Isobaric Seawater Sampling With Thermal Insulation for Microbial Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-layer seawater sampling equipment lacks thermal insulation and pressure retention, leading to dissolved gas escape and microbial deactivation due to environmental changes, resulting in sampling errors and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sequence seawater sampling apparatus with thermal insulation and pressure retention, featuring a rotation unit, flow velocity regulation, and control unit, which allows slow, isobaric injection of seawater from multiple layers using pre-charged gas phase chambers and back pressure valves to maintain constant pressure, combined with active and passive thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If passive sampling based on high pressure difference is used, then sampling speed is improved, but dissolved gases escape and microbial properties are distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high pressure difference to constant pressure (isobaric) conditions. By using a back pressure valve to maintain constant pressure inside the sampling bottle equal to the external seawater pressure, the system achieves both fast sampling and prevents dissolved gas escape, resolving the contradiction between sampling speed and accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The back pressure valve acts as an intermediary device that mediates between the high external pressure and the internal sampling environment. It maintains constant pressure inside the bottle while allowing controlled seawater entry, enabling fast sampling without the harmful effects of large pressure differences
2Adaptability or versatility
If repeated dives are conducted to achieve multi-sequence sampling, then sampling coverage is improved, but sampling errors increase and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sampling system into multiple independent sampling bottles, each equipped with its own back pressure valve and temperature control. This segmentation allows simultaneous multi-depth sampling from a single dive, achieving both broad coverage and high efficiency by eliminating the need for repeated dives
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling apparatus is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple sampling depths and conditions simultaneously. Each sampling module can be configured for different target depths, allowing one system to perform multiple sampling sequences in a single operation, greatly improving efficiency
3Device complexity
If conventional CTD measurement systems are used, then device simplicity is improved, but thermal insulation and pressure retention capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: the sampling bottle serves as both the collection container and the pressure-controlled environment, while the back pressure valve combines pressure regulation with gas retention. This merging maintains environmental conditions without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The back pressure valve creates a self-regulating pressure control system that automatically maintains constant pressure inside the sampling bottle based on external seawater pressure. The system serves itself by using the external pressure to maintain internal pressure, eliminating the need for complex active pressure control mechanisms
4Temperature
If active thermal insulation is added to sampling bottles, then temperature stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary thermal insulation measures by pre-cooling the sampling bottle and its components before deployment to the target depth. The bottle is pre-chilled to the expected seawater temperature, and thermal insulation layers are pre-installed, so that when deployed, the system already has temperature stability built in without requiring complex active cooling systems
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
Ensures stable and efficient sampling by reducing pressure differences and maintaining microbial integrity, minimizing gas escape and temperature fluctuations, thereby supporting the exploration of depth-dependent marine microorganism characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
Charging the pressure of the gas phase chamber of the sampling bottle to be equal to the pressure of the target water sampling layer reduces the pressure difference between the external seawater environment and the sampling bottle
Implementation Method 2
The back pressure valve is used during seawater injection to maintain the system pressure inside the sampling bottle constant and equal to the pressure of the target water sampling layer
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum thermal insulation layer is formed between the outer bottle wall and the inner bottle wall
Implementation Method 4
the plurality of cooling heat-exchange modules are uniformly distributed on an outer wall surface of the inner bottle wall for active thermal insulation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a multi-sequence seawater sampling apparatus and method with thermal insulation and pressure retention, relating to the technical field of marine microorganism sampling. The apparatus includes an outer frame, a flow velocity regulation unit, a rotation unit, a multi-sequence sampling unit, and a control unit. The multi-sequence sampling unit is disposed in the outer frame and includes a plurality of sampling modules. Each of the sampling modules includes a sampling valve, a sampling bottle, a gas phase shutoff valve, and a back pressure valve that are connected in sequence. The plurality of sampling valves are circumferentially distributed at a top of the outer frame, and control ends of all the sampling valves face the rotation unit. The rotation unit is disposed at a center of the top of the outer frame, and an end of the rotation unit abuts against the control end of the sampling valve.