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EP-4737909-A1 - FLUID MEASURING SYSTEM

EP4737909A1EP 4737909 A1EP4737909 A1EP 4737909A1EP-4737909-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid measuring system (1), comprising a fluid measuring chamber (3) for receiving a fluid to be measured, a measurement arrangement (5) for measuring the received fluid, a plunger (7) being at least partially arranged in the fluid measuring chamber (3), wherein the plunger (7) comprises an internal fluid path (9) extending therethrough, wherein the internal fluid path (9) is adapted to provide a fluid connection between an inside (11) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) and an outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3).

Inventors

  • DOE, William
  • REDFERN, Adam
  • LOVELESS, Edis

Assignees

  • ABB SCHWEIZ AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241105

Claims (15)

  1. A fluid measuring system (1) comprising, a fluid measuring chamber (3) for receiving a fluid to be measured, a measurement arrangement (5) for measuring the received fluid, a plunger (7) being at least partially arranged in the fluid measuring chamber (3), wherein the plunger (7) comprises an internal fluid path (9) extending therethrough, wherein the internal fluid path (9) is adapted to provide a fluid connection between an inside (11) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) and an outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  2. The fluid measuring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the internal fluid path (9) comprises a first connection interface (15) at a first plunger portion (17) and a second connection interface (19) at a second plunger portion (21) spaced apart from to the first plunger portion (17), wherein the first connection interface (15) is arranged at the inside (11) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) for allowing an inflow of fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3) to the internal fluid path (9) or an outflow of fluid from the internal fluid path (9) to the fluid measuring chamber (3), and wherein the second connection interface (19) is arranged at the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) for allowing an inflow of fluid from the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) to the internal fluid path (9) or an outflow of fluid from the internal fluid path (9) to the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  3. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal fluid path (9) is formed as an internal channel, wherein the first connection interface (15) is a first channel opening, and wherein the second connection interface (19) is a second channel opening, wherein the internal channel extends through the plunger (7) essentially parallel to a main extension direction of the plunger (7) between the first channel opening and the second channel opening.
  4. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plunger (7) is movably housed in the fluid measuring chamber (3), wherein the plunger (7) is longitudinally movable along a main extension direction of the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  5. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein the plunger (7) comprises an essentially cylindrical outer surface (23) including a distal front surface (25) at the first plunger portion (17), wherein the distal front surface (25) faces the inside (11) of the fluid measuring chamber (3), and a proximal lateral surface (27) at the second plunger portion (21), wherein the proximal lateral surface (27) faces the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3), wherein the first connection interface (15) is arranged at the distal front surface (25) and wherein the second connection interface (19) is arranged at the proximal lateral surface (27).
  6. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plunger (7) comprises a sealing element (29) arranged between the outer surface (23) of the plunger (7) and an inner surface of the fluid measuring chamber (3) for sealing a fluid volume (31) in the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  7. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 6, wherein a fluid path valve (33) is provided at the second connection interface (19), wherein the fluid path valve (33) is adapted to control an inflow of fluid from the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) to the internal fluid path (9) or to control an outflow of fluid from the internal fluid path (9) to the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  8. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fluid supply arrangement (35) arranged at a first fluid measuring chamber side (37) for supplying the fluid to the fluid measuring chamber (3), wherein the plunger (7) is arranged at a second fluid measuring chamber side (39) opposite to the first fluid measuring chamber side (37), and wherein the plunger (7) is adapted to discharge the fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3) to the outside (13) of the fluid measuring chamber (3) via the internal fluid path (9).
  9. The fluid measuring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fluid supply arrangement (35) comprises at least one fluid supply line (41) for supplying one or more of a sample fluid, a reagent fluid, a calibration fluid, water or a cleaning fluid to the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  10. The fluid measuring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fluid supply line (41) comprises a fluid supply line valve (43), wherein the fluid supply line valve (43) is adapted to control an inflow of fluid from the fluid supply line (41) to the fluid measuring chamber (3) or an outflow of fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3).
  11. The fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid measuring system (1) is an optical fluid measuring system comprising a light emitter (45) for emitting a light beam (47) and a light detector (49) for detecting the light beam (47), wherein the light emitter (45) and the light detector (49) are arranged in such a way that the light emitted by the light emitter (45) passes through the fluid measuring chamber (3) and is detected by the light detector (46) on an opposite side of the light emitter (45), thereby forming an optical measurement path (49).
  12. A method (100) for measuring a fluid by a fluid measuring system (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, the method (100) comprising the steps of: providing (S1) the plunger (7) at the fluid measuring chamber (3), supplying (S2) the fluid to be measured to the fluid measuring chamber (3) by the fluid supply line (41) or the internal fluid path (9), measuring (S3) the fluid by the measurement arrangement (5), and discharging (S4) the fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3) by the other one of the fluid supply line or the internal fluid path (9).
  13. The method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the step of supplying (S2) the fluid to be measured to the fluid measuring chamber (3) comprises the step (S5) of longitudinally moving (51) the plunger (7) in a direction out of the fluid measuring chamber (3) along the main extension direction of the fluid measuring chamber (3) such that fluid is drawn into the fluid measuring chamber (3) via the fluid supply line (41), and wherein the step of discharging (S4) the fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3) comprises the step (S6) of longitudinally moving (51) the plunger (7) in a direction into the fluid measuring chamber (3) along the main extension direction of the fluid measuring chamber (3) such that the fluid pushed out of the fluid measuring chamber (3) via the internal fluid path (9).
  14. The method (100) according to claim 12, wherein one or more of the steps of supplying (S2) the fluid to the fluid measuring chamber (3) and/or discharging (S4) the fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3) are performed while maintaining a fixed position of the plunger (7).
  15. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step (S4) of discharging the fluid from the fluid measuring chamber (3) by the other one of the fluid supply line (41) or the internal fluid path (9) includes a discharge one or more of a gas and/or a liquid.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a fluid measuring system, and a method for measuring a fluid by the fluid measuring system. 2. BACKGROUND Measuring systems such as chemical or optical detection systems for fluids often demand a precise preparation of the fluid to be measured in a sequence of multiple measurements. It is for instance often required that a sample fluid to be measured is repeatedly mixed and measured with one or more different reagents to determine different properties and characteristics of the sample fluid. This may be done for instance in batch measurements, wherein a sample fluid is mixed with a reagent in given certain volume, and the mixture is subsequently measured during or after the mixing. After the measurement the sample must be discharged from the volume to allow a subsequent measurement. As of now, a precise preparation of the fluid in the measuring system and exchange of the fluid is often cumbersome and existing systems are accordingly complex and limited in the throughput of fluids that could be measured at a given time. Furthermore, a proper discharge of unwanted components of the fluids, such as accumulated gases, may not be possible. Thus, there exists a need for an improved fluid measuring system and respective methods for employment. 3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object is achieved by the present invention according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims, the description, and the accompanying figures. The present invention relates to a fluid measuring system, comprising a fluid measuring chamber for receiving a fluid to be measured, a measurement arrangement for measuring the received fluid, a plunger being at least partially arranged in the fluid measuring chamber, wherein the plunger comprises an internal fluid path extending therethrough, wherein the internal fluid path is adapted to provide a fluid connection between an inside of the fluid measuring chamber and an outside of the fluid measuring chamber. Thus, an improved system may be provided, which may allow to supply a fluid to the fluid measuring chamber or to discharge of a fluid to an outside of the fluid measuring chamber via the internal fluid path. Thus, a precise adjustment of the fluid volume and an easy exchange of fluid may be achieved. The fluid measuring system may include any system that may allow to investigate properties of a fluid, e.g. via physical and/or chemical measurements. This may include for instance opto-chemical analysis, such as colorimeters, titrators and/or fluorometers etc. It will be appreciated, that also more than one fluid measuring chamber or cell may be provided in the fluid measuring system. The fluid measuring chamber may be suitably dimensioned to receive and hold a certain volume of the fluid to be measured. The fluid measuring chamber may be formed in any desired shape, which may include but is not delimited to a quadrangular or cylindrical shape. The fluid to be measured may include one or more liquids, or one or more gases, or corresponding mixtures thereof and may be for instance a sample or analyte to be investigated, e.g. a water sample. The fluid to be measured may also contain reagents that were added to the sample to induce a desired reaction with the sample, e.g. a color change etc. which could be accordingly measured. The measurement arrangement may comprise suitable means for detecting physical or chemical properties of the fluid to be measured, such as different containments, pH etc. The measurement arrangement may accordingly include respective emitters and detectors, which may be arranged in the vicinity fluid measuring chamber to emit and detect, respectively, for instance radiation, e.g. light, passing through the measuring chamber and the fluid to be measured contained therein. The fluid measuring chamber may accordingly include or be made of respective suitable materials that may allow a transmission of radiation through the fluid measuring chamber. For instance, if the measurement arrangement is based on visible light transmission, the fluid measuring chamber may be made of a correspondingly optically transparent material, such as glass or acrylic. However, the present invention is not delimited thereto, and also other suitable measurement arrangements, which may allow a measuring of the fluid based on other detection principles, may be provided. The shape of the plunger may be suitably adapted to the inner shape of the fluid measuring chamber. The plunger may be fully inserted or only partially inserted in the fluid measuring chamber with a distal end. For instance, if the fluid measuring chamber is cylindrically formed, the plunger may be likewise cylindrically formed to snugly fit into the fluid measuring chamber. The plunger may be accordingly adapted to seal a volume in the fluid measuring chamber, in which the fluid to be measured may be received and retained. For ins