Variable Carrier Gas Flow Control for Combustion Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing carbon measuring devices face challenges in shortening measurement time without compromising the completeness of the oxidation reaction in the reactor, as increasing the carrier gas flow rate can lead to incomplete combustion and reduced measurement accuracy due to the gentle falling shape of detection signal peaks.
Innovation Solution
The analyzing apparatus incorporates a carrier gas flow rate adjustor and a flow control program to initially suppress the carrier gas flow rate during sample introduction, allowing sufficient reaction time, and then gradually increase it to prevent the gentle falling shape of detection signal peaks, ensuring complete reaction and reduced measurement time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the carrier gas flow rate is increased to shorten measurement time, then measurement time is reduced, but the oxidation reaction becomes insufficient and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the carrier gas flow rate variable rather than constant. The flow rate is dynamically adjusted during the measurement process: initially set at a low level to ensure complete oxidation reaction, then increased after the reaction phase to accelerate the transport of reaction products to the detector, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement time and reaction completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through two distinct flow rate phases: a first flow rate during the oxidation reaction period to ensure complete reaction, and a second (higher) flow rate during the detection period to reduce measurement time. This periodic variation in flow rate allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements at different times
2Productivity
If the carrier gas flow rate is increased to prevent gentle falling shape of detection signal peak, then measurement time is shortened, but the oxidation reaction completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the carrier gas flow rate between two levels: a lower first flow rate during oxidation to ensure reaction completeness and reliability, and a higher second flow rate during detection to improve productivity by reducing measurement time and preventing signal peak distortion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by first establishing the oxidation reaction phase with appropriate low flow rate conditions before transitioning to the detection phase. This ensures that the oxidation reaction is already complete or nearly complete before the flow rate increase occurs, thereby maintaining reaction completeness while enabling faster detection
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 approach allows for shorter measurement times while maintaining the completeness of the oxidation reaction, thereby improving measurement accuracy and reproducibility by controlling the carrier gas flow rate strategically.
Implementation Method 1
carrier gas for transporting carbon dioxide generated in the oxidation reactor to the oxidation reactor
Implementation Method 2
carbon dioxide diffuses in the carrier gas, and the carbon dioxide concentration in the carrier gas decreases toward the latter half of the peak
Implementation Method 3
a carbon component in the sample is converted to carbon dioxide by the action of the oxidation catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The analyzing apparatus includes a reactor, a detector, a carrier gas supplier, a carrier gas flow rate adjustor, a flow control program memory, and a flow rate controller. The detector communicates with an internal space of the reactor, and detects a target substance generated by reaction of a specific component in the internal space. The carrier gas supplier supplies, to the internal space, carrier gas for transporting the target substance generated in the internal space. The carrier gas flow rate adjustor adjusts a carrier gas flow rate supplied from the carrier gas supplier to the internal space. The flow control program memory stores a flow control program set to increase the carrier gas flow rate during measurement from the process of introduction of a sample into the internal space to the process of detection of the target substance by the detector.