Automatic Analyzer Probe Cleaning Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic analyzers face challenges in maintaining reliable gear pump discharge pressure over time, leading to contamination risks due to increased pressure drop, requiring manual operator and serviceman intervention for monitoring and adjustment, which is costly and increases the analyzer's size.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a configuration that includes a pressure sensor, a throttling unit, and a control unit to adjust the flow rate of cleaning water, allowing for automatic pressure adjustment without controlling the gear pump's driving, using a proportional solenoid valve to maintain optimal pressure without enlarging the analyzer's size or increasing operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a control system that controls driving of the pump is incorporated to maintain discharge pressure, then the reliability of analysis performance is improved, but the mounting size becomes large and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A return flow path is introduced as an intermediary element that connects the pump discharge side back to the suction side. This return path allows the system to regulate pressure indirectly by controlling the flow rate through the return path, rather than directly controlling the pump's driving. The flow rate adjustment unit acts as a mediator that modulates the return flow to maintain optimal discharge pressure, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure detection unit is installed in the return flow path to detect the discharge pressure of the pump. This detected pressure information is fed back to the control unit, which then adjusts the flow rate through the return path accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automatic pressure regulation without requiring complex pump driving control, thereby maintaining reliability while keeping the device compact.
2Reliability
If a control system that controls driving of the pump is incorporated to maintain discharge pressure, then the reliability of analysis performance is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The return flow path serves as a cost-effective intermediary that enables pressure regulation without requiring expensive pump driving control systems. By controlling the flow rate through the return path using a flow rate adjustment unit, the system achieves reliable pressure maintenance at lower manufacturing cost compared to incorporating complex pump control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure detection unit provides feedback on discharge pressure to the control unit, which then adjusts the return flow rate accordingly. This feedback-based automatic regulation eliminates the need for expensive manual monitoring and periodic adjustment by servicemen, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliability.
3Device complexity
If manual monitoring and adjustment of gear pump discharge pressure is performed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of analysis performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to automatically regulate its own discharge pressure through the return flow path mechanism. The control unit autonomously adjusts the flow rate through the return path based on pressure feedback from the detection unit, eliminating the need for manual operator or serviceman intervention. This self-service capability maintains high reliability while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
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 reduces the need for manual intervention, enhances analysis reliability by maintaining optimal cleaning pressure, and prevents contamination, while keeping the analyzer compact and cost-effective by automatically adjusting the gear pump's pressure without controlling its driving.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the cleaning water flow path
Implementation Method 2
cleaning of the inner surface of the probe is generally performed by discharging inner cleaning water at a high pressure through a gear pump
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is an automatic analyzer including: a gear pump (34) that supplies cleaning water to reagent probes (7a and 8a) and sample probes (11a and 12a); a cleaning flow path (106) that feeds the cleaning water discharged from the gear pump (34) to the respective probes (7a, 8a, 11a, and 12a); a pressure sensor (102) that measures pressure of the cleaning flow path (106); a return flow path (105) that is disposed in parallel to the gear pump (34) and connects a discharging port side of the gear pump (34) and an aspirating port side thereof; a throttling unit (101) that is disposed in the return flow path (105) and adjusts a flow rate of the cleaning water flowing through the return flow path (105); and a control unit (103) that changes an opening and closing degree of the throttling unit (101) according to a measurement result of the pressure sensor (102). Accordingly, the automatic analyzer is provided in which it is unnecessary to control driving of a pump used for cleaning a probe while having a low cost and a small mounting size.