Remote Sampling Bypass for Gas Analyser Pneumatic System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas detection systems face challenges in efficiently sampling and analyzing gases in hazardous environments, particularly in confined spaces, where a single pump is needed to achieve both low and high flow rates for accurate gas measurement, and separate pumps are often required for local and remote sampling, leading to increased size, weight, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A gas detection system with a pneumatic system that uses a single pump to create both low and high flow paths, allowing for simultaneous remote sampling without the need for a separate pump, utilizing a control module to adjust flow rates through adjustable orifices and channels, and incorporating filters and sensors for accurate gas analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pump is used to achieve both low and high flow rates for accurate gas measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to simultaneously provide both low flow rate for gas sensor analysis and high flow rate for remote sampling is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic system is segmented into multiple independent flow paths (first flow path and second flow path) that can be controlled separately. The single pump divides the airflow into these paths using controllable orifices, allowing independent regulation of low flow rate for gas sensor analysis and high flow rate for remote sampling simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs controllable orifices with adjustable opening sizes that can dynamically change the flow characteristics. The orifices are controlled by actuators that adjust their opening sizes in real-time based on operational requirements, enabling the single pump to adaptively provide different flow rates to different paths as needed.
2Productivity
If separate pumps are used for local and remote sampling, then flow rate control for each path is improved, but system size, weight, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flow paths that would traditionally require separate pumps are merged into a single pneumatic system. The single pump serves both the first flow path for local gas sensor analysis and the second flow path for remote sampling, reducing the number of pumps while maintaining independent flow rate control through controllable orifices in each path.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pump is designed to perform multiple functions by providing airflow to different paths with different flow rate requirements. Through the use of controllable orifices, the pump system can adaptively allocate flow to serve both local analysis and remote sampling functions simultaneously, making the pump multi-functional rather than dedicated to a single task.
3Volume of moving object
If a single pump provides both low and high flow rates, then system size is reduced, but the ability to maintain accurate flow rates for gas sensor analysis is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates flow sensors in the flow paths that provide feedback on actual flow rates to the control system. This feedback enables the control module to adjust the orifice opening sizes to maintain accurate and stable flow rates for gas sensor analysis, ensuring measurement precision despite using a single pump for the entire system.
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 efficient and accurate gas detection in hazardous environments with reduced system size, weight, and cost, while improving battery life by eliminating the need for a separate pump, and allows for real-time continuous monitoring of gases in various locations.
Implementation Method 1
a pump; a low flow branch in fluid communication with the pump
Implementation Method 2
A diameter of the first orifice and a diameter of the second orifice can create a flow ratio between the low flow branch and the high flow branch
Implementation Method 3
The airflow sensor can be a mass airflow sensor
Implementation Method 4
analyzer within the housing and configured to detect and measure a gas species in the atmosphere using a gas sensor
Implementation Method 5
The filter can be a sulfur trioxide particulate filter
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a gas detection system (5) including a housing (10) having an inlet (20) in fluid communication with an atmosphere; an analyzer (25) within the housing (20) and configured to detect and measure a gas species in the atmosphere using a gas sensor (37); and a pneumatic system (60) contained within the housing (10) and in fluid communication with the inlet (20) to draw an air sample from the atmosphere. The pneumatic system (60) includes a pump (15); a low flow branch (65) in fluid communication with the pump (15) and having an airflow sensor (90) and a first orifice (85); and a high flow branch (70) in fluid communication with the pump (15) and having a second orifice (95). Such a system is particularly suitable for remote sampling because it prevents the high flow needed for remote sampling to be directed towards the gas sensor withstanding only low flow. Related apparatus, systems, methods and/or articles are described.