the sample bottles 31 maintain a vertical and stable posture during long-term field deployment, effectively improving the reliability of the sampling system and the quality of sample preservation.

[0061] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the positioning groove 321 is also attached with an elastic pad. The elastic pad is made of silicone or rubber and has anti-slip texture on its inner surface. The thickness of the elastic pad is 1mm to 2mm. It is used to buffer the vibration during transportation or equipment operation, prevent the sample bottle 31 from colliding hard with the inner wall of the groove, and further enhance the radial fixing effect by clamping the sample bottle 31 through elastic deformation.

[0062] In some embodiments, the carrier 32 adopts a detachable structure, with a buckle or magnetic base at its bottom, and a corresponding mounting slot or ferromagnetic suction cup at the bottom of the housing 11. By replacing the carrier 32 with different specifications, it can be adapted to different sizes or numbers of sample vials 31, such as 10mL, 20mL or 40mL vials, or to the arrangement requirements of 8, 12 or 16 vials, thus improving the versatility and flexibility of the device.

[0063] In some embodiments, the carrier 32 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the housing 11 via a rotating shaft or bearing. The bottom edge of the carrier 32 is provided with a gear or dial, which can be rotated around its central axis by a motor or manual operation. The rotating carrier 32 allows the designated sample bottle 31 to be rotated to the operation window (such as the inspection door) when there are many sample bottles 31 or when the space in the housing 11 is limited, so as to facilitate the picking and placing or manual intervention.

[0064] Optionally, a rain gauge is provided on the outside of the housing 11, and the rain gauge is electrically connected to the controller 41.

[0065] Specifically, the rain gauge can be a balance-type rain gauge independent of the data collection device. It is a commercially available, mature industrial product with a measurement threshold of 0.2 mm, meaning that it outputs a pulse signal when the cumulative rainfall reaches 0.2 mm. The rain gauge has been calibrated and verified for reliability, and has high detection accuracy and stability with a low possibility of false triggering.

[0066] In this embodiment, by employing a rain gauge independently mounted outside the housing 11, interference from the structure of the acquisition device itself (such as vibration of the housing 11, splashing from the water inlet 111, etc.) on rainfall measurement is effectively avoided, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of rainfall detection. The pulse signal output by the rain gauge directly reflects the real-time cumulative rainfall, and the controller 41 can accurately determine the start, duration, and end of precipitation based on this, triggering the corresponding water collection, filling, and drainage processes. The high-resolution threshold of 0.2mm can capture minute rainfall events, meeting the time accuracy requirements of high-resolution precipitation isotope sampling. Furthermore, since the rain gauge is a mature industrial product, it exhibits good long-term stability, a low failure rate, and virtually no false triggers, further enhancing the operational reliability of the entire system under unattended conditions in the field.

[0067] In some embodiments, the rain gauge integrates a heating element, which is electrically connected to the controller 41. When the ambient temperature is below 0°C, the controller 41 automatically activates the heating element to keep the temperature of the rain gauge's sensing surface slightly above the freezing point, preventing snow or freezing rain from accumulating on the sensing surface. This ensures that solid precipitation can also be accurately measured, expanding the applicability of the device in cold regions.

[0068] Optionally, such as Figure 1As shown, the outer bottom of the housing 11 is provided with a plurality of fasteners 13, wherein the fasteners 13 are threaded nails.

[0069] In this embodiment, multiple threaded nails 13 are used as fixing elements on the bottom of the housing 11, enabling rapid and reliable deployment of the sampling device in the field. One end of each threaded nail has an external thread that connects to a threaded hole or nut on the bottom of the housing 11, while the other end has a tapered tip that can be directly inserted into soft ground such as soil or grass, eliminating the need for pre-poured concrete or a dedicated base. When the device needs to be moved or the sample needs to be retrieved, the nail can be rotated in the opposite direction to remove it from the ground without causing permanent damage to the installation site. This fixing method is particularly suitable for short-term or seasonal sampling tasks in remote areas such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Qinling Mountains, featuring convenient installation and disassembly and strong adaptability to terrain. Simultaneously, the multiple threaded nails are evenly distributed along the circumference of the bottom of the housing 11, forming a stable polygonal support that effectively resists the risk of overturning caused by wind loads and uneven ground, ensuring that the device remains vertically stable during long-term unattended operation. This ensures that the water inlet 111 receives rainfall horizontally and that the liquid level in the sample bottle 31 remains stable, further reducing the impact of evaporation and fractionation.

[0070] In some embodiments, the bottom of the housing 11 is also provided with an auxiliary counterweight or ground anchor rope. When installed on a rocky or hardened surface, it can be fixed to nearby trees or ground nails by the counterweight or the rope, instead of using threaded nails, thus improving the adaptability of the device to different installation sites.

[0071] In this embodiment, by inserting the conveyor 23 through the sealing structure 311 of the sample bottle 31 and placing one end of it inside the sample bottle 31, a permanent sealing fit is formed between the conveyor 23 and the sample bottle 31. This avoids damage to the airtightness caused by repeated insertion and removal or mechanical transfer of the sample bottle 31, thereby effectively suppressing the evaporation and fractionation of precipitation samples and ensuring the authenticity and validity of isotope test data. At the same time, the alternating opening and closing of multiple control valves 42 allows the first water storage tank 121 and the second water storage tank 122 to receive new precipitation in parallel during the filling process, achieving high-resolution seamless acquisition before, during, and after a single rainfall event. After filling is completed, the pump power unit 21 is driven to actively discharge the residual liquid in the water storage container 12 and pipeline, avoiding cross-contamination between precipitation samples from different events. Moreover, the fixed pipeline combination of the pump power unit 21 and multiple control valves 42 replaces the traditional refrigeration equipment and robotic arm structure, making the device as a whole free of complex moving parts, with a simplified structure and reduced power consumption, thereby significantly improving the long-term operational reliability and endurance in extreme field environments. Secondly, such as Figure 5As shown, this application proposes an automatic precipitation stable isotope acquisition method, applied to the automatic precipitation stable isotope acquisition device described in any of the first aspects above. The method includes: Step 101: When a precipitation signal is detected, open the first control valve to store the precipitation sample in the first water storage tank.

[0072] In automatic acquisition of stable isotopes in precipitation, accurately identifying the onset of precipitation events and quickly introducing rainwater into storage containers are prerequisites for ensuring sampling integrity and temporal resolution. If the onset of rainfall is missed or the response is delayed, the initial rainfall (the period rich in isotopic information) cannot be effectively captured, resulting in missing temporal sampling data and affecting subsequent analysis of the isotopic evolution of precipitation processes.

[0073] Specifically, the controller continuously reads the pulse signal output by the rain gauge at a preset sampling frequency (e.g., 1 second). The rain gauge is a balance-type rain gauge installed independently of the data acquisition device, with a measurement threshold of 0.2 mm. It outputs one pulse for every 0.2 mm of accumulated rainfall. When the controller detects a pulse, it confirms the start of rainfall. After confirmation, the controller immediately drives the first control valve to open while ensuring that the second control valve remains closed. At this time, the rainwater collected by the water inlet at the top of the housing flows into the first water storage tank through the first water inlet pipe under the action of gravity.

[0074] In this embodiment, the reliability of precipitation initiation determination is effectively ensured by using an independently installed high-precision rain gauge. The first control valve is opened immediately to collect the initial rainwater completely into the first storage tank, avoiding sample loss during the initial sampling stage. Simultaneously, the first storage tank serves as the default water collection unit, providing the hardware foundation for subsequent high-resolution segmented data collection based on alternating dual tanks. This step achieves a complete closed loop from "precipitation detection" to "automatic, orderly, and pollution-free temporary storage," and is the first link in the automated operation of the entire system.

[0075] In some embodiments, the controller can also determine the rainfall intensity based on the pulse frequency of the rain gauge. If the pulse interval is short (e.g., <2 seconds), it is determined to be heavy rain. In this case, the peristaltic pump can be started simultaneously at a low speed to collect and fill the tank at the same time, preventing the water level in the tank from rising too quickly. If the pulse interval is long (e.g., >10 seconds), it is determined to be light rain. In this case, only water collection is performed, and filling is carried out after the rain stops. This method of adjusting the subsequent strategy based on rainfall intensity can make more efficient use of the water storage tank volume.

[0076] In some embodiments, the default water inlet path is not fixed to the first water inlet pipe, but is dynamically adjusted based on the result of the previous dual-tank alternation. During system initialization, the first water storage tank is the default water collection tank; that is, the first control valve is opened when the first precipitation signal is detected. If rainfall occurs suddenly during the filling process of the first water storage tank, the system switches the water collection focus to the second water storage tank, and the default water inlet path is subsequently updated to the second water inlet pipe. That is, when the next precipitation signal arrives, the second control valve is opened first to allow rainwater to flow into the second water storage tank. Similarly, if new rainfall occurs again during the filling or emptying process of the second water storage tank, the system reopens the first control valve, allowing the new rainfall to flow into the already emptied and ready-to-use first water storage tank. This cycle repeats continuously, with the two water storage tanks taking turns as the default water collection tank, achieving true dynamic alternation.

[0077] Step 102: If no precipitation signal is detected for a preset time period, close the first control valve, open the third control valve, the pump power component, and the sixth control valve of the corresponding filling branch, and fill the precipitation sample in the first water storage tank into the sample bottle through the filling branch.

[0078] Specifically, the preset time length can be 30 minutes. The controller determines the end of a single rainfall event by detecting a 30-minute period without a rain gauge signal (rainfall signal). It then first outputs a signal to close the first control valve, cutting off the connection between the inlet and the first water storage tank to prevent subsequent sporadic rainfall from interfering with the filling process. Subsequently, when filling begins, the controller opens the third control valve, connecting the outlet pipe at the bottom of the first water storage tank to the inlet of the peristaltic pump. Simultaneously, according to the preset filling sequence, it selects an unoccupied filling branch with an available sample bottle and opens its sixth control valve. At this point, the first water storage tank, the third control valve, the peristaltic pump, the distributor, the opened sixth control valve, and the corresponding sample needle form a complete pathway.

[0079] Since the sample bottle is sealed, the initial air pressure inside the bottle is approximately atmospheric pressure. As the liquid is poured into the bottle, the air is compressed, and the air pressure will increase slightly. According to the selection parameters of the peristaltic pump and actual operating conditions, its output pressure is approximately 0.1MPa to 0.2MPa. This pressure range can effectively overcome the air compression resistance inside the sealed sample bottle and meet the filling requirements.

[0080] In this embodiment, the aforementioned filling control mechanism enables automated, high-precision, and non-destructive filling of samples in the first storage tank after a single rainfall event. First, a 30-minute delay effectively distinguishes between the end of actual rainfall and brief intervals, preventing sample mixing or filling interruptions due to erroneous filling during rainfall pauses. Second, a peristaltic pump actively pressurizes the sample bottles, overcoming internal pressure barriers and ensuring compatibility between the high-sealing anti-evaporation structure and automated filling—a key feature distinguishing this technical solution from existing gravity or atmospheric pressure filling methods. Finally, multiple parallel filling branches and an independently controlled sixth control valve enable sequential filling and selective allocation of multiple sample bottles, allowing samples from different rainfall events to be stored in separate bottles, achieving physical separation of high-resolution rainfall samples. Furthermore, all filling branches use fixed pipelines, eliminating the need for any mechanical moving parts, fundamentally avoiding jamming and wear issues, and significantly improving the long-term operational reliability and sampling success rate of the device under unattended conditions.

[0081] In some embodiments, the controller automatically selects the currently available filling branch for filling according to a preset filling sequence (e.g., sequentially increasing from valve 6 to valve 19). If the sample bottle corresponding to a certain branch is already full, or if the branch malfunctions (e.g., needle blockage, valve malfunction), the system will automatically skip that branch and continue using the next available branch to complete the subsequent filling. In this way, even if individual sample bottles or branches have problems, it will not affect the continuation of the entire sampling task, improving the system's fault tolerance and field reliability.

[0082] In some embodiments, during the filling process, the controller records the filling time, filling volume, and corresponding cumulative rain gauge pulse count for each filling branch in real time, and stores this data in the internal memory. When the sample bottles are recovered, the operator can read the records in the controller to trace the specific rainfall period, rainfall intensity, and cumulative rainfall corresponding to each sample bottle, providing complete data support for subsequent isotope data analysis.

[0083] Step 103: If a new precipitation signal is detected during the filling process, the second control valve is opened to allow the precipitation sample to flow into the second water storage tank, thus enabling the filling and collection operations to be carried out in parallel.

[0084] Specifically, during the filling process, while the peristaltic pump is delivering water samples from the first storage tank to the sample bottles, the controller continuously monitors the pulse signals output by the rain gauge at a preset frequency. When the controller detects a new pulse signal, it determines that new precipitation has begun. At this time, the filling operation is still in progress, and the first control valve is closed (to prevent new precipitation from entering the first storage tank). To avoid the new precipitation from mixing with the old samples that have not yet been filled, the controller immediately outputs a signal to open the second control valve while keeping the first control valve closed. After the second control valve is opened, the new precipitation collected by the inlet flows into the second storage tank through the second inlet pipe. At this time, the system is in a state of parallel operation of "filling water from the first storage tank" and "collecting water from the second storage tank". On the one hand, the peristaltic pump continues to extract water samples from the first storage tank and completes the filling of the current sample bottles according to the original filling process. On the other hand, the new precipitation continues to flow into the second storage tank for temporary storage. The two operations do not interfere with each other, share the same inlet and controller, but the water paths are independent. Once the filling and subsequent emptying of the first water tank are complete, the controller will automatically switch the water collection core to the second water tank and fill and empty the water sample in the second water tank in the same way as the first water tank. At this time, the first water tank is in an empty standby state, waiting for the next alternation trigger.

[0085] The term "parallel" refers to the fact that the filling operation and the water collection operation overlap in time but are physically independent. The filling operation relies on the first water storage tank and the corresponding water outlet pipe, while the water collection operation relies on the second water storage tank and the corresponding water inlet pipe. The two water systems separate after the water inlet and work independently without relying on each other. The core advantage of this parallel design is that even if the filling process takes a long time (e.g., several minutes to tens of minutes), the newly fallen rainwater will not be lost or mixed with the old sample, achieving seamless coverage of continuous rainfall.

[0086] In this embodiment, a dual-bucket alternating parallel mechanism enables high-resolution seamless sampling of continuous rainfall events. While the system is processing the filling or emptying of the previous rainfall event, the new rainfall sample is not discarded or mixed with the old sample due to equipment overload. Instead, it is automatically diverted to a second storage tank for independent temporary storage until the previous tank is finished before filling. This design completely solves the drawbacks of traditional single-bucket sampling equipment, which cannot collect water during filling or requires interruption of filling to switch containers, greatly improving sampling temporal resolution and sample representativeness. Furthermore, this mechanism provides a physical basis for subsequent independent analysis of multiple rainfall events. Samples from two rainfall events are physically completely separated and do not interfere with each other. When retrieving samples, operators can easily distinguish the rainfall event and time period corresponding to each sample bottle based on the filling record, meeting the source tracing requirements of time-series samples in high-resolution precipitation isotope research.

[0087] Step 104: After filling is completed, open the fifth control valve to discharge the residual liquid in the water storage container and collection pipeline through the pump power component and waste liquid drainage pipeline into the collection device, and close all control valves to wait for the next precipitation signal.

[0088] Specifically, after filling is complete, the controller enters the evacuation procedure. First, the controller closes the currently used third or fourth control valve (i.e., cuts off the passage between the water storage tank and the peristaltic pump), while keeping all sixth control valves (filling branches) closed. Then, the controller opens the fifth control valve, located on the waste liquid evacuation pipeline, with its end leading to the outside of the housing. After opening the fifth control valve, the controller starts the peristaltic pump and controls its direction of rotation, pushing the downstream collection pipeline of the water storage tank and the residual liquid at the bottom of the tank forward, discharging it through the fifth control valve. Once evacuation is confirmed (which can be monitored by a level gauge or preset to a fixed evacuation duration), the controller stops the peristaltic pump, closes the fifth control valve, and closes all other control valves, restoring the system to its initial standby state. The controller then enters a low-power sleep mode, awaiting the next precipitation signal.

[0089] The completion of filling is determined by a preset filling time control (or all water sample in the tube flows into the sample bottle). This time parameter was manually measured and calibrated in the laboratory during the design phase. The specific calibration data is as follows: 7 seconds to fill 1 mL of sample, 10 seconds to fill 6 mL of sample, and 12 seconds to fill 8 mL of sample (i.e., the target filling volume per bottle). The controller executes the filling timer according to the preset target filling volume, and stops filling immediately after the timer ends to ensure that the filling volume is accurate and consistent each time.

[0090] In some embodiments, the evacuation procedure is divided into two modes: "rapid evacuation" and "deep evacuation". Rapid evacuation only empties the residual liquid in the main pipeline (e.g., the peristaltic pump runs for 5 seconds), which is suitable for scenarios where the interval between continuous rainfalls is short and a quick return to standby status is required. Deep evacuation empties the remaining water sample at the bottom of the water tank and the residual liquid in the pipeline at the same time, which is suitable for periods when a single rainfall event has completely ended and a long period of no rain is expected.

[0091] In this embodiment, the evacuation design effectively solves the problem of cross-contamination between precipitation samples from different periods. After each filling, the system actively and thoroughly drains the remaining water sample in the storage tank and the residual liquid in the pipeline, preventing "stagnant water" from lingering in the pipeline, deteriorating, or mixing with the next precipitation event. Simultaneously, this evacuation procedure utilizes the same pump power component (peristaltic pump) as the filling process, eliminating the need for an additional evacuation pump, simplifying the system structure, and reducing cost and power consumption. The fifth control valve, as the only additional component, is small in size, has low power consumption, and high reliability. Its normally closed characteristic ensures complete isolation of the pipeline from the outside environment when not evacuated, preventing external contaminants from entering the system. Furthermore, after evacuation, the system closes all valves and enters a low-power sleep mode, minimizing standby power consumption and extending the endurance of the data collection device in the field.

[0092] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present invention are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state drive), etc.

[0093] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0094] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device, characterized in that, include: The collection assembly includes a housing with a water inlet and a water storage container disposed within the housing, the water storage container being used to collect and store precipitation samples; The filling assembly disposed within the housing includes a pump power unit, a collection pipeline, and a delivery unit. The pump power unit is located between the water storage container and the delivery unit. The water inlet, the water storage container, the pump power unit, and the delivery unit are connected in sequence through the collection pipeline, and at least a portion of the end of the collection pipeline is connected to the delivery unit. The storage component disposed within the housing includes multiple sample bottles for preserving precipitation samples transported by the conveyor. Each sample bottle has a sealing structure, the conveyor passes through the sealing structure, and one end of the conveyor is located inside the sample bottle. The control components housed within the housing include a controller and multiple control valves. The controller is electrically connected to the control valves and the pump power unit. The control valves are located at least on the data collection pipeline.

2. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water storage container includes a first water storage tank and a second water storage tank; the collection pipeline includes a first water inlet pipeline and a second water inlet pipeline; the control valve includes a first control valve and a second control valve. The water inlet is connected to the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank respectively through a first water inlet pipe and a second water inlet pipe connected in parallel; the first water inlet pipe is equipped with the first control valve, and the second water inlet pipe is equipped with the second control valve.

3. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The collection pipeline also includes a first outlet pipeline and a second outlet pipeline; the control valve also includes a third control valve and a fourth control valve; The bottom of the first water storage tank is provided with the first water outlet pipe, and the first water outlet pipe is provided with the third control valve; the bottom of the second water storage tank is provided with the second water outlet pipe, and the second water outlet pipe is provided with the fourth control valve; the first water outlet pipe and the second water outlet pipe are connected to the water inlet of the pump power component, and the pump power component is a peristaltic pump.

4. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The filling assembly also includes a waste liquid drainage pipeline; the control valve also includes a fifth control valve; After the first water outlet pipe and the second water outlet pipe merge, they are connected in parallel with the waste liquid discharge pipe, which is equipped with the fifth control valve; the end of the waste liquid discharge pipe leads to the outside of the housing.

5. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filling assembly also includes a water distributor; the collection pipeline includes a filling branch; the control valve includes multiple sixth control valves; The inlet of the water distributor is connected to the outlet of the pump power unit. The outlet of the water distributor is provided with multiple filling branches in a ring. Each filling branch is provided with a sixth control valve. The end of each filling branch is connected to a conveying component, which is a sample needle.

6. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing structure includes a thick butyl stopper encapsulated at the mouth of the sample vial, an aluminum cap that presses the thick butyl stopper, and an oil film liquid seal layer covering the liquid surface inside the sample vial. The sample vial is a vial.

7. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage component also includes a carrier, which has multiple positioning grooves spaced apart along its circumference, and the sample vial is inserted into the positioning grooves.

8. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A rain gauge is installed on the outside of the housing, and the rain gauge is electrically connected to the controller.

9. The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer bottom of the housing is provided with multiple fasteners, which are threaded nails.

10. An automatic method for collecting stable isotopes from precipitation, characterized in that, The automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 comprises: When a precipitation signal is detected, the first control valve is opened to store the precipitation sample in the first water storage tank. If no precipitation signal is detected for a preset time period, the first control valve is closed, and the third control valve, the pump power component, and the sixth control valve of the corresponding filling branch are opened to fill the precipitation sample in the first water storage tank into the sample bottle through the filling branch. If a new precipitation signal is detected during the filling process, the second control valve is opened to allow the precipitation sample to flow into the second water storage tank, thus enabling the filling and collection operations to be carried out in parallel. After filling is completed, the fifth control valve is opened, and the residual liquid in the water storage container and the collection pipeline is discharged from the automatic precipitation stable isotope collection device through the pump power component and the waste liquid discharge pipeline. Then, all control valves are closed, and the device waits for the next precipitation signal.

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