Control device

Abstract

A control device for regulating, directing or controlling the flow of a liquid, wherein the control device comprises at least one inlet channel for introducing a liquid;and a distributor with a horizontal channel for conveying the liquid, wherein the inlet channel has a first movable part that can open, close or partially block the inlet channel, wherein the distributor has at least one distributor inlet connected to the horizontal channel, wherein the distributor inlet is connected to the inlet channel, wherein one end of the horizontal channel has a first distributor outlet for draining the liquid and the other end of the horizontal channel has a second distributor outlet for draining the liquid, wherein the control device further comprises a connection part, wherein the connection part has two connection part inlets for receiving the liquid from the first connection part outlet and from the second connection part outlet through two connecting channels, and the connection part has a connection part outlet for draining the received liquid from the control device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for regulating, guiding or controlling the flow of a liquid, in particular a control device for controlling the supply of different liquid samples to a liquid analysis device.

[0002] Liquid analysis is a scientific technique for identifying and quantifying the components of liquid samples. It is important in many fields, such as environmental protection, product quality control, process optimization, and safety monitoring. Liquid analysis encompasses the analysis of liquids such as water, beverages, dairy products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

[0003] A control device is often required in a liquid analysis system to regulate the liquid supply, particularly to control liquid parameters such as direction, pressure, and flow rate. Its functions include shutting off, regulating, directing, preventing backflow, regulating pressure, diverting, and pressure relief in case of overflow. A valve manifold is one example of such a control device. Valve manifolds can control various types of flow, including air, water, steam, various corrosive media, sludge, liquid metal, and radioactive liquids.

[0004] Valve blocks are known as control devices in liquid analysis. In the liquid analysis industry, customers sometimes need to use a liquid analyzer to analyze several different liquid samples. These samples are fed into the analyzer from various sources.

[0005] In the prior art, a control device 1 (see Fig. 1) Different samples are directed to an analysis device via different channels. The control device 1 is a multi-channel valve block whose function is to separate the different samples from each other.

[0006] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the control device 1 has six inlet channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, each serving to introduce different samples. Each inlet channel has a first movable component 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, which can open, close, or partially block the inlet channel. During operation, once sampling and analysis using one of the inlet channels is completed, another inlet channel is used, ensuring that the measurement results are not influenced by the sample from the previous sampling process.

[0007] Different samples flow sequentially through different inflow channels, flowing through a distributor 5 with a horizontal channel 50 (see also Fig. 2) and are then transported for analysis through a distributor outlet 57 to a liquid analysis device (not shown). The distributor 5 has six distributor inlets 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 which are connected to the horizontal channel 50, and each distributor inlet is connected to the corresponding inlet channel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

[0008] In actual operation, however, cross-contamination of the samples can occur, particularly during flow through distributor 5, and this influence cannot be ignored. For example, after the sampling and analysis of the first sample using the sixth inlet channel 26 is completed, the second sample is taken and analyzed using the first inlet channel 21. At this point, a portion of the first sample remains in the horizontal channel 50 between the first distributor inlet 51 and the sixth distributor inlet 56, so that when the second sample flows through the distributor, the first sample remaining in distributor 5 continues to cause cross-contamination of the second sample.

[0009] Furthermore, samples often contain suspended solids, and the analyzer may also need to determine the amount of these solids in the sample. For example, when quantifying oxidizable pollutants (that is, chemical oxygen demand (COD)) in surface waters (such as lakes and rivers) or in wastewater, it is sometimes necessary to determine the organic content of the suspended solids. When these samples are conveyed to the liquid analyzer via the control device, the samples must not only pass through the inlet channel but also the moving parts within the inlet channel, which are usually valves that come into contact with the samples. However, it is common for suspended solids in the sample to clog the inlet channel at the valve, resulting in high maintenance costs.

[0010] Therefore, new devices are needed to control the flow of liquid samples and thus minimize cross-contamination. The new devices should also be able to handle suspended solids contained in the samples.

[0011] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a control device for regulating, guiding or controlling the flow of liquid samples and a system for analyzing liquid samples that can not only reduce cross-contamination between different channels or different samples, but are also able to handle suspended particles in the sample.

[0012] The purpose of the present invention is fulfilled by a control device for regulating, guiding or controlling the flow of liquid samples according to claim 1.

[0013] According to independent claim 1, the control device comprises at least one inlet channel for introducing a liquid and a distributor with a horizontal channel for conveying the liquid. The inlet channel has a first movable part that can open, close, or partially block the inlet channel. The distributor has at least one distributor inlet connected to the horizontal channel, the distributor inlet being connected to the inlet channel, one end of the horizontal channel having a first distributor outlet for draining liquid, and the other end of the horizontal channel having a second distributor outlet for draining liquid.The control device further comprises a connection part with two connection part inlets for receiving liquid from the first distributor outlet and from the second distributor outlet through two connecting channels, and the connection part further comprises a connection part outlet for draining the received liquid from the control device.

[0014] Since the first and second distributor outlets are located on the distributor, the liquid can be discharged from both ends of the horizontal channel, instead of only from one outlet. By controlling the flow of different liquids from different inlet channels using a control device, the liquids used in the previous analysis do not remain in the distributor, thus significantly reducing cross-contamination between different liquids.

[0015] Dependent claims 2 to 8 specify further advantageous embodiments of the control device according to the invention for regulating, directing or controlling the flow of a liquid, and independent claim 9 further claims a system for analyzing liquid samples using a control device according to the invention.

[0016] Although the embodiments of the present invention illustrate the application for controlling the flow of liquid samples, the present invention is equally applicable to gases and other liquids.

[0017] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the figures and exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 is the state of the art; Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a distribution section according to the state of the art; Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a distributor section of the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3; Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the characters: 1 Control device 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Inflow channel 3 Connection part 31, 32 Connection part inlet 33 Connection part outlet 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 first moving part 5 distributors 50 horizontal channel 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Distributor inlet 57 first distributor outlet 58 second distributor outlet 61, 62 Connection channel 63 Drainage channel 71, 72 second moving part

[0019] Fig. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, namely a control device 1 in liquid analysis, for example a multi-channel valve block, for regulating, directing, or controlling a liquid, in particular a liquid sample, especially wastewater in environmental chemistry. The liquid analysis device (not shown) can be an instrument for quantifying the chemical oxygen demand (COD) or the total organic carbon (TOC) in the sample. The control device 1 in Fig. 3 encompasses all technical features of the state of the art in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, namely six inlet channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, six first movable parts 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and a distributor 5. The inlet channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 have the same diameter and each serves to introduce different samples. If, for example, the customer uses inlet channel 21 to introduce a first sample, he opens the first movable part 41 and closes the other first movable parts 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, so that the first sample can be introduced via inlet channel 21 without being affected by the other inlet channels 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. If the customer then wants to take and analyze a second sample, he can introduce the second sample via channel 22. At this point, he can open the first movable part 42 while keeping the other first movable parts 41, 43, 44, 45, 46 in the closed position.

[0020] It is possible that the first moving parts 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 do not touch the sample. This arrangement has the advantage that suspended particles in the sample do not clog the inlet channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 on the first moving parts 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. The first moving parts 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 can be clamping valves, and the inlet channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 can be tubes.

[0021] Furthermore, the control device 1 includes Fig. 3 furthermore, a connection part 3. The connection part 3 has two connection part inlets 31, 32 and one connection part outlet 33. The connection part 3 can be a Y-shaped connection part. The function of the connection part 3 is to combine the samples exiting the distributor 5.

[0022] Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of the distributor 5 of the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, comprising a horizontal channel 50 with a first distributor outlet 57 and a second distributor outlet 58 at its two ends. The distributor 5 has six distributor inlets 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, all connected to the horizontal channel 50, and each distributor inlet is connected to the corresponding inlet channel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. The function of the horizontal channel 50 is to transport samples, and different samples are transported through this horizontal channel 50. Unlike the prior art as described in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, after reaching the horizontal channel 50, the sample flows from the distributor 5 through the first distributor outlet 57 and the second distributor outlet 58, instead of only flowing out of the distributor 5 through the first distributor outlet 57. In this way, with each sampling, the sample remaining in the horizontal channel 50 after the previous sampling is removed from the distributor 5 by the new sample, thus preventing the previous sample from remaining in the distributor 5 and causing cross-contamination of the new sample.

[0023] The diameters of the horizontal channel 50 in the distributor 5, the first distributor outlet 57, the second distributor outlet 58, the distributor inlets 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, the connection part inlets 31, 32 and the connection part outlet 33 of the connection part 3 are all the same and smaller than the diameter of the inlet channels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

[0024] After passing through the distributor 5, the sample is guided through the two connecting channels 61, 62 into the connection part 3 and then discharged from the control device 1 through the connection part outlet 33.

[0025] Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the present invention, which includes all the technical features of the embodiment in Fig. 3 and further comprises two second movable parts 71, 72. The second movable parts 71, 72 are each arranged on the connecting channels 61, 62 and can open, close or partially lock the connecting channels 61, 62.

[0026] In practice, it may happen that the sample flowing into distributor 5 does not flow in equal proportions from the first distributor outlet 57 and the second distributor outlet 58, e.g., 50 percent each, but rather it is more likely that a larger quantity of the sample flows from the first distributor outlet 57 and a smaller quantity from the second distributor outlet 58. The second movable parts 71, 72 are provided to regulate the flow rate and the flow rate of the sample at the first distributor outlet 57 and at the second distributor outlet 58.

[0027] It is possible that the second moving parts 71, 72 do not touch the sample. This arrangement has the advantage that suspended particles in the sample cannot so easily clog the connecting channels 61, 62 on the second moving parts 71, 72. The second moving parts 71, 72 can be clamping valves, and the connecting channels 61, 62 can be tubes.

[0028] The present invention further comprises a system for analyzing liquid samples, comprising a control device 1 and a liquid analysis device (not shown), such as an analysis device for analyzing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) or the total organic carbon (TOC) of the liquid. This system is used for the analysis of liquid samples, in particular of different liquids. The liquid analysis device has an analysis device inlet (not shown) for receiving the sample from the connection part outlet 33 (see Fig. 3) through a drainage channel 63 (see Fig. 5) The liquid analysis device comprises a pump by which the sample is conveyed from outside the system to the control device 1, causing the sample to flow through the drain channel 63 and then to the analysis device for analysis.

Claims

[1] Control device (1) for regulating, directing or controlling the flow of a liquid, wherein the control device (1) comprises: at least one inlet channel (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) for introducing a liquid; as well as a distributor (5) with a horizontal channel (50) for conveying the liquid, wherein the inflow channel (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) has a first movable part (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) which can open, close or partially block the inflow channel (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), wherein the distributor (5) has at least one distributor inlet (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56) which is connected to the horizontal channel (50), and the distributor inlet (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56) is connected to the inlet channel (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), wherein one end of the horizontal channel (50) has a first distributor outlet (57) for draining the liquid, characterized by , that the other end of the horizontal channel (50) has a second distributor outlet (58) for draining the liquid, wherein the control device (1) further comprises a connection part (3), wherein the connection part (3) has two connection part inlets (31, 32) for receiving the liquid from the first distributor outlet (57) and the second distributor outlet (58) through two connecting channels (61, 62), wherein the connection part has a connection part outlet (33) to drain the absorbed fluid from the control device (1). [2] Control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least two inlet channels (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) serve to supply different liquids. [3] Control device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the first movable part (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) does not touch the liquid. [4] Control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the first movable part (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) is a clamping valve, wherein the inflow channel is a hose. [5] Control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the connector (3) is a Y-shaped connector. [6] Control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that each of the connecting channels (61, 62) has a second movable part (71, 72) that can open, close or partially lock the connecting channel (61, 62). [7] Control device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the second movable part (71, 72) does not touch the liquid. [8] Control device (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the second movable part (71, 72) is a clamping valve, wherein the connecting channel is a hose. [9] System for analyzing liquid samples, the system comprising: a control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 and a liquid analysis device, where the liquid is a liquid sample, wherein the liquid analysis device has an analysis device inlet for receiving the liquid sample from the connection part outlet through a drain channel (63), wherein the liquid analysis device includes a pump and the pump causes the liquid sample to flow through the drain channel (63).

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