Measuring Point Flow Circuit for Chemical Intake Capacity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disinfection sensors do not account for the depletion rate of disinfecting medium in process media, leading to potential overdosing and increased costs, and methods to determine buffer capacity or intake capacity of process media without removing the sensor are lacking.

Innovation Solution

A method and measuring point design that includes an inlet valve, outlet valve, analysis container, dosing container, and pump to create a flow circuit, allowing for the determination of chemical intake capacity by feeding an analyte, circulating it with a pump, and using an analytical measuring device to detect and compare measured values until a limit is reached, optimizing disinfectant consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional regulation of disinfecting medium is used to ensure uniform disinfection, then disinfection reliability is improved, but disinfectant consumption increases due to overdosing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection reliabilityVSAvoiddisinfectant consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring the actual disinfectant concentration in the process medium and comparing it with the target concentration. Based on this feedback, the dosing rate is dynamically adjusted to match the actual depletion rate, preventing both overdosing and underdosing while maintaining reliable disinfection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining the chemical intake capacity of the process medium and adjusting the disinfectant dosing without manual intervention. The measuring point autonomously calculates the required disinfectant amount based on real-time measurements and process parameters, optimizing disinfectant consumption while ensuring adequate disinfection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If buffer capacity determination is performed by removing the sensor, then measurement precision is improved, but process interruption occurs and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuffer capacity measurement precisionVSAvoidprocess continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement function from the sensor by introducing a separate measuring point that can be connected to the process line. This allows buffer capacity determination to be performed on a detached sample or in a bypass loop, ensuring measurement precision without interrupting the main process and maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If disinfection sensors are regulated to specific concentration without considering depletion rate, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to not accounting for actual chemical intake capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection control simplicityVSAvoiddisinfectant concentration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the control parameter from a fixed target concentration to a dynamic target that incorporates the determined chemical intake capacity and depletion rate. The system automatically adjusts the dosing concentration based on these parameters, maintaining ease of operation while improving measurement precision by accounting for actual process conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach optimizes disinfectant consumption and ensures precise disinfection by determining the chemical intake capacity, minimizing overdosing and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

The pump is arranged in such a way that it is suitable for generating the flow circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

analytical measuring devices, especially electrochemical sensors, such as potentiometric, amperometric, voltammetric or coulometric sensors, or else conductivity sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical detection:

Data Source

PatentUS12487222B2Method for determining a chemical intake capacity of a process medium in a measuring point and measuring point for determining a chemical intake capacity of a process medium

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 ENDRESS HAUSER CONDUCTA GMBH CO KG

AI summary

A method for determining a chemical intake capacity of a process medium includes steps of providing a measuring point and an analytical measuring device, closing an outlet valve to the drain so that no process medium is discharged and closing the inlet valve so that no additional process medium is fed from the first inlet. The method includes circulating the analyte and process medium through the pump so the mixture flows into the analytical measuring device at a predetermined flow velocity. Further, the method includes detecting a measured value using the analytical measuring device until the measured value exceeds a limit value. The predetermined volumes are summed to form a total volume of the analyte, and a chemical intake capacity of the predetermined medium is determined based on the total volume of the analyte fed in.