Automatic control of the separation and collection of fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10983032-B2
Application number	US-201816188986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically separating and collecting a fluid stream into multiple portions, including a tubing to receive the fluid stream, a plurality of valves attached to the tubing in spaced relation along the length of the tubing and a plurality fluid collection containers attached to the valves. A controller controls the activation of the plurality of valves to collect and separate portions of the fluid stream in the plurality of the fluid collection containers. A flow meter detects the flow of the fluid stream in the tubing and measures a flow rate of the fluid stream. The controller activates the valves based on the detection of the fluid and the flow rate. The controller also activates the valves based on the timing of the fluid stream. The controller also monitors the flow rate over time and activates the valves in sequence based on the flow rate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for automatically separating and collecting a fluid stream into multiple portions, the apparatus comprising:
a tubing configured to receive the fluid stream;
a plurality of valves attached to the tubing in spaced relation along the length of the tubing;
a plurality fluid collection containers, each fluid collection container being detachably connected to a respective one of the plurality valves; and
a controller for controlling the plurality of valves to collect and separate portions of the fluid stream in the plurality of the fluid collection containers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a flow meter positioned upstream of the plurality of valves, the flow meter being configured to detect the flow of the fluid stream in the tubing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to control the plurality of valves in response to detecting the flow of the fluid stream.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a timing of the detected flow of the fluid stream.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the plurality of valves based on the timing of the flow of the fluid stream.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor the flow rate over time and to activate the valves in sequence based on the flow rate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a flow meter positioned upstream of the plurality of valves, the flow meter being configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid stream in the tubing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to control the plurality of valves in response to the measured flow rate of the fluid stream.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flow meter is an optical Doppler low flow rate meter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flow meter is an ultrasonic flow rate meter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the valves are solenoid valves.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid collection containers include a testing assembly, comprising at least one fluid test component configured to perform at least one fluid test analysis on the collected portion of the fluid stream.

13. A method for automatically separating and collecting a fluid stream into multiple portions, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving the fluid stream in a tubing, the tubing having a plurality of valves attached to the tubing in spaced relation along the length of the tubing and a plurality fluid collection containers, each fluid collection container being detachably connected to a respective one of the plurality valves; and
controlling the plurality of valves to collect and separate portions of the fluid stream in the plurality of the fluid collection containers.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including detecting the flow of the fluid stream in the tubing.

15. The method of claim 14 , further including controlling the plurality of valves in response to detecting the flow of the fluid stream.

16. The method of claim 13 , further including to measuring a flow rate of the fluid stream in the tubing.

17. The method of claim 16 , further including controlling the plurality of valves in sequence in response to the measured flow rate of the fluid stream.

18. The method of claim 17 , further including monitoring the flow rate over time and activating the valves in sequence based on the flow rate.

19. The method of claim 13 , further including determining a timing of the detected flow of the fluid stream.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including controlling the plurality of valves in sequence based on the timing of the flow of the fluid stream.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• von Cavallar Stefan
• Halupka Kerry J
• Garnavi Rahil
• Chakravorty Rajib
• Sedai Suman

Classifications

• G01F1/661

  using light · CPC title

• G01F1/66

  by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters · CPC title

• G01N1/2035 Primary

  by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping · CPC title

• G01F1/663

  by measuring Doppler frequency shift · CPC title

• G01N2001/205

  using a valve · CPC title