Water Quality Measurement System Without Switching Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water quality measurement systems for ultrapure water face challenges in accurately measuring water quality due to potential contamination and instability caused by switching valves, leading to incorrect evaluations and increased evaluation times.
Innovation Solution
A water quality measurement system and method that eliminates switching valves on the flow path to the measurement device, using a configuration with separate pipes and valves to prevent contamination and ensure stable flow, allowing treated water to be measured directly without passing through a switching valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a switching valve is provided at the branch portion of the piping to switch between multiple water lines, then the ability to measure multiple treated waters is improved, but the risk of contamination and generation of fine particles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the switching valve from the flow path that connects to the measurement device. Instead of using a switching valve to select between multiple water lines, the system uses separate flow paths that directly connect to the measurement device, eliminating the source of contamination and fine particle generation while maintaining the ability to measure multiple treated waters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the measurement system into separate flow paths for each treated water line, with each path having its own direct connection to the measurement device. This segmentation eliminates the need for a central switching valve, preventing contamination at the switching point while allowing selective measurement of different water lines.
2Ease of operation
If a switching valve is used to change the flow path, then flow path switching capability is improved, but staying water generation and microorganism proliferation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The switching valve is completely removed from the system. Instead of switching flow paths through a valve that creates staying water, the system maintains continuous flow through separate dedicated paths, eliminating the conditions that lead to staying water generation and subsequent microorganism proliferation.
3Ease of operation
If a multi-way valve is used for switching, then flow path switching is enabled, but flow rate fluctuation and measurement device stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate, dedicated flow paths for each treated water line, with each path maintaining independent, stable flow to the measurement device. This eliminates the flow rate fluctuations that occur during switching operations in multi-way valve systems, as no switching occurs in the measurement flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow paths are configured in advance to provide direct, stable connections from each water line to the measurement device. This preliminary configuration ensures that when measurement is needed, the flow is already stable and ready, eliminating the transient flow rate fluctuations that occur during active switching operations.
4Ease of operation
If switching valve operations are performed, then flow path selection is improved, but measurement accuracy and water quality evaluation are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The switching valve is removed from the measurement flow path, eliminating the source of contamination and fine particles that would interfere with accurate water quality measurements. The system achieves flow path selection through alternative means that do not compromise measurement accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A water quality measurement system 10 includes: a first pipe 11 through which a first treated water flows; a first branch pipe 11a branching from the first pipe 11 and having a first valve V11; a second pipe 12 through which a second treated water flows; a second branch pipe 12a branching from the second pipe 12 and having a second valve V12; a third pipe 13 connected to the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 and through which the first treated water and the second treated water flow; and a water quality measurement device 14 configured to measure a water quality of a treated water flowing through the third pipe 13.