FLOW CELL

Abstract: A flow cell comprises a measuring space extending between two light-pervious walls, in which at least one inlet and one outlet open out via a respective aperture as such that in the position of use of the flow cell the inlet is located at a lower level than the outlet. A prior art flow cell of such type has the disadvantage, that between the aperture of the inlet, and the aperture of the outlet on the one hand, and on the other hand the respective light-pervious wall a dead corner exists, in which the liquid present is not adequately mixed with the liquid to be measured present in the measuring space. In accordance with the invention this disadvantage is removed by a cell, in which the measuring space has a round cross-section, whilst the inlet and/or the outlet tangentially adjoin the measuring space, and a past of the aperture of the inlet and/or the outlet is formed by the respective light-­ pervious wall.

Description: FLOW CELL The invention relates to a flow cell comprising a measuring space extending between two light-pervious walls, in which at least one inlet and one outlet open out via a respective aperture as such that in the position of use of the flow cell the inlet is located at a lower level than the outlet. Such a flow cell is described in U.S.-patent 3.307.447. This known flow cell has the disadvantage, that between the aperture of the inlet, and the aperture of the outlet on the one hand, and on the other hand the respective light-pervious wall a dead corner exists, in which the liquid present is not adequately mixed with the liquid to be measured present in the measuring space. The invention has for its object to improve the flow cell of the kind set forth above, in a sence that the desbribed dead-corners are avoided, These dead-corners adversely effect the measurement, since on the one hand air bubbles and on the other hand sample fluid of the preceding sample may accumulate in these dead corners, which may have an adverse effect on a further measurement. The invention has for its object to improve the flow cell, in a sence that in the measuring space dead corners are avoided as far as possible. In accordance with the invention this is achieved, in that the measuring space has a round cross-section, that the inlet and/or the outlet tangentially adjoin the measuring space , and that a past of the aperture of the inlet and/nr the outlet is formed by the respective light-pervious wall. When the inlet and/or the outlet are at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the measuring space, an optimum flow through the measuring space is obtained. When the acute angle is chosen so that only one light-pervious wall is located in line with the inlet and/or the outlet, the flow cell can be manufac.tured in an advantageous manner, since in drilling the inlet and the outlet the drill can shoot out without touching and damaging an opposite wall of the measuring spac.e. The above-mentioned and further features will be set out whith reference to a few non-limitative embodiments of a flow cell in accordance with the invention shown in the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows in Figs. 1 and 3 each a perspective, fragmentary view an embodiment of a flow cell in accordance with the invention, Figs. 2 and 4 each a sectional view taken on the line li-Il and IV-IV respectively of the cell of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 respectively, Fig. 5 a detail V of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 a measuring instrument provided with a flow ell embodying the invention in the position of use. Fig. 1 shows a flow cell 1 embodying the invention having a measuring space 3 between two lightpervious walls 2, for example, quartz windows, in which open out an inlet 4 and an outlet 5 The measuring space 3 is round in cross-section, has a substantially cylindrical shape and is arranged with the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 in a block 6 of metal, preferably stainless steel. The inlet 4 opens out in the measuring space 3 via an aperture 28, and the outlet 5 via an aperture 29. The head sides 7 and 8 of the block 6 each have a circumferential groove 9, containing an adhesive 11, for example, Araldite, by which the windows 2 are fastened to the block 6. The flow cell 1 embodying the invention has furthermore a recess 12 for re riving a sensor 13, for example, a temperature sensor. From Fig. 5 showing the flow cell embodying the invention in the operational position it will be apparent that the inlet 4 is located at a lower level than the outlet 5. Air bubbles penetrating through the inlet 4 into the measuring space 3 travel in accordance with the helical movement of the fluid stream through the measuring space 3 towards the outlet 5 and are removed from the measuring space 3 through the outlet 5. Since the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 tangentially adjoin the measuring space, the fluid directly adheres to the inner surface of the measuring space 3 and is pushed by the helical movement towards the outlet 5. As is shown in Fig. 2, the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 are connected with the measuring space 3 each in the vicinity of a light-pervious window 2, so that a part 30 of aperture 28 and a part 31 of the aperture 29 is formed by the respective light-pervious wall 2. In this way dead ankles between the inlet 4, the outlet 5 and the light-pervious windnw 2 concerned are avoided. Since on the one hand the inlet 4 and on the other hand the outlet 5 are at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis 14 of the measuring space 3, the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 can be very advantageously provided, sinc.e the angle a is chosen so that in line with the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 only one light-pervious wall 2 to be arranged afterwards is located and in drilling the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 an opposite part of the measuring space 3 c.annot be touched. This means that the drill used my shoot on. The angle a depends inter alia on the passage b of the measuring space 3 and the diameter of the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 respectively and with a circular diameter of about 2 mm and a diameter of the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 of 1 mm it is about 600. Fig. 3 and 4 show a flow cell embodyinq the invention in which the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 again open out tangentially in the measuring space 3, the inlet 4 being located at a lower level than the outlet 5 when flow cell 10 is in the operational position as shown in fig. 4. In the flow cell 10 embodying the invention both the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 are at right angles to the axis 14 of the measuring space 3. Still are dead corners between these head sides 8 and 7 and the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 respectively, avoided. Fig. 3 illustrates that in forming the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 a primary bore 15 is made in the block 6, after which coaxial bore 16 is made in which subsequently a duct 17 and 18 respectively adjoining the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 are fastened. Fig. 6 shows a device 19 in which the flow cell 1 embodying the invention is arranged. It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that in the operational position of the flow cell 1, 10 embodying the invention the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 are meant to lie each in a substantially horizontal plane. The flow cell 1 is located in which a light source 20 and a detector 21, whilst the measuring space 3 is located in the path of the light. The recess 12 holds a sensor 13 connected to a checking unit 22 by means of which through the elements 23, for example, the temperature of the block of the through-flow cell 1 can be controlled and set. Through the inlet duct 17 sample fluid 24 is moved from sample holders 25 by the suction effect of a fluid pump 26 in the outlet duct 18 into the measuring space 3. When a sample fluid is introduced from a further sample holder 25, the sample fluid in the measuring space 3 already measured is transferred through the outlet 5 and the outlet duct 18 to a holder 27. Since the inlet 4 is located at a lower level than the outlet 5, any air bubbles getting into the measuring space 3 will be removed in a simple manner, whilst owing to the tangential connection of the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 and to the acute angle thereof to the axis 14 coinciding substantially with the path of the light from the light source 20 a flow cell is obtained in which contamination is avoided as much as possible and the measuring volume of the flow cell with a diameter of 2 mm and a path of light of 1 cm can only be 40 microlitres.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A flow cell (1, 10) comprising a measuring space (3) extending between two light-pervious walls (2), in which at least one inlet (4) and one outlet (5) open out via a respective aperture (28, 29), as such that in the position of use of the flow cell (1, 10) the inlet (4) is located at a lower level than the outlet (5), characterized in that the measuring space (3) has a round cross-section and the inlet (4) and/or the outlet (5) tangentially adjoin the measuring space (3), and that a part of the aperture (28, 29) of the inlet (4) and/or the outlet (5) is formed by the respective light-pervious wall (2). 2. A flow cell (1) as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that an acute angle (a) is included between the inlet (4) and/or the outlet (5) and the longitudinal axis (14) of the measuring space. 3. A flow cell (1) as claimed in Claim 2 characterized in that the acute angle (a) is chosen so that in line with inlet (4) and/or the outlet (5) there is located only one light-pervious wall (2).

Inventors: VAN DER STEEN, GERARD AART
Applicants: VITAL SCIENTIFIC N.V.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G01N21
IPC codes: G01N21