Sampling device in a fluidic system

Abstract

The invention relates to a sampling device for collecting representative fluid samples in a fluidic system; the device comprising a conduit (3) through which a fluid to be sampled (4) can flow, a sampling container (2) including an inlet (9) and an outlet (10) for fluid (4) communicating with the conduit (3), and a valve (1) configured in such a way that, once activated, the flow of the fluid (4) through the conduit (3) is at least partially blocked; characterised in that the valve (1) is configured in such a way that, once activated, the flow of fluid (4) is deflected towards the inlet (9) and injected back into the conduit (3) via the outlet (10), thereby passing through the sampling container (2).

Description

[0001] Sampling device in a fluidic system

[0002] Field of invention

[0003] The invention relates to the collection of fluid samples in a fluid system (reservoir, pipe, etc.).

[0004] State of the

[0005] GB 1 224522 A describes a system for taking fluid samples from a pipeline. This comprises a sampling container communicating with the pipeline by means of a valve consisting essentially of a movable needle.

[0006] Patent EP 0 548 187 B1 describes a system for collecting fluid samples from a pipe. This comprises a sampling container communicating with the pipe by means of an inlet valve and an outlet valve.

[0007] The present invention aims in particular to simplify the number of operations to be carried out to take samples and to improve the quality of the samples.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a sampling device for taking representative fluid samples from a fluid system; the device comprising a pipe through which a fluid to be sampled can flow, a sampling container having a fluid inlet and outlet communicating with the pipe, and a valve configured such that, once activated, the flow of fluid through the pipe is at least partially blocked. The device according to the invention is characterized in that the valve is configured such that, once activated, the flow of fluid is diverted towards said inlet and reintroduced into the pipe via said outlet, thereby passing through the sampling container.

[0009] In this document, the expression "active position" concerns the taking of a sample and the expression "resting position" should be understood as an absence of taking a sample.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the valve comprises two movable needles provided with free ends configured to respectively close said inlet and said outlet when the valve is in the rest position and to release the inlet and the outlet when the valve is in the active position.

[0011] Advantageously, the valve comprises at least one spring resting on its movable needles so as to exert a force in the direction of said inlet and said outlet.

[0012] Preferably, the sampling container comprises two movable needles and a handwheel configured such that rotation of the handwheel causes movement of said movable needles against the movable needles of the valve, thereby activating the latter so as to allow flow of fluid through said inlet and said outlet.

[0013] The invention also relates independently to a sampling container for a sampling device as described above. This container comprises a handwheel and two parallel movable needles secured to the handwheel; the first needle being slidably mounted across the inlet and the second slidably mounted across the outlet.

[0014] Finally, the invention also relates independently to a valve for a sampling device as described above. This valve comprises a pipe provided with transverse passages and two parallel movable needles configured to slide through said passages. One of the advantages of the device according to the invention lies in the fact that only one manipulation is necessary to take a sample. Opening the sampling container has the effect of rinsing it, mixing it and filling it with a representative sample taken on the line, without interrupting the flow.

[0015] Preferably, safety is increased by means of a mechanism configured to automatically close the valve as soon as the sampling container is closed. In this way, if the sampling container is disconnected before it has been closed, the valve closes automatically.

[0016] The device according to the invention offers numerous advantages, in particular:

[0017] - Sampling of gaseous or liquid products or those whose state fluctuates over time

[0018] - Sampling pressure up to approx. 50 bar

[0019] - Product mixing for a representative sample

[0020] - Reinjection of the product into the line

[0021] - Rinsing done by the product of the line

[0022] - Line flow never interrupted

[0023] Detailed description of the invention

[0024] The invention is described in more detail in this chapter, in particular by means of examples and figures which are briefly summarized as follows:

[0025] Figure 1A: Schematic representation of the invention in which the sampling container is connected to the fluidic system.

[0026] Figure 1 B: Schematic representation of the invention in which the sampling container is not connected to the fluidic system.

[0027] Figure 2A: Example of a device according to the invention in which the valve and the sampling container are closed. Figure 2B: Device of Figure 2A in the phase of filling the sampling container.

[0028] Figure 2C: Device of Figures 2A and 2B in continuous mixing phase.

[0029] Figure 3: Example of a valve according to the invention.

[0030] Figure 4: Example of a sampling container according to the invention.

[0031] Figure 5: Assembly of a valve and a sampling container according to figures 4 and 5.

[0032] Numerical references used in the figures:

[0033] 1. Valve

[0034] 2. Sampling container

[0035] 3. Driving

[0036] 4. Fluid

[0037] 5. Valve needle

[0038] 6. Container needle

[0039] 7. Steering wheel

[0040] 8. Handle

[0041] 9. Fluid inlet

[0042] 10. Fluid outlet

[0043] 11. Transverse passages

[0044] 12. Spring

[0045] 13. Free end of moving valve needle

[0046] 14. Free end of container moving needle

[0047] An example of the device according to the invention is illustrated schematically in Figures 1 and 2.

[0048] It comprises a pipe 3 through which a fluid 4 circulates, e.g. a gas, for which a sample is to be taken.

[0049] The device also comprises a valve 1 and a sampling container 2 (figure 1) comprising an inlet 9 and an outlet 10 for fluid 4. In its lower part, the sampling container comprises a handwheel 7, the rotation of which makes it possible to close or release the inlet 9 and the outlet 10. Advantageously, the valve 1 comprises at least one spring 12 which exerts a force on movable needles 5 (figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 3) so as to close the inlet 9 and the outlet 10 in the absence of a sampling container 2 or if the valve

[0050] I is in the rest position.

[0051] The sampling container 2 (figure 4) comprises two movable and parallel needles 6 mounted to slide through the inlet 9 and the outlet 10, the free ends of which close the inlet 9 and the outlet 10 in the rest position and release them in the active position, i.e. when rotation is exerted on the handwheel 7.

[0052] When valve 1 is in the rest position and sampling container 2 is closed (figure 2A), fluid 4 flows normally through line 3.

[0053] It is possible to connect or disconnect the sampling container 2 without risk of fluid 4 leaking because as long as it remains closed, the movable needles 5 of the valve remain closed. They are held in the closed position using the aforementioned spring(s) 12. The connection, respectively disconnection, of the sampling container 2 is carried out by means of a handle 8.

[0054] When filling the sampling container 2 (figure 2B), at the moment of its opening, its movable needles 6 push back the movable needles 5 of the valve 1. This movement has the effect of opening the inlet 9 and the outlet 10.

[0055] The movable needles 5 of the valve 1, at their free ends 13, have a larger diameter than that of the free ends 14 of the movable needles 6 of the sampling container 2 which slide through the inlet 9 and the outlet 10. The free ends 13 of the movable needles 5 of the valve 1 therefore obstruct most of the fluid 4 which flows in the pipe 3 and thus forces it to enter the sampling container 2.

[0056] During the continuous mixing phase (Figure 2C), once the sampling container 2 is filled, the fluid 4 which continues to enter the sampling container 2 has the effect of creating disturbances (spirals) which mix the fluid already present in the sampling container 2 and prevent it from settling at the bottom of the sampling container 2.

[0057] In this configuration, it is possible to maintain the mixing phase until the moment when it is estimated that the portion of fluid 4 in the sampling container 2 is representative of the fluid 4 which circulates in the system.

[0058] Once sampling container 2 is closed, we are back in the initial position and sampling container 2 contains a sample that can be analyzed in the laboratory.

[0059] Once the sample has been analyzed, if there is still product in sampling container 2, the latter can be connected to valve 1 and thus returned to the system.

[0060] The invention therefore makes it possible to rinse the sampling container 2 with the system fluid. The use of rinsing agents, e.g. nitrogen, is therefore not necessary.

[0061] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated.

Claims

Claims 1. Sampling device for taking representative fluid samples from a fluid system; device comprising a conduit (3) through which a fluid to be sampled (4) can circulate, a sampling container (2) having a fluid inlet (9) and an outlet (10) (4) communicating with the conduit (3), and a valve (1) configured so that once activated, the flow of the fluid (4) through the conduit (3) is blocked at least partially; characterized in that the valve (1) is configured so that once activated, the flow of fluid (4) is diverted towards said inlet (9) and reintroduced into the conduit (3) via said outlet (10), thereby passing through the sampling container (2).

2. Device according to claim 1 wherein the valve (1) comprises two movable needles (5) provided with free ends (13) configured to respectively close said inlet (9) and said outlet (10) when the valve (1) is in the rest position and to release the inlet (9) and the outlet (10) when the valve (1) is in the active position.

3. Device according to claim 2 wherein the valve (1) comprises springs 12 bearing on its movable needles (5) so as to exert a force in the direction of said inlet (9) and said outlet (10).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the sampling container (2) comprises two movable needles (6) and a handwheel (7) configured so that a rotation of the handwheel (7) causes a movement of said movable needles (6) against the movable needles (5) of the valve (1), thereby activating the latter so as to allow a flow of the fluid (4) through said inlet (9) and said outlet (10).

5. Sampling container (2) for a device as described in the preceding claims comprising a handwheel (7) and two parallel movable needles (6) secured to the handwheel (7); the first needle (5) being slidably mounted through the inlet (9) and the second slidably mounted through the outlet (10), each movable needle (5) comprising a free end (14) sized so as to close the inlet (9) and the outlet (10) when the device is in the rest position.

6. Valve (1) for a device as described in the preceding claims comprising a conduit (3) provided with transverse passages (11) and two parallel movable needles (5) configured so as to slide through said passages (11).

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