Intermediate Mixing Vessel Sampling During Continuous Shear Mixing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laboratory procedures struggle to obtain accurate and repeatable representative aliquots of fluid mixtures, particularly water/oil mixtures with high water concentrations, from intermediate containers due to the rapid separation of components, leading to inaccurate analysis results.

Innovation Solution

A laboratory testing system and method utilizing a shear mixer and an intermediate container with a port or septum, allowing continuous mixing and direct extraction of representative samples into smaller containers via a valve or syringe, ensuring the sampled portion maintains the same volumetric percentage of water as the initial mixture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If mixing and pouring or pipetting the mixture from the intermediate container into smaller sampling containers is performed according to existing laboratory procedures, then the sampling process can be completed, but the aliquots obtained are not repeatably representative of the mixture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepresentativeness of aliquotsVSAvoidrepeatability of sampling

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing the water/oil mixture in the intermediate container before sampling. The mixing component continuously mixes the mixture, ensuring that any aliquot drawn at any time during mixing will be representative of the overall mixture composition, thereby resolving the issue of non-representative sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuity of useful action through continuous mixing during the sampling process. The mixing component operates continuously while sampling occurs, maintaining homogeneous distribution of water and oil throughout the intermediate container, which ensures consistent representativeness of the aliquots being drawn.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Ease of operation

If the mixture is allowed to separate naturally, then the components can be easily separated, but representative sampling becomes difficult due to rapid separation of water and oil

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of separationVSAvoidrepresentativeness of aliquots

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing the water/oil mixture in the intermediate container before sampling. The mixing component continuously mixes the mixture, ensuring that any aliquot drawn at any time during mixing will be representative of the overall mixture composition, thereby resolving the issue of non-representative sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the mixture from separated to mixed by applying mechanical mixing energy. This parameter change maintains the mixture in a homogeneous state during sampling, preventing rapid separation and ensuring representative aliquots can be drawn at any time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If sampling is performed from the intermediate container without continuous mixing, then the sampling process is simpler, but the water content in sampled aliquots varies and does not reflect the original mixture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of sampling processVSAvoidaccuracy of water content measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuity of useful action through continuous mixing during the sampling process. The mixing component operates continuously while sampling occurs, maintaining homogeneous distribution of water and oil throughout the intermediate container, which ensures consistent representativeness of the aliquots being drawn.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies feedback by monitoring the mixture state and adjusting mixing intensity accordingly. The mixing component responds to the sampling action by maintaining appropriate mixing levels, ensuring that the aliquots drawn always reflect the current homogeneous state of the mixture, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 accurate and repeatable sampling of fluid mixtures, particularly water/oil mixtures with high water concentrations, by maintaining consistent water content in the extracted samples, improving the reliability of laboratory analysis.

Implementation Method 1

mixing the liquid/liquid mixture with a shear mixer extending into the intermediate container through an opening at an upper end of the intermediate container to evenly mix the liquids of the mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear mixing: Shear Stress

Data Source

PatentUS20250381562A1System and method for extraction of representative fluid mixtures from an intermediate mixing vessel

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 CHEVRON USA INC

AI summary

A laboratory testing system includes a shear mixer and an intermediate container sized to surround a mixing component of the shear mixer therein. The intermediate container includes an opening at an upper end, a lower surface, one or more side walls extending upward from the lower surface and a port extending through a wall of the one or more side walls or through the lower surface. The port provides access to the intermediate container for removal of a portion of a fluid mixture from the intermediate container during mixing of the fluid in the intermediate container by the shear mixer.