REACTOR ASSEMBLY FOR AN INDUSTRIAL WATER ANALYSIS DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor assembly (1) for an industrial water analysis device (2), particularly using a high temperature oxidation method, the reactor assembly (1) comprises an outer reactor tube (6) and an inner reactor tube (8), the inner reactor tube (8) being removably inserted into the outer reactor tube (8). The invention further relates to an industrial water analysis device (2) comprising a housing (4) and the aforementioned reactor assembly (1), wherein the outer reactor tube (6) is fixedly mounted to the housing (4). Moreover, the invention relates to an inner reactor tube (8) for the reactor assembly (1).

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. Reactor assembly for an industrial water analysis device, particularly a total organic carbon analyser using a high temperature oxidation method, the reactor assembly comprising an outer reactor tube and an inner reactor tube being removably inserted into the outer reactor tube.

25. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the inner reactor tube at least partially rests on the outer reactor tube.

26. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the inner reactor tube comprises a radially protruding collar received in a recess of the outer reactor tube.

27. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the inner reactor tube comprises a resting surface, the resting surface being aligned with a surrounding resting surface of the outer reactor tube.

28. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the reactor assembly further comprises a top cover assembly resting on both the inner reactor tube and the outer reactor tube.

29. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the inner reactor tube at least at one end protrudes from the outer reactor tube.

30. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein a bottom cover assembly is provided receiving the inner reactor tube and sealingly engaging the outer reactor tube.

31. Reactor assembly according to claim 30, wherein the bottom cover assembly comprises a funnel having a funnel diameter larger than an inner diameter of the inner reactor tube.

32. Reactor assembly according to claim 30, wherein the bottom cover assembly comprises a collection receptacle arranged underneath an outlet opening of the inner reactor tube.

33. Reactor assembly according to claim 31, wherein the collection receptacle is arranged underneath the funnel.

34. Reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the inner reactor tube and the outer reactor tube are formed of the same material.

35. Industrial water analysis device, particularly for total organic carbon analysis using a high temperature oxidation method, the industrial water analysis device comprising a housing and a reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein the outer reactor tube is fixedly mounted to the housing.

36. Industrial water analysis device according to claim 35, wherein the housing comprises an upper wall having an access opening and wherein at least the inner reactor tube is accessible through the access opening from outside the housing.

37. Industrial water analysis device according to claim 35, wherein a heating unit is provided within the housing for heating the reactor assembly.

38. Industrial water analysis device according to claim 35, wherein at least the inner reactor tube protrudes from the housing from two opposing sides.

39. Industrial water analysis device according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the top cover assembly and bottom cover assembly is provided and wherein the top cover assembly and bottom cover assembly, respectively, is arranged outside the housing.

40. Inner reactor tube for a reactor assembly according to claim 24, wherein a gas permeable wall is provided, the gas permeable wall being mounted within the inner reactor tube.

41. Inner reactor tube according to claim 40, wherein the gas permeable wall is arranged in a bottom quarter of the inner reactor tube.

42. Inner reactor tube according to claim 41, wherein the gas permeable wall is distanced from the outlet opening of the inner reactor tube.

43. Inner reactor tube according to claim 40, wherein the gas permeable wall is formed as a sieve.

44. Inner reactor tube according to claim 40, wherein a fixation extension extends from the gas permeable wall.

45. Inner reactor tube according to claim 41, wherein the inner reactor tube comprises at least one tool engagement feature.

46. Inner reactor tube according to claim 40, wherein the inner reactor tube further comprises a filling material arranged between an inlet opening and the gas permeable wall.

Description

[0061] In the drawings, elements that correspond to each other with respect to function and/or structure have been provided with the same reference numeral.

[0062] In the drawings,

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a schematic rendition of a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive total organic content analyser;

[0064] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial view of the sectional view from FIG. 1;

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a further enlarged partial view of the sectional view from FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a schematic rendition of a sectional view of an inner reactor tube according to one possible embodiment; and

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a schematic rendition of a perspective view of a gas permeable wall shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] In the following, the structure of a possible embodiment of a reactor assembly 1 and an industrial water analysis device 2 according to the present invention is explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the industrial water analysis device 2 comprising a housing 4 and an exemplary embodiment of the inventive reactor assembly 1.

[0070] Industrial water analysis devices 2 are configured for industrial use, i.e. for use 24/7 to continuously monitor specific content in water, such as TOC or TN.sub.b (total nitrogen bound). For this, the industrial water analysis device 2 may be installed on-line or even in-line and may be configured to automatically draw and analyse water samples according to a predetermined schedule. This distinguishes the industrial water analysis device from a water analysis device for laboratory use, which is employed only sporadically.

[0071] The industrial water analysis device 2 may further be adapted to analyse the total nitrogen bound (TN.sub.b), total carbon (TC), which represents the sum of the total organic carbon and the total inorganic carbon, and/or the chemical oxygen demand (COD). The measurement for TOC may be in conformity with DIN EN 1484 and the measurement for TN.sub.b may be in conformity with DIN EN 12260.

[0072] The reactor assembly 1 comprises an outer reactor tube 6 and an inner reactor tube 8 being removably inserted into the outer reactor tube 6.

[0073] Hence, a single reactor tube is replaced by a combination of an outer reactor tube 6 and an inner reactor tube 8. The outer reactor tube 6 may be fixed to the housing 4 in the same manner a single reactor tube would be fixed in a common total organic content analyser. However, since the inner reactor tube 8 is removably inserted into the outer reactor tube 6, the inner reactor tube 8 may be easily exchanged without having to dismount the outer reactor tube 6 from the housing 4. This means that the downtime during maintenance may be significantly reduced.

[0074] During total organic carbon analysis, a sample is introduced into a reactor channel 10 of the inner reactor tube 8, in which the carbon is oxidised to form carbon dioxide. This oxidation step may preferably be performed at high temperatures, such as about 600 C. for a catalytic oxidation or about 1200 C. for a thermal combustion without the presence of a catalyst. Therefore, the housing 4 may constitute a heating chamber 12 having a heating unit 14 to heat up the reactor assembly 1. The heating unit 14 may, for example, be a heating coil 16, being wrapped around the outer reactor tube 6.

[0075] To stabilise the reactor assembly 1 within the housing 4, bearings 18, 20 may be provided. The bearings 18, 20 abut an outer surface 22 of the outer reactor tube 6. Therefore, only the outer reactor tube 6 is held directly by the bearings 18, 20 and the inner reactor tube 8 may be moved independently out of and/or into the outer reactor tube 6 with respect to the bearings 18, 20. The bearings may preferably be arranged within the housing 4 and may prevent movement of the reactor assembly 1 at least in a radial direction.

[0076] As can be seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the reactor assembly 1, particularly the inner reactor tube 8 and the outer reactor tube 6, may extend along a longitudinal axis L.

[0077] The housing 4 may enclose a volume 24 at least partially receiving the reactor assembly 1. An upper wall 26 extending essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L may limit the volume 24 in a direction essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis L. However, for allowing access at least to the inner reactor tube 8 from outside the housing 4, the upper wall 26 may comprise an access opening 28.

[0078] Correspondingly, a lower wall 30 may be provided, the lower wall 30 being arranged opposite the upper wall 26 along the longitudinal axis L. The lower wall 30 may also comprise an opening 32 through which the reactor assembly 1 may at least partially protrude from the housing 4.

[0079] In this exemplary embodiment, the inner reactor tube 8 comprises a first end 34 having an inlet opening 36 and a second end 38 having an outlet opening 40. The second end 38 is arranged opposite the first end 34 along the longitudinal axis L. The reactor channel 10 extends essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis L from the inlet opening 36 to the outlet opening 40.

[0080] For the sake of clear presentation, the first end 34 of the inner reactor tube 8 is shown in an enhanced view in FIG. 2.

[0081] To prevent the inner reactor tube 8 from slipping through the outer reactor tube 6, the inner reactor tube 8 may comprise a radially outwards protruding collar 42 at the first end 34. The collar 42 may be received in a radial recess 44 of the outer reactor tube 6, such that the inner reactor tube 8 at least partially rests on the outer reactor tube 6.

[0082] Particularly, the collar 42 may be fittingly received in the recess 44 at least in the radial direction. Therefore, the inner reactor tube 8 may be centred with respect to the outer reactor tube 6, such that the outer and inner reactor tubes 6, 8 are arranged coaxially with one another. This is especially advantageous, as a uniform heat transfer between outer and inner reactor tubes 6, 8 is ensured. To further enhance the heat transfer between outer and inner reactor tubes 6, 8 the inner reactor tube 8 may be fittingly inserted into the outer reactor tube 6, so that an outer surface 46 of the inner reactor tube 8 is in direct contact with an inner surface 48 of the outer reactor tube 6.

[0083] The inner reactor tube 8 may comprise a resting surface 50 facing away from the second end 38, whereby the surface area of the resting surface 50 is increased by the provision of the collar 42 at the first end 34. Said resting surface 50 may be essentially aligned or even flush with a resting surface of the outer reactor tube 6 and thus form a composite surface area.

[0084] Consequently, it is easier to seal both the inner reactor tube 8 and the outer reactor tube 6 with a single sealing unit, such as a sealing ring 52.

[0085] Preferably, the first end 34 of the inner reactor tube 8 may protrude from the housing 4 through the access opening 28, so that the inner reactor tube 8 is easily accessible from outside the housing 4. To further facilitate the removal and/or insertion of the inner reactor tube 8, the inner reactor tube 8 may comprise tool engagement features (not shown) configured to engage a tool, such as a pair of tongs.

[0086] In order to secure the inner reactor tube 8 to the outer reactor tube 6, the reactor assembly 1 may further comprise a top cover assembly 54 resting on both the inner reactor tube 8 and the outer reactor tube 6. The top cover assembly 54 may comprise a unitary flange 56 being adapted to rest on the resting surfaces 50. For this, the flange 56 may comprise an abutment surface 58 adapted to at least partially rest on the resting surface 50, whereby the sealing ring 52 may be compressed radially between the abutment surface 58 on one side and an extension 60 of the outer reactor tube 6 extending along the longitudinal axis L from the resting surface 50 of the outer reactor tube 6.

[0087] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the flange 56 may be formed of a glass-ceramic material, having both the hermetic sealing properties of glass as well as the special properties of ceramics, particularly with respect to high temperature stability against thermal expansion.

[0088] For allowing the insertion of the sample without having to remove the flange 56, the flange 56 may comprise a lead through opening 62 penetrating the flange 56 along the longitudinal axis L. A sealing cap 64 may be mounted to an end 66 of the flange 56 facing away from the reactor tubes 6, 8. The sealing cap 64 may comprise a seal that can be penetrated by a dispensing needle 68. Preferably, the diameter of the lead through opening 62 may be larger than the diameter of the dispensing needle 68, so that the dispensing needle 68 does not come into physical contact with the flange 56. Therefore, excessive heating up of the sample inside the dispensing needle and possibly already evaporating a portion of the sample in the dispensing needle may be prevented.

[0089] The top cover assembly 54 may preferably be arranged outside the housing 4. Therefore, the top cover assembly 54 may easily be detached from the outer and inner reactor tubes 6, 8 without having to open the housing 4. Consequently, the heating unit 14 does not need to be switched off for mounting or dismounting the top cover assembly 54.

[0090] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second end 38 of the inner reactor tube 8 may protrude from the housing 4 through the opening 32 of the lower wall 30. Correspondingly, the outer reactor tube 6 may also protrude from the housing 4 through the opening 32. However, according to a preferred embodiment, the second end 38 of the inner reactor tube 8 may extend further along the longitudinal axis L than the outer reactor tube 6, such that the second end 38 projects out of the outer reactor tube 6.

[0091] A bottom cover assembly 70 may be provided, the bottom cover assembly 70 being mounted to the outer reactor tube 6 outside the housing 4. The outer reactor tube 6 may be pressed into an interface part 72 of the bottom cover assembly 70, wherein a sealing ring 74 is radially compressed between the interface part 72 and the outer surface 22 of the outer reactor tube 6.

[0092] The inner reactor tube 8, however, may simply abut a radially inward protruding step 76 of the interface part 72 along the longitudinal axis L. Preferably, a seal between inner reactor tube 8 and bottom cover assembly 70, particularly the interface part 72 is not provided. Therefore, the inner reactor tube 8 may easily be removed from or inserted into the outer reactor tube 6 without having to disassemble the bottom cover assembly 70.

[0093] On the outer side, the interface part 72 may comprise a circumferentially extending notch 78 in which clamps 80 may be inserted for fixing the bottom cover assembly 70, particularly the interface part 72 to the lower wall 30 of the housing 4.

[0094] The interface part 72 may preferably be formed from a material with high thermal stability, particularly in terms of its thermal expansion. For example, the interface part 72 may comprise or consist of a ceramic material. Thus, even when the reactor tubes 6, 8 are heated, the interface part 72 does not expand in such a manner that the sealing between the outer reactor tube 6 and the interface part 72 degenerates.

[0095] In order to direct the product exiting the inner reactor tube 8 from the outlet opening 40 and preventing an accumulation of solid materials at the interface part 72, the interface part 72 may comprise a funnel 82 tapering in a direction essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis L away from the reactor tubes 6, 8.

[0096] At the interface between interface part 72 and inner reactor tube 8, the funnel diameter may at least be larger than an inner diameter of the inner reactor tube 8. Hence, the solid material directly falls into the funnel 82 instead of accumulating at the step 76. Preferably, at least the surface of the funnel may be polished so that the material slides off the surface instead of being retained on the surface. In this case, the maintenance required for cleaning or possibly exchanging the interface part 72 may be significantly reduced.

[0097] The bottom cover assembly 70 may further comprise a collection receptacle 84 arranged underneath the funnel 82 along the longitudinal axis L, in order to collect the solid material exiting the inner reactor tube 8. The collection receptacle 84 may be seated in a separate component 86 of the bottom cover assembly 70, the component 86 being detachable from the interface part 72.

[0098] The separate component 86 may be provided with a port 88 for connecting the reactor assembly 1 to a detector (not shown). The carbon dioxide may be conducted through the port 88 to the detector, which is configured to measure the amount of carbon dioxide.

[0099] Preferably, the separate component 86 may be mounted to the interface part 72 via a threaded connection. Hence, the separate component 86 may be easily removed, since the connection of the bottom cover assembly 70 to the housing 4 and the outer reactor tube 6 is formed by the interface part 72.

[0100] Since the separate component 86 is not in direct contact with the reactor tubes 6, 8, the separate component 86 is not subjected to as high heats as the interface part 72. Hence, the choice of material for the separate component is widened allowing the separate component 86, for example, to comprise or consist of a plastic material, which is cheaper and easily available.

[0101] As can be seen in FIG. 1, an insert 90 may be provided, the insert 90 being mounted within the reactor channel 10 forming a bottom wall 92 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The bottom wall 92 may be a gas permeable wall 94 such that the oxidised carbon dioxide may pass through the gas permeable wall 94 towards the outlet opening 40. Larger solid particles may thus be prevented from falling out of the inner reactor tube 8 and eventually blocking the port 88.

[0102] The gas permeable wall 94 may be fixed within the inner reactor tube 8 between a bottom quarter and a bottom sixth of the entire length of the inner reactor tube 8 along the longitudinal axis L proximal to the second end 38. In such a way, the gas permeable wall 94 may be aligned with an end of the heating unit 14, when mounted in the industrial water analysis device as is depicted in FIG. 1. Consequently, a section of the inner reactor tube 8 extending from the gas permeable wall 94 towards the first end 34 may be surrounded by the heating unit 14 such that the highest temperature in the reactor channel 10 is reached at said point. Therefore, the oxidation step may already be completed before the sample reaches the gas permeable wall 94.

[0103] The gas permeable wall 94 may be fixed to the inner reactor tube 8 via form fit, press fit and/or adherence.

[0104] With reference to FIG. 4, a second exemplary embodiment of the inner reactor tube 8 is depicted, in which a different insert 90 is mounted within the inner reactor tube 8. A schematic perspective view of the insert 90 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. For the sake of brevity, only the differences to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are discussed hereinafter.

[0105] The gas permeable wall 94 is formed as a sieve 96 comprising multiple orifices 98 through which not only gases but also smaller solid particles may pass, allowing for solid particles to be removed from the inner reactor tube 8. Said particles may be collected in the collection receptacle 84 and subsequently removed from the system, without having to remove the inner reactor tube 8.

[0106] Furthermore, a fixation extension 100 extending along the longitudinal axis L from the gas permeable wall 94 towards the second end 38 may be provided. The fixation extension 100 may be a tube having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the inner reactor tube 8, so that the fixation extension may be inserted into the reactor channel 10. Preferably, the fixation extension 100 may be fittingly inserted into the reactor channel 10 resulting in an abutment of an outer surface of the fixation extension with an inner surface of the inner reactor tube 8. Thus, the surface area available for fixing the gas permeable wall 94 to the inner reactor tube 8 may be significantly increased.

[0107] The fixation extension may preferably be aligned with the outlet opening 40 at an end facing away from the gas permeable wall 94.

[0108] A filling material (not shown) such as ceramic spheres, may be inserted into the reactor channel through the inlet opening 36, whereby the gas permeable wall 94 may prevent the filling material from falling out of the outlet opening 40.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0109] 1 reactor assembly [0110] 2 industrial water analysis device [0111] 4 housing [0112] 6 outer reactor tube [0113] 8 inner reactor tube [0114] 10 reactor channel [0115] 12 heating chamber [0116] 14 heating unit [0117] 16 heating coil [0118] 18 bearing [0119] 20 bearing [0120] 22 outer surface [0121] 24 volume [0122] 26 upper wall [0123] 28 access opening [0124] 30 lower wall [0125] 32 opening [0126] 34 first end [0127] 36 inlet opening [0128] 38 second end [0129] 40 outlet opening [0130] 42 collar [0131] 44 recess [0132] 46 outer surface [0133] 48 inner surface [0134] 50 resting surface [0135] 52 sealing ring [0136] 54 top cover assembly [0137] 56 flange [0138] 58 abutment surface [0139] 60 extension [0140] 62 lead through opening [0141] 64 sealing cap [0142] 66 end of flange [0143] 68 dispensing needle [0144] 70 bottom cover assembly [0145] 72 interface part [0146] 74 sealing ring [0147] 76 step [0148] 78 notch [0149] 80 clamp [0150] 82 funnel [0151] 84 collection receptacle [0152] 86 component [0153] 88 port [0154] 90 insert [0155] 92 bottom wall [0156] 94 gas permeable wall [0157] 96 sieve [0158] 98 orifice [0159] 100 fixation extension [0160] L longitudinal axis