Absorbance Measuring Apparatus Vertical Flow Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbance measuring devices face challenges in accurately measuring absorbance of chemical substance solutions due to optical interference from container walls, limited optical length, and high production costs, particularly when dealing with small volumes of solutions and ultraviolet light, which can lead to inaccurate results and increased device complexity.
Innovation Solution
The development of an absorbance measuring device that uses a flow tube with a narrow columnar shape and a black opaque material to minimize optical interference, allowing for adjustable optical length and precise measurement of absorbance without the need for expensive special optical components, by emitting and receiving measurement light vertically through the solution without contact with the container walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If measurement light is emitted horizontally through sidewalls of a container, then the measurement can be performed with conventional containers, but the sidewalls cause absorption and optical interference that reduces measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement direction from horizontal (through sidewalls) to vertical (through top and bottom surfaces). This dimensional change eliminates the problem of sidewall absorption and optical interference while maintaining the ability to use conventional containers, as the measurement path now passes through the top and bottom surfaces where optical interference is minimal.
2Measurement precision
If special optical materials like quartz glass are used for container walls to reduce optical interference, then measurement accuracy improves, but production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of container wall absorption into a beneficial measurement approach by measuring the absorbance of the container walls separately (using air as the sample) and then subtracting this background absorption from the total measurement. This allows the use of conventional, inexpensive container materials while achieving accurate sample absorbance measurements.
3Device complexity
If the optical path passes through container sidewalls, then the device structure is simplified, but the optical path length is limited by the container dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable mirror that can be positioned at different locations to create variable optical path lengths. By adjusting the mirror position, the optical path length can be dynamically changed independent of container dimensions, allowing for adaptable measurement conditions while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
4Measurement precision
If the emitting end and light receiving end are soaked in the solution for internal measurement, then optical interference from container walls is eliminated, but cross-contamination occurs and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the bottom surface of the container as an intermediary medium for light transmission. Instead of placing the light receiving end directly in the solution, light passes through the bottom surface of the container to reach the solution, eliminating cross-contamination while still achieving accurate absorbance measurements by properly accounting for the bottom surface absorption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables highly accurate and versatile absorbance measurements across various chemical substance solutions, including those with small volumes, while reducing production costs and preventing cross-contamination, by using a flow tube with a black opaque material to shield external light and adjust optical length as needed.
Implementation Method 1
uses a flow tube with a narrow columnar shape and a black opaque material to minimize optical interference
Implementation Method 2
light at a predetermined wavelength λ which light can be transmitted through the quartz cell and can be absorbed by the chemical substance is emitted vertically
Implementation Method 3
one or more light receiving ends (71) that can receive the light from the emitting ends, and a photoelectric conversion unit (72) that converts intensity of received light into an electrical signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A highly-reliable absorbance measuring device that enables highly-accurate measurement of absorbance, and a method thereof are provided. A liquid containing unit that can contain a chemical substance solution to be measured, a nozzle that communicates with a suction/discharge mechanism that sucks/discharges gas, a flow tube that includes a mouth part, which can be inserted into the liquid containing unit, at a lower end and that is detachably attached to the nozzle at an upper end, an emitting end that can emit measurement light, a light receiving end that can receive the light emitted from the emitting end, and a control unit are included. One of the emitting end and the light receiving end is provided in the nozzle or the suction/discharge mechanism, and the other of the emitting end and the light receiving end is provided in such a manner that the mouth part of the flow tube can be placed on an upper part thereof. The control unit is configured to suck a prescribed amount of the chemical substance solution into the flow tube, and to lead absorbance on the basis of intensity of transmitted light acquired by emission of measurement light in a vertical direction into the flow tube.