On-Demand Gas Regulator for Analyzer Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing calibration arrangements for side-stream gas analyzers face issues such as inaccurate calibration due to ambient air mixing, wastage of calibration gas, and potential contamination of calibration gas supplies when empty, leading to incorrect calibration results.
Innovation Solution
A gas regulating device with a valve arrangement that controls the flow of calibration gas based on pressure thresholds, ensuring gas is delivered only when demanded by the analyzer, minimizing gas consumption and preventing ambient air intake or wastage, and maintaining positive pressure in the calibration gas supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a T-piece is used to connect calibration gas supply to gas analyzer, then the gas analyzer can be calibrated, but ambient air mixes with calibration gas leading to inaccurate calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the T-piece from the calibration arrangement and replaces it with a dedicated calibration connector that provides a sealed, direct connection between the calibration gas supply and the gas analyzer. This extraction of the problematic T-piece eliminates the ambient air mixing issue while maintaining the calibration function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated calibration connector as an intermediary component between the calibration gas supply and the gas analyzer. This connector provides a sealed pathway that prevents ambient air contamination while allowing calibration gas to flow directly to the analyzer, thus mediating between the gas supply and analyzer without introducing harmful factors.
2Measurement precision
If calibration gas flow is increased to meet analyzer working flow requirements, then accurate calibration is achieved, but excess calibration gas is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flow control valve that allows dynamic adjustment of the calibration gas flow rate. This enables the system to adapt the gas flow to the precise requirements of the gas analyzer during calibration, delivering sufficient flow to maintain positive pressure and ensure accurate calibration while minimizing excess gas discharge and wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow rate parameter of calibration gas dynamically during the calibration process. By adjusting the gas flow to match the analyzer's working flow requirements and maintaining only the necessary positive pressure, the system achieves accurate calibration while significantly reducing calibration gas consumption and wastage.
3Device complexity
If simple T-piece connection is used for calibration, then device complexity is low, but calibration accuracy deteriorates due to ambient air mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the T-piece from the calibration arrangement and replaces it with a dedicated calibration connector designed specifically for sealed connections. This removal of the problematic component eliminates ambient air mixing while maintaining operational simplicity through the dedicated connector design.
Solution Approach 2:
The dedicated calibration connector serves multiple functions: providing a sealed connection to prevent ambient air mixing, enabling direct gas flow from supply to analyzer, and maintaining positive pressure during calibration. This multi-functional component achieves improved calibration accuracy without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Productivity
If calibration gas cylinder is allowed to run empty, then calibration can be completed, but negative pressure causes ambient air to be sucked into the cylinder contaminating the supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a flow control valve that allows the user to stop the calibration gas flow before the cylinder runs completely empty. By taking preliminary action to close the valve when sufficient calibration gas has been delivered, the system prevents negative pressure from developing in the cylinder, thereby avoiding ambient air suction and contamination of the calibration gas supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user during calibration regarding the calibration gas supply status. This feedback mechanism enables the user to monitor the calibration process and stop gas flow at the appropriate moment before the cylinder becomes empty, preventing negative pressure and ambient air contamination while completing the calibration successfully.
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 ensures accurate calibration by minimizing ambient air mixing and gas wastage, maintaining calibration gas integrity, and preventing negative pressure issues in empty supplies, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of gas analyzer calibration.
Implementation Method 1
a valve arrangement (11) comprising at least a one valve (11) disposed in a gas flow path (5B) through which said inlet (8A) and outlet (8B) can be brought in gaseous connection, and valve regulating means (12) for regulating said at least one valve (11). The valve regulating means (12) is configured, when the gas regulating device (2) is operated in a first operational mode, to regulate the at least one valve (11) such that gas can flow between said inlet (8A) and outlet (8B) only when a gas pressure in the gas flow path (5B), between the at least one valve (11) and the outlet (8B), falls below a predetermined threshold value
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The present invention relates to agas regulating device (2A-E) for use in calibration of a gas analyzer (4). The gas regulating device comprises an inlet (8A) and an outlet (8B), a valve arrangement comprising at least one valve (11; 11A, 11B), and valve regulating means for regulating the at least one valve. The gas regulating device is intended to be connected between a calibration gas supply (3) and a gas analyzer (4) that is to be calibrated and the valve regulating means is configured to regulate the at least one valve such that gas is allowed to flow through a gas flow path (5B) between the inlet and outlet only when a gas pressure (P1)in the gas flow path, between the at least one valve and the outlet, falls below a predetermined threshold value. The gas regulating device is advantageously used when calibrating side-stream gas analyzers in which case it reduces calibration gas consumption, prevents discharge of calibration gas into the ambient environment and prevents leakages jeopardizing correct calibration.