Module for monitoring water parameters

Abstract

The present invention relates to a module for monitoring water parameters, particularly for continuous monitoring of physicochemical properties of water, comprising a housing including two rollers, a storage roller and a receiving roller, between which extends a tape with at least one sensor, and comprising a supply connector of a power source and a signal connector, characterize in that the storage roller (2) and the receiving roller (3), on which the film (4) extending from the storage roller (2) to the receiving roller (3) is wound, are attached within the housing (1), perpendicular to the lateral wall (la) of the housing (1), and at least one sensor (6) is located on the film (4), the sensor (6) comprising a reference electrode (10a), a working electrode (10b) and an auxiliary electrode (10c), three conductive areas (Ila, 11b, 11c) and two ferromagnetic areas (12a, 12b), electrodes (10a, 10b, 10c) being connected by conductive lines (13a, 13b, 13c) to conductive areas (Ila, 11b, 11c), while the receiving roller (3) is connected with a stepper motor (5), and a measurement conduit (7) with an opening (8) is adjacent to the storage roller (2), while a measurement block (15), positioned perpendicular to the surface of the film (4), is attached to the lateral wall (la) of the housing (1), the measurement block (15) comprising three spring contacts (16a, 16b, 16c) seated perpendicular to the film (4) and two electromagnets (17a, 17b).

Description

[0001] Module for monitoring water parameters

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a module for monitoring water parameters, particularly for continuous monitoring of physicochemical parameters of water.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Conventional monitoring methods require manual collecting of samples, transport to the laboratory, frequent sensor calibration, automatic cleansing, which is time-consuming, labourconsuming and costly.

[0006] Multifunctional sensor assembly comprising a electrically non-conductive substrate which defines at least a distal zone, a intermediate zone and a proximal zone, each covered by paths conducting electric current, is known from the US20210140904A1 patent description. The proximal zone is configured so that it is exposed to an agent that has to be detected, and the distal and intermediate zones are configured so that they are protected against the said agent. Electric conductive paths include at least a circuitry for detecting temperature and media flow, and one or more electrodes to detect one or more conductivities, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and acidity (pH) of media.

[0007] The sensor configured to detect parameter of an aqueous liquid is known from US20210355005A1 patent description. The sensor contains an analogue output port configured to deliver analogue signal indicating the detected parameter and a calibration memory device storing digital individual data indicating sensor calibration.

[0008] The document WO2016176169A1 discloses a device for testing water parameters, comprising a case having a storage roller and a receiving roller within a housing on which a film containing sensor area is wound, the receiving roller being connected to an controllable engine allowing to set a sensor area directly under a measurement block. The sensor area is exposed to water and the measurement is performed by optical reader located perpendicular to the film surface.

[0009] The document W02020052958 Al discloses a device for testing pollution of potable water by microorganisms. The device comprises a replaceable module in the form of a case mounted within a measuring device. A housing of the case contains two rollers seated on fastenings adapted to propulsion; a storage roller and a receiving roller, on which a carrier tape containing test areas is wound. Test areas are a filtration layer of thickness of 0, 1mm and pore diameter of at most 0,45 pm that are located on the carrier tape made of plastic such as polyethylene and / or polypropylene. Test area is in contact with water tested in a sealed area. The device further comprise optical test block, CCD sensor located perpendicular to the surface of a strip containing test areas.

[0010] The documentUS2008193331Al discloses a device in which a housing comprises a container on which a indicator strip containing test areas is wound. The housing comprises a engine-driven roller receiving a indicator strip. The drive is preferably operating intermittently and is activated by a controller between test cycles. The circuit of tested medium, water, has a inlet positioned in aqueous reservoir and feeds liquid outlet nozzle located above the path of the indicator strip. A solenoid valve serves to sequential sample of the water from the circuit and dosing its droplets on the indicator strip. The device further comprises a electro-optical sensor located perpendicular to the surface of the indicator strip.

[0011] The object of the invention is to enable a continuous measurement of the water physicochemical properties without having to clean and calibrate the sensors. By using disposable sensors and module construction, replacing waste sensors is simple which contributes to time saving, cost reduction and improved efficiency of water parameters monitoring. The solution according to the invention enables measurement of parameters such as pH, chlorides, trioxonitrates(V) ammonium- ions, orthophosphates, conductivity and oxygen.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The module for monitoring water parameters, particularly for continuous monitoring physicochemical parameters of the water, comprising the housing, containing two rollers, a storage roller and a receiving roller, between which extends a tape having at least one sensor, and comprising a power source port and a signal connectors, is characterized by that storage roller and receiving roller, on which the film extending from storage roller to receiving roller is wound, are attached within the housing, perpendicular to the lateral wall of the housing, and at least one sensor is located on the film, the sensor comprising a reference electrode, a working electrode and an auxiliary electrode, three conductive areas and two ferromagnetic areas, electrodes being connected by conductive lines to conductive areas, whereas the receiving roller is connected to a stepper motor, and the storage roller abuts to a measurement conduit with an opening, while the measurement block, located perpendicular to the surface of the film, is attached to the lateral wall of the housing, between the storage roller and the receiving roller, the measurement block comprising three spring contacts, seated perpendicular to the film, and two electromagnets.

[0014] It is preferred that conductive lines are covered with dielectric layer.

[0015] It is preferred when there are from ten sensors to six thousands sensors on the film.

[0016] It is preferred when the housing is made from plastic or metal.

[0017] It is preferred when the housing is sleeve-shaped.

[0018] It is preferred when the film is made from PET material.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] The object of the invention in an embodiment is made apparent on a drawing, on which figure 1 shows perspective view of the inside of the module for monitoring water parameters, fig. 2 shows the front view of the module, fig. 3 shows the side view of the rolls with stepper motor and measurement block, fig. 4 shows the front view of the film with sensor, fig. 5 shows the exploded view of the film with sensor, and fig. 6 shows the perspective of sensor electrodes, as enlargement A of fig. 5.

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The module for monitoring water parameters, particularly for continuous monitoring of physicochemical properties of water has a housing 1 in the shape of sleeve made of plastic. Within the housing 1, perpendicular to the lateral wall la of the housing 1, two rollers, storage roller 2 and receiving roller 3, are attached. They are attached in one plane, one above the other. An elastic film 4 made of PET material 30m in length is wound on the rollers 2, 3. The storage roller 2 stores film refill and the receiving roller 3 serves to collect the film. There are six thousands flat, disposable sensors 6 applied using printed electronics technology arranged in series every 5mm on the film 4. Every of the sensors 6 comprise three electrodes, a reference electrode 10a, a working electrode 10b and an auxiliary electrode 10c, which are connected by conductive lines 13a, 13b, 13c to conductive areas Ila, 11b, 11c. Three conductive areas Ila, 11b, 11c are aligned with two ferromagnetic areas 12a, 12b. Conductive lines 13a, 13b, 13c are covered with a dielectric layer 14 to provide electric insulation between conductive lines 13a, 13b, 13c and to protect and stabilise sensor structure 6. The receiving roller 3 is connected to a stepper motor 5, which in turn is powered from an external power source (not shown) via a supply connector 9a. On the other hand, measurement conduit 7, which is adjacent to the storage roller 2 and has an opening 8 at level of the storage roller 2, is seated in the bottom part of the module. Water flows through the measurement conduit 7 and through the opening 8 water is in contact with the sensor 6, thus enabling the measurement. A measurement block 15, located perpendicular to the surface of the film 4, between the storage roller 2 and the receiving roller 3, is attached to the lateral wall la of the housing 1. The measurement block 15 is powered through supply lines 9b extending from the stepper motor 5. The measurement block 15 comprises three spring contacts 16a, 16b, 16c, seated perpendicular to the film 4, and two electromagnets 17a, 17b.

[0023] Monitoring of physicochemical parameters of water takes place in such a way that through the motion of the stepper motor 5 of the receiving roller 3, the tape 4 is unwound from the storage roller 2. The tape 4 stops so that electrodes 10a, 10b, 10c were positioned precisely at the level of the opening 8 of the measurement conduit 7. Simultaneously, conductive areas Ila, 11b, 11c along with ferromagnetic areas 12a, 12b are set so that they are located directly opposite the measurement block 15. Then electromagnets 17a, 17b couples with ferromagnetic areas 12a, 12b and spring contacts 16a, 16b, 16c connect with conductive areas Ila, 11b, 11c. A measurement signal is transmitted from electrodes 10a, 10b, 10c, via conductive lines 13a, 13b, 13c, then via conductive areas Ila, 11b, 11c and spring contacts 16a, 16b, 16c, the signal travels to measurement arrangement (not shown). The measurement is carried out through exposure of the sensor 6 to water flowing through the measurement conduit 7. After carrying out the measurement, the stepper motor 5 winds a section of the film 4 on the receiving roller 3 and thereby waste sensor 6 is replaced with a new one, which is set in the normal position and next measurements is performed.

[0024] The module for monitoring water parameters is used in water treatment plants, in food and drink industry, in scientific research, environmental monitoring etc. The application of the present invention is particularly advantageous in media, in which the biofilm or other pollutants settle on the surface of sensors and impede the operation of measurement arrangement. Furthermore, the application of the solution according to the invention allows to reduce costs in comparison to conventional monitoring systems, by using disposable sensors, which require neither calibration solutions nor complicated surface cleansing systems. The module can be used in fresh waters, salt waters, standing waters and flowing waters in such places as fish tanks, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, seas and oceans.

Claims

Claims1. Module for monitoring water parameters, particularly for continuous monitoring of physicochemical properties of water, comprising a housing, including two rollers, a storage roller and a receiving roller, between which extends a tape with at least one sensor, and comprising supply connector of a power source and signal connector, characterized in that the storage roller (2) and the receiving roller (3) are attached within the housing (1), perpendicular to the lateral wall (la) of the housing (1), on which rollers the film (4) extending from the storage roller (2) to the receiving roller (3) is wound, and at least one sensor (6) is located on the film (4), the sensor (6) comprising a reference electrode (10a), a working electrode (10b) and an auxiliary electrode (10c), three conductive areas (Ila, 11b, 11c) and two ferromagnetic areas (12a, 12b), electrodes (10a, 10b, 10c) being connected by conductive lines (13ab, 13b, 13c) to conductive areas (Ila, 11b, 11c), while the receiving roller (3) is connected to a stepper motor (5), and a measurement conduit (7) is adjacent to the storage roller (2), while a measurement block (15), positioned perpendicular to the surface of the film (4), between the storage roller (2) and the receiving roller (3), is attached to the lateral wall (la) of the housing (1), the measurement block (15) comprising three spring contacts (16a, 16b, 16c) seated perpendicular to the film (4), and two electromagnets (17a, 17b).

2. The module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that conductive lines (13a, 13b, 13c) are covered with dielectric layer (14).

3. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that there are from ten sensors to six thousands sensors (6) on the film (4).

4. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (1) is made of plastic or metal.

5. The module according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the housing (1) is sleeveshaped.

6. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the film (4) is made of PET material.

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