Patent ID: 8281672
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: C12M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for withdrawing discrete fluid samples from a vessel adapted to contain a fluid; a main sampling line in fluid communication with the vessel; a pump in fluid communication with said main sampling line and adapted to selectively pump fluid from in the main sampling line in a first direction away from the vessel or a second direction toward the vessel; a first vent port in fluid communication with said main sampling line and disposed on a first side of said pump; a second vent port in fluid communication with said main sampling line and disposed on a second side of said pump; one or more sample containers in fluid communication with a portion of said main sampling line on the second side of said pump; and a flow control system adapted to be selectively configured to open or close each of said first and second vent ports, open or close one or more portions of said main sampling line, and open or close each sample container, wherein, in a first configuration of said flow control system, said first and second vent ports are closed, said main sampling line is open on the first and second sides of said pump, and at least one sample vessel is open, so that the pump can be operated in a first direction to move an amount of fluid from the vessel, through a portion of the main sampling line, and into the open sample container; in a second configuration of said flow control system, said first vent port is closed, said second vent port is open, each of the one or more sample vessels is closed, and a portion of said main sampling line on the first side of said pump is open so that the pump can be operated in a second direction to move fluid disposed in said main sampling line into the vessel without withdrawing fluid from the at least one sample container; and in a third configuration of said flow control system, said first vent port is open, said second vent port is closed, said main sampling line is closed on the first side of said pump and opened on the second side of said pump, and the at least one sample container is open so that the pump can be operated in the first direction to move fluid disposed in the main sampling line and into the open sample container without withdrawing additional fluid from the vessel.