Optical Measurement Apparatus Mechanical Water Stop Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical measurement apparatuses, such as nephelometric turbidimeters, are vulnerable to liquid leakage from the hydraulic system, which can flood the optics chamber and damage electronic and optical elements due to the lack of effective protection against pressurized sample liquid in the drying circuit.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a mechanical water stop mechanism using a super absorbent polymer-based swelling element within the drying air circuit, which expands to block the flow when water is detected, preventing liquid ingress into the optics chamber and protecting the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a drying circuit is used to prevent condensation on optical elements, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but the system becomes vulnerable to liquid leakage that can damage electronic and optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The water stop means is pre-installed in the drying circuit before any leakage can occur. The swelling element is positioned upstream of the optics chamber, so that when liquid leakage is detected, the blockage action occurs in advance to prevent liquid from reaching and damaging the optics chamber and electronic elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The swelling element acts as a protective barrier that absorbs the harmful effect of liquid leakage before it can propagate to critical components. By placing the water stop means in the drying circuit upstream of the optics chamber, the system creates a cushioning effect that prevents liquid from reaching sensitive optical and electronic elements.
2Reliability
If a mechanical water stop means with a swelling element is installed in the drying circuit, then protection against liquid leakage is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swelling element is designed to activate automatically upon contact with liquid, without requiring external sensors, control systems, or power sources. The element self-regulates by absorbing liquid and expanding to block the conduit, providing a simple, self-service protection mechanism that minimizes device complexity while maximizing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water stop means with the swelling element is designed as a simple, replaceable component rather than a permanent, complex system. When the swelling element activates and blocks the conduit, the entire water stop means can be easily replaced, providing a cost-effective solution that avoids the complexity of reusable, sensor-based protection systems.
3Reliability
If the swelling element covers a large cross-sectional area of the conduit body, then blocking effectiveness is improved, but flow resistance under dry conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swelling element transitions from a compact dry state to an expanded wet state dynamically. In the dry state, the element covers only a fraction of the conduit's cross-sectional area, allowing free air flow with minimal resistance. Upon liquid contact, the element rapidly expands to cover the entire cross-section, providing complete blockage. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between flow resistance and blocking effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The swelling element changes its physical parameters (volume, cross-sectional area) based on moisture content. The element's cross-sectional area parameter is small in dry conditions to minimize flow resistance, and large in wet conditions to maximize blocking effectiveness. This parameter change is achieved through the super absorbent material's ability to absorb liquid and expand, directly resolving the technical contradiction.
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 mechanical water stop effectively and reliably prevents liquid leakage, ensuring the optics chamber remains dry, thereby protecting the apparatus and maintaining measurement accuracy without additional sensors or complex mechanisms, and can be easily replaced when activated.
Implementation Method 1
the water-absorbing swelling element dramatically and quickly expands by absorbing water
Implementation Method 2
The swelling element is preferably defined by a super absorbent material, which more preferably is a super absorbent polymer
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention refers to an optical measurement apparatus (10) with an optical device (18,20,22) and a liquid sample vessel (12) for measuring an optical parameter of a liquid sample (13) in the liquid sample vessel (12), comprising a drying circuit circulating drying air for venting the sample vessel (12), wherein the drying circuit comprises a mechanical water stop means (100) in the course of the drying circuit, the water stop means (100) comprising a conduit body (102) with a water-absorbing swelling element (120) arranged within the conduit body (102). The water stop means is simple and inexpensive and reliably protects all elements downstream of the water stop means from a water ingress upstream of the water stop means.