Flow Cell Optics for Low-Turbidity Water Quality Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water quality determination methods face challenges in accurately determining low turbidity water quality due to the high cost of accurate sensors and measurement errors caused by air bubbles in flow cells.
Innovation Solution
A water quality determination device with dual light emitting and receiving units arranged to measure light path lengths differently, and a flow cell with controlled flow velocity paths to prevent turbulence and air bubbles, using low-cost sensors for accurate water quality assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If highly accurate sensors are used to determine water quality of low turbidity water, then determination accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement system into multiple light receiving units with different optical path lengths (first light receiving unit with shorter path, second light receiving unit with longer path). This segmentation allows the system to use multiple lower-precision sensors instead of one high-precision sensor, achieving accurate low turbidity measurement through combined data while reducing overall cost.
2Ease of manufacture
If a flow cell with large inflow path cross-sectional area ratio to container body is used, then flow velocity changes significantly causing turbulence, but this design is simple to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow straightening plate positioned upstream of the measurement region. This preliminary action straightens the liquid flow before it enters the measurement area, preventing turbulence and air bubble formation that would compromise measurement reliability, while maintaining a simple overall flow cell design.
3Device complexity
If pressure fluctuations occur between inflow path and container body, then air bubbles form inside container body, but this occurs in conventional flow cell designs
Solution Approach 1:
The flow straightening plate is positioned to pre-condition the liquid flow before it enters the main container body, smoothly transitioning the flow and equalizing pressure. This preliminary action prevents air bubble formation at the interface between inflow path and container body, eliminating measurement errors without complicating the overall device structure.
4Measurement precision
If turbulence occurs inside container body, then measurement error occurs in sensor, but this is difficult to avoid in conventional designs
Solution Approach 1:
The flow straightening plate is strategically positioned upstream to pre-condition the liquid flow before it reaches the sensor measurement region. This preliminary flow conditioning eliminates turbulence that would cause measurement errors, while adding minimal structural complexity to the flow cell design.
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
The device improves water quality determination accuracy while reducing costs and prevents measurement errors from air bubbles, enabling efficient and accurate water quality assessment.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit that emits a light toward a water and a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the water
Implementation Method 2
measures the turbidity of the water based on an amount of the light received by the light receiving unit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a water quality determination device and a water quality determination method capable of improving determination accuracy of water quality while reducing cost. The water quality determination device includes a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit that emit lights toward a flow path, a first light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the first light emitting unit through the flow path, and a second light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the second light emitting unit through the flow path. An optical path length from the second light emitting unit to the second light receiving unit is longer than an optical path length from the first light emitting unit to the first light receiving unit.