Actively Controlled Heat Exchanger for NMR Sample Temperature
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
NMR analyzers face challenges in maintaining uniform sample temperature, which affects measurement accuracy, especially in process environments with varying temperatures and compositions, such as in petrochemical and oil processing plants.
Innovation Solution
An actively controlled heat exchanger system is integrated with fluid handlers like stream selection units, solvent recirculation units, and auto-sampling units to maintain samples at predetermined temperatures, ensuring uniformity and precision for NMR analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If NMR analysis is performed on process streams with varying temperatures, then measurement accuracy deteriorates, but temperature control systems add device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger pre-cools or pre-heats the process stream before it enters the NMR analyzer, preparing the sample at the required temperature in advance. This preliminary temperature adjustment ensures accurate measurements without requiring complex active cooling systems during the analysis itself.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary device between the process stream source and the NMR analyzer. This intermediary component transfers thermal energy to match the required analysis temperature, simplifying the overall system by using passive heat transfer rather than active temperature control within the analyzer.
2Measurement precision
If active temperature control is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the thermal energy content of the process stream itself into a useful resource. By using a heat exchanger, the system recovers heat from the stream to pre-condition it, turning what would be wasted thermal energy into a beneficial control mechanism that reduces the need for additional heating or cooling energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The process stream essentially services itself by using its own thermal properties to achieve the required temperature for analysis. The heat exchanger enables the stream to self-regulate its temperature based on its inherent thermal characteristics, eliminating the need for external active temperature control systems that would consume additional energy.
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 precise temperature control of samples, enhancing measurement accuracy and consistency, even in complex process streams, by maintaining samples within tight temperature tolerances, thus improving the reliability of NMR analysis in industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
An actively controlled heat exchanger system is integrated with fluid handlers like stream selection units, solvent recirculation units, and auto-sampling units to maintain samples at predetermined temperatures
Implementation Method 2
The electromagnetic energy coupled to the sample effects a change in the bulk magnetic moment. The relaxation of the bulk magnetic moment from the re-aligned position back to the original position when the pulse is ended produces signals that may be detected
Implementation Method 3
The magnetic field causes the magnetic moments of the constituent nuclei in the sample to become aligned along lines of magnetic flux. If the field is strong and uniform to a relatively high degree of precision, the magnetic moments will be essentially parallel to each other, resulting in an aggregate or bulk magnetic moment
Data Source
AI summary
A spectroscopic sample analysis apparatus includes an actively controlled heat exchanger in serial fluid communication with a spectroscopic analyzer, and a controller communicably coupled to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is disposed downstream of a fluid handler in the form of a stream selection unit/stream switching unit (SSU), a solvent/standard recirculation unit (SRU), and/or an auto-sampling unit (ASU). The SSU selectively couples individual stream inputs to an output port. The SRU includes a solvent/standard reservoir, and selectively couples output ports to the heat exchanger, and returns the solvent/standard sample to the reservoirs. The ASU includes a sample reservoir having a sample transfer pathway with a plurality of orifices disposed at spaced locations along a length thereof. The controller selectively actuates the fluid handler, enabling sample to flow there through to the heat exchanger, and actuates the heat exchanger to maintain the sample at a predetermined temperature.