Sampling Device With Segmented Open Bore for Granular Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sampling technologies face challenges in accurately obtaining representative samples of granular biomass or fossil fuels due to moisture content variations and impurities, particularly when the surface layer differs from deeper layers, and the risk of material sticking to the bore, which can contaminate subsequent samples.
Innovation Solution
A sampling device with a self-cleaning bore part that rotates and has multiple open points to allow material replacement during drilling, enabling deeper sampling without the need for a long bore and facilitating easier cleaning, combined with a sample collector that adjusts volume to collect precise partial samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long bore is used to sample deeper material, then sampling depth is improved, but the bore part becomes difficult to clean and material from previous loads remains stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The bore part is divided into multiple sections with open points distributed along its length. Material flows through these open points rather than being retained in a continuous enclosed bore, effectively segmenting the sampling path and eliminating the need for a long enclosed bore while maintaining deep sampling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an enclosed bore that requires cleaning, the invention uses an open bore structure where material flows through openings. This inverts the conventional approach by allowing material to pass through rather than be contained, eliminating the cleaning problem while enabling deep sampling.
2Measurement precision
If the sampling head is placed in material with the tip portion first, then sampling accuracy is improved by avoiding surface impurities, but the bore part may collect material that sticks and contaminates subsequent samples
Solution Approach 1:
The open points along the bore part allow material to flow through continuously during the sampling process. This preliminary flow action prevents material from sticking and accumulating, ensuring that subsequent samples are not contaminated by residual material from previous samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The bore part's open structure enables self-cleaning through the continuous flow of material. As material passes through the open points, it naturally cleans the bore part, eliminating the need for external cleaning mechanisms and preventing contamination of subsequent samples.
3Ease of operation
If an auger screw with uniform spiral pitch is used, then the device is simple and easy to operate, but it cannot effectively prevent material sticking and contamination of subsequent samples
Solution Approach 1:
The auger screw is modified with open points segmented along its length, transforming it from a continuous enclosed structure to a segmented open structure. This maintains the simplicity of the auger design while enabling material to flow through and preventing sticking and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The auger screw has different properties at different locations: the spiral wings provide lifting action while the open points provide flow paths. This local differentiation allows the single auger structure to perform multiple functions - sampling, preventing sticking, and enabling self-cleaning - without requiring complex additional components.
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 solution allows for more accurate and reliable sampling by minimizing contamination from previous loads and surface impurities, providing a better representation of the material's characteristics, which is crucial for optimizing energy production in power plants.
Implementation Method 1
the bore part rotates, while being placed, for at least a partial rotation in order to collect material in the sampling head
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for taking samples from granular material in a tank by means of sampling equipment is disclosed. The method comprises: inserting a sampling head at least partly into the material so that a bore part of the sampling head rotates, while being placed, for at least a partial rotation in order to collect material in the sampling head, transferring the sampling head off the material, and rotating the bore part for at least a partial rotation so that at least a part of the material in the bore part flows out of the bore part, wherein at least part of the material flowing off is led to a sample collector, wherein at least part of the material flows to the sampling head through an open tip section of the sampling head and out of the sampling head along the bore part through at least one second open section of the sampling head as the bore part is rotating in a filling direction in the material. In addition, a device performing the method is disclosed.