Electrodynamic Sample Fragmentation Assembly with Gas Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample fragmentation methods, particularly mechanical methods, suffer from cross-contamination and inherent contamination due to equipment abrasion, which complicates and contaminates sample analysis, especially when high accuracy in the ppm or ppt range is required.
Innovation Solution
A durable sample container and arrangement for electrodynamic fragmentation with a gas collection space to prevent gas-induced creeping discharges, featuring insulating bodies and electrodes connected via an insulating body, filled with dielectric liquid, and surrounded by a field-shaping body to control electric fields, ensuring the gas bubbles collect away from the container walls and can be removed, thus minimizing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gas bubbles collect on the upper inside of the sample container during pulsed high-voltage discharge, then gas accumulation occurs, but this leads to creeping discharges and high-voltage breakdowns along the container walls
Solution Approach 1:
The gas collection space extracts and isolates the harmful gas bubbles from the critical high-voltage region. By providing a dedicated space where gas bubbles can collect without contacting the container walls or high-voltage electrodes, the invention prevents creeping discharges and flashovers while allowing gas accumulation to occur safely during pulsed high-voltage discharge operations
Solution Approach 2:
The gas collection space acts as an intermediary region between the dielectric liquid and the container wall/high-voltage components. Gas bubbles are redirected to this intermediate zone, preventing direct contact between gas and the high-voltage field regions, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of gas-induced discharges
2Productivity
If mechanical fragmentation methods are used to fragment samples, then fragmentation is achieved, but cross-contamination and inherent contamination from equipment abrasion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical fragmentation methods with electrodynamic fragmentation using pulsed high-voltage discharges. This substitution eliminates contact between the sample and mechanical tools, thereby preventing both inherent contamination from tool abrasion and cross-contamination from previous samples, while still achieving effective sample fragmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses dielectric liquid (hydraulic medium) as the fragmentation medium instead of mechanical tools. The pulsed high-voltage discharge propagates through the dielectric liquid to fragment the sample, eliminating mechanical contact and associated contamination while maintaining fragmentation effectiveness
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the same sample container is used for multiple samples, then device reusability is improved, but cross-contamination between samples occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs disposable sample containers that are used once and then discarded. Each container is sealed before use and cannot be opened, ensuring that no cross-contamination occurs between samples. The low cost of these single-use containers makes the disposable approach economically viable, eliminating cross-contamination concerns while maintaining reasonable operational lifespan
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 significantly reduces cross-contamination by containing gas bubbles and preventing high-voltage breakdowns, extending the sample container's lifespan and allowing for highly selective comminution of samples without equipment-induced contamination, enabling accurate analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The sample container (2) is filled with a dielectric liquid (5), in particular with water
Implementation Method 2
The first electrode (3) is assigned a gas collection space (6), in particular a gas plenum, in which the gas produced during the fragmentation by pulsed high-voltage discharges can collect
Implementation Method 3
The fragmentation of material samples using pulsed high-voltage discharges is characterized by a comparatively higher selectivity or separation
Implementation Method 4
The sample container includes an insulating body and first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes each protrude into the sample container and are connected to one another via the insulating body
Implementation Method 5
A field-shaping body is arranged in the process container (22), which surrounds the sample container (2) like a jacket
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sample holder having an insulation body (10; 50) and a first electrode (3; 33) and a second electrode (4; 34), wherein the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) project into the sample container (2; 32), the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) are connected to each other via the insulation body (10; 50), the sample container (2; 32) is filled with a dielectric liquid (5; 35), and the first electrode (3; 33) is assigned to a gas collection chamber (6; 36). The invention further relates to an assembly for the electrodynamic fragmentation of samples (38), having such a sample container (2; 32), a process container (22; 41), and means (24, 27; 39, 39.1, 39.2, 40, 43) for connecting the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) of the sample container (2; 32) to a high voltage source (42), wherein the process container (22; 41) is filled with a dielectric liquid (46), and the sample container (2; 32) is arranged inside the process container (22; 41) in the dielectric liquid (46).