Transmissometer Manifold Bubble Diverter Passageway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluid transmissometers face interference from bubbles and buoyant debris in fluid samples, which can affect light transmission measurements and interfere with accurate fluid composition analysis.

Innovation Solution

A transmissometer manifold design featuring an upwardly extending bubble diverter passageway and an optical chamber that separates bubbles from the fluid sample before measurement, allowing them to be recombined with the post-measurement sample, preventing bubble entry into the optical chamber and ensuring accurate light transmission measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional transmissometer manifold is used, then the device structure is simple, but bubbles and buoyant debris interfere with light transmission measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmanifold structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold is segmented into multiple functional passageways: a measurement passageway for fluid flow during measurement, and a separate bubble diverter passageway with upward orientation to redirect bubbles and buoyant debris away from the optical chamber. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of measurement accuracy and bubble removal without significantly complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bubble diverter passageway acts as an intermediary element between the fluid inlet and the optical chamber. It mediates the fluid flow by allowing measurement fluid to pass through to the optical chamber while intercepting and redirecting bubbles and buoyant debris through the upwardly extending portion, preventing their entry into the measurement zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If bubbles are removed from the fluid sample, then measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional passageways

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmission measurementVSAvoidpassageway configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bubble diverter passageway is positioned locally adjacent to the optical chamber with its opening oriented away from the measurement zone. This localized placement ensures that bubble diversion functionality is provided precisely where needed (at the chamber interface) without requiring complex system-wide modifications. The upwardly extending portion creates a local upward flow zone that captures bubbles while allowing measurement fluid to continue to the chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If an upwardly extending bubble diverter passageway is added, then bubble interference is prevented, but the manifold volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebubble interferenceVSAvoidmanifold volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bubble diverter passageway utilizes dynamic fluid flow patterns created by the interaction between measurement fluid flow and the upwardly extending geometry. The passageway design creates natural upward flow currents that actively divert bubbles based on their buoyancy, rather than relying on static barriers. This dynamic approach achieves effective bubble removal with minimal additional volume compared to static separation chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Prevents bubble interference in fluid measurements, ensuring accurate light transmission readings and reliable fluid composition analysis by effectively separating bubbles from the fluid before measurement.

Implementation Method 1

any bubbles contained in the fluid travel upward through the bubble diverter passageway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

Light which is absorbed or scattered by the fluid positioned between the source and the detector does not reach the detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption and scattering: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

measures the fraction of light, emitted from a light source, traveling through a fluid (e.g., water), and reaching a light detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS9846114B2Transmissometer manifold

Publication Date: 2017.12.19 WET LABS

AI summary

Technology is provided for a fluid transmissometer manifold. The transmissometer manifold includes a manifold body having an upwardly extending bubble diverter passageway with an upper end portion and a lower end portion. A flow restrictor is connected to the upper end portion and an inlet passageway is connected to the diverter passageway between the flow restrictor and the lower end portion. An upwardly extending optical chamber is connected to the lower end portion. At least a portion of a fluid entering the inlet passageway flows downward into the optical chamber and any bubbles contained in the fluid travel upward through the bubble diverter passageway. A light source can be positioned at a first end of the optical chamber and a detector positioned at a second end of the optical chamber opposite the light source and operative to detect light emitted from the light source.