Gas-Assisted Nebulizer Sharp Edge Design for Clogging Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analytical nebulizers used in optical emission spectrometers and mass spectrometers often clog due to high concentrations of dissolved salts or total dissolved solids in liquid samples, requiring dilution that reduces measurement sensitivity or frequent cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A nebulizer design with a first nebulizer tube and a coaxially surrounding second nebulizer tube, where the first nebulizer outlet features a sharp edge with an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter, preventing precipitate accumulation and clogging, and a method involving nebulization with a carrier gas to form an aerosol that is then injected into plasma for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the liquid sample contains high concentration of dissolved salts or total dissolved solids, then the analytical measurement can be performed, but precipitates accumulate at the nebulizer outlet causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The nebulizer outlet is designed with a curved surface instead of a flat surface. This curvature prevents precipitates from accumulating at the outlet, eliminating the clogging problem while allowing high concentration samples to be analyzed
2Reliability
If the liquid sample is diluted to reduce salt concentration, then clogging is minimized, but measurement sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By curving the nebulizer outlet surface, the invention allows undiluted high-concentration samples to be analyzed without clogging, thereby maintaining full measurement sensitivity while preventing precipitate accumulation
3Reliability
If frequent cleaning of the nebulizer is performed to remove precipitates, then clogging is prevented, but operational time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The curved outlet surface prevents precipitate accumulation in the first place, eliminating the need for frequent cleaning interruptions and maximizing continuous operational time
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 nebulizer design effectively minimizes clogging without the need for dilution, maintaining measurement sensitivity and extending the operational time of analytical instruments by preventing precipitate accumulation at the nebulizer outlet.
Implementation Method 1
flowing the liquid sample through the first nebulizer tube such that the liquid sample becomes entrained in the carrier gas and is broken into droplets to form the aerosol
Implementation Method 2
Exposure to plasma breaks the sample molecules down to atoms. In the plasma, the sample atoms repeatedly lose electrons (are ionized) and recombine with electrons
Implementation Method 3
During this process, the atoms emit electromagnetic radiation (light) at wavelengths characteristic of their elemental identities
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol is produced by flowing a liquid sample through a gas-assisted nebulizer. The liquid exits from an outlet into a coaxial flow of gas. The outlet includes a sharp edge that inhibits or prevents accumulation of precipitates from the liquid, thereby reducing or eliminating clogging, which is particularly useful for a samples containing high concentrations of dissolved particles. The aerosol may be introduced into a plasma such that molecules are broken into atoms. The atomization may be followed by an analysis such as by optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry.