EP4666048A1

EP4666048A1 - A sampling device for sampling in aquatic environments

Info

Publication number: EP4666048A1
Application number: EP24710333.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jakob GERTHSEN; Michael Tage PEDERSEN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-13
Publication date: 2025-12-24
Also published as: WO2024170044A1

Abstract

A sampling device for sampling of samples of e.g., wastewater in sewers must be suitable for the very different flow rates, which occurs in sewers containing rags, toilet paper and minor particles from e.g., toilet paper. The sampling device described herein can advantageously be applied for this purpose. It comprises a container possibly with an inclined ramp, at least on entrance hole, no or at least one exit hole and no or several walls inside the container. The sampling device is configured, so that there is a minimal risk for the entrance holes to become clogged with particles and toilet paper etc.

Description

Title of Invention: A sampling device for sampling in aquatic environments

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for sampling of samples from aquatic environments.

Technical Field

[0002] More specifically it relates to a device for sampling of samples of wastewater under water, e.g., in sewers or at the bottom of lakes or streams.

[0003] Water samples are normally connected with parameters such as sample time, sample temperature and requirements to storage of collected sample, in that requirements depend on the detection method, which it is desired to perform subsequently.

Background Art

[0004] Data on the water quality of wastewater for tracking pollutions today are no good, as data are sampled primary on sewage plants and at some pump stations and not in the sewers.

[0005] Sewers do not lead wastewater with a constant flow velocity and there is a lot of waste such as, e.g., toilet paper, in the water. In addition, the flow depends on, whether it recently has been raining. A problem is, how one obtains measurements suitable for tracking of water-soluble pollutants such as, e.g., chrome and chrome-nickel and/or undesired particulate materials.

[0006] Sampling in sewers or streams is characterized by that one cannot take many samples, without this being expensive in terms of man hours etc.

[0007] Known technology includes also to submerge a unit with built-in ion-exchange material, which is limited to selected compounds, down into a sewer pipe. The drawbacks by the known techniques are, that they are costly to perform, that the units often must be inspected, as paper or the like blocks up entrance holes, and that they are too expensive for tracking undesired discharge of wastewater. One must find a cheaper solution, as data must be collected at many places. The solution must be suitable for sampling wastewater in sewers, such that one can determine, where contamination has taken place.

[0008] Known technology includes also CN210802986U, which describes a sampling device for sampling in aquatic environments comprising a container with an upper surface (top), which is mostly planar, and where the upper surface of the container, in the one-half part has at least one entrance hole and a bottom, which is planar. This sampling device will not be suitable for sampling in for example sewers.

[0009] Thus, it is desirable to provide a cheap sampling method, and cheap sampling equipment for taking samples at many places to determine the order of the magnitude of the amount of for example dissolved compounds and or particle material in especially wastewater in sewers.

[0010] A sampling device must be designed, such that it by correct mounting in a sewer pipe does not result in that the wastewater rushes in under the sampling device and sets it free, which can result in clogging of the sewer. The device must also be robust and be proof against hydraulic actions without the risk of, that the device is set free.

[0011] A known technology for sampling of marine sediments is described in WO 2020152553 A1 . The sampling device is an oblong container with an entrance, which slants upwards with an entrance hole in a first end, and an exit, which slants downwards, with an exit hole in the other end. Between these is a section, which has a bottom surface, which is lying under the level of the upward slanting section and under the downward slanting section. Here the sampling material would be able to sediment. The top is planar, such that water can stream unhindered over the sampling device. Sampling of sampling materiel renders more difficult, when streaming is so strong that earlier collected sediment is set free and washed out.

[0012] It will not work in sewers, where paper clogs the entrance hole of the sampling device and the sampling device itself.

[0013] Thus, the objective problem is to provide a cheap alternative to a sampling device for sampling in aquatic environments, to which strong stream and paper are not a problem for the function of the device. Summary of Invention

[0014] The above problem has surprisingly been solved by using a sampling device, which comprises a container that has closed sides and an upper surface, and second unit the upper surface of which is a first inclined surface, where the container or said second unit's upper surface has at least one entrance hole in the upper half of the container, respectively, close to the upper surface, or if there is a plateau, on said plateau, and a bottom, which is curved, planar, oval or V- shaped, the surfaces of the container possibly together with one or more additional surfaces forming an enclosed space with at least one entrance hole. The container is arranged with a passage from a side surface to the upper surface, with which said second unit can form an entire surface. The container can be inseparable or separable from the second unit.

[0015] Said first inclined surface can be, for example, a ramp, and an edge at the bottom and front of the inclined surface in the form of a lip edge configured to seal against a substrate, where the first inclined surface is designed to carry water to and over the upper surface of the container.

[0016] The flowing water provides a greater static pressure over the entrance hole. Hereby, a greater water flow in the container is obtained. The inclined surface causes a faster flow of water up to an entrance hole at the top of said first inclined surface or on the upper surface of the container itself and further across the upper surface, without, for example, toilet paper clogging the entrance hole.

[0017] Such a sampling device can be advantageously used in cases where the inflow of water to the upper surface must take place in an efficient manner with a first inclined surface, e.g., a ramp.

[0018] The sampling device can be used for sampling from, e.g., sewage water. There is a low water exchange through if the sampling water only has one hole in the container. The sampling will, however, yield a sample amount, which can be analyzed, and where the analytical result can be used as a measurement for the presence of different substances in the sewage water.

[0019] An embodiment, where the sampling device additionally has at least one entrance hole, has a faster water exchange in the container. Hereby, the collected material will be more representative for all the sewage water, which has streamed at the sampling place. An exit hole can also act as a backup hole if one or more entrance holes should clog up, as the exit hole can also function as entrance hole. An exit hole postpones, where there is a risk of problems with paper or the like, a clogging of the sampling device to later point in time, other things being equal. It is exploited, that a stream over the sampling device causes a larger flow inside the sampling device. This is necessary when a sample must be taken over a long period of time to obtain enough collected material.

[0020] The second unit can be built together with the container, so there does not have to be any wall between the container and the second unit. A separable unit may be an advantage when mounting the sampling device at the sampling place.

[0021] A preferred embodiment is relatively smooth on one or both surfaces: the upper surface and the first inclined surface. Roughness is an expression of how smooth a material is. Surfaces with a roughness of the same magnitude as for flat concrete surfaces can also be used. Therefore, less smooth surfaces, i.e., those with a roughness such as plastics with a roughness of 0.01 to 0.05 mm, can be used.

[0022] The smoother the easier all material in water flows over the sampling device. Inside the sampling device, the water flows significantly slower, allowing material to accumulate on the bottom of the sampling device.

[0023] A preferred embodiment has at least one entrance hole and at least one exit hole. It provides a greater static pressure, if water flows in the direction from said at least one entrance hole towards said at least one exit hole outside and over the sampling device, provided the area of said at least one entrance hole is greater than that of said at least one exit hole.

[0024] When the area of said at least one entrance hole is greater than the area of said at least one exit hole, the water exchange is improved also at a lower flow rate.

[0025] Another preferred embodiment according to the invention is, where the container has truncated wedge-shaped chambers, a, b, c and d partially separated by inner walls and where the wedges have the shorter width towards the first inclined surface and the larger one towards the opposite end of the container. If there are walls, the water change increases with major rains in chamber b, and deposited material further away where there is a pool is pushed further up in the other chambers (a, c and d). Hereby, e.g., particulate material can be collected.

[0026] The walls result in the sampling device to collect more material, especially where there is a relatively strong flow at the sampling place of water.

[0027] An embodiment of this is where the inner walls are corrugated. Corrugated walls increase the possibility of more stagnant pockets of liquid, so that even more particulate material may be collected.

[0028] Yet another preferred embodiment is, where the sampling device has a downward towards the middle curved upper surface, as the flow at the centre hereby becomes relatively larger, making it harder for paper to get stuck in the entrance holes. It is preferred for all the above embodiments of the invention.

[0029] The number of walls, their placement and design, the number of entrance holes and exit holes, container size, their design and placement, may depending on the sampling location and the medium be varied according to the purpose of sampling and the interval for sampling/reading of sensors etc.

[0030] The longer the residence time in the sampling device of some water, the greater the number of possible particles will be able to deposit. This therefore occurs preferably in low flow rate locations such as at the corrugated walls, as well as in the part of the wedge-shaped chambers farthest away from the highest flow rate at the sides, which is where there is no wall.

[0031] Totally dependent on the sampling purpose and location, it will take longer or shorter time before one wants to take the sampling device away from the sampling place and analyse its contents.

[0032] Large fluid flow rates during rainfall, for example, can wash away what is deposited in the sampling device primarily in the area between the entrance and exit holes, chamber b, due to the large flow rate of the water, while at the same time pushing deposited material further up into the wedge-shaped chambers, a, c, and d.

[0033] Another possible embodiment does not have any inner walls, but attachment points in, e.g., the surface of the sampling device, so that one or more sensors can be mounted inside the container, 1 or 12, of the sampling device. Such one or more will then most advantageously be placed where the flow rate is greatest between the entrance and exit holes, parallel to the flow rate in the container, 1 or 12, just below the upper surface of the sampling device. The placement of at least one exit hole may be placed low so that a sensor is not covered by accumulated material from the water, in other cases at the top of the container or a little distance up vertically on an inner wall or on any internal surface of the sampling device, so that some settled unwanted material may be accumulated in the container, without covering the sensor. The sampling device has at least one exit hole and means inside for mounting one or more sensors.

[0034] A sensor records online measurements, so it is not a goal of these to achieve long residence time of wastewater inside the container, 1 . As a result of this, walls inside the container, 12, are not needed.

[0035] An embodiment can also comprise both inner walls and one or more sensors.

[0036] A sampling device is made of, optionally, transparent, hard bendable plastic, or another water-resistant material that does not emit unwanted substances to the sample.

[0037] A device comprising a sampling device with a curved bottom as said and a part of a curved piece of pipe that acts as a locking ring joined together can be used as follows:

[0038] The device is clamped together so that it can be inserted into, for example, a sewer pipe via a well.

[0039] The device is immersed, the pinching of the piece of pipe is triggered.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0040] For the invention to be well understood, some non-limiting examples will now be described, where

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of an inseparable sampling device according to the invention in 3D perspective.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of the sampling device in Fig. 1 in transparent 3D perspective, so that the walls can be seen. [0043] Fig. 3 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of the sampling device in Fig .1 with section lines A-A and C-C in transparent view.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of the sampling device in Fig. 1 seen from a vertical section through C-C in transparent view.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of the sampling device in Fig. 1 seen from a section through A-A in transparent view.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of the sampling device in Fig. 1 seen from the outside the shorter one. The sampling device is transparent.

[0047] Fig. 7 shows a technical drawing of a separable sampling device according to the invention, the container being shown only.

[0048] Fig. 8 shows a technical drawing of the container of the sampling device in Fig. 7 in transparent 3D perspective seen from above.

[0049] Fig. 9 shows a technical drawing of the container of the sampling device in Fig. 7 seen from the section through A-A and in transparent view in the direction of the arrows.

[0050] Fig. 10 shows a technical drawing of the container of the separable sampling device in Fig. 7 seen from the shorter side opposite the end with entrance holes and perpendicular to the surface of the container. The sampling device is transparent.

[0051] Fig. 11 shows a technical drawing of the container of the sampling device in Fig. 7 seen from the longer side and perpendicular to the surface of the container. The sampling device is transparent.

[0052] Fig. 12 shows a technical drawing of the container of the sampling device in Fig. 7 seen from the shorter side at the end with entrance holes and perpendicular to the surface of the container. The container of the sampling device is transparent. Entrance holes are not shown in the technical drawings, 1- 12, on the other hand hollows, 4, are inscribed. These are also referred to in this text as holes, 4, since the placement of the hollows indicates where an entrance hole is located on a ready-made sampling device according to the invention. There is an exit hole with a diameter of 1-2 mm on a ready-made sampling device. Description of Embodiments

[0053] Fig. 1 shows a technical drawing of a prototype of a sampling device according to the invention. It is seen in 3D perspective. The container, 1, has in the first end in the front a first inclined surface, a ramp, 2. The ramp has three curves, because there is applied curves with three different radii. One radius defines a downward curve, which leads water to the middle of the sampling device, 1 , another radius defines a ramp rise, together they define a cone formed ramp, 2, a third radius is a weak downward curve-form of the upper surface, 7, on the container, 1. In addition, there are two raised platforms, 3, symmetrically placed around the middle on the sides. Both arrangements lead to, that waterflow across the container is merged, so if there only streams a very little amount of water, this streams preferably towards the middle of the container, where there are four entrance holes, 4. Water can in the prototype in Fig. 1 in its final version stream out of the container through an exit hole, not drawn, downstream on the upper surface, 7.

[0054] A collection takes also place without an exit hole. An exit hole increases the flow through the container, which means a reduction of the residence time of the water in the container. This is preferred when large amounts of wastewater to collect enough particulate material is needed. Under certain conditions, if the entrance holes in the front, 4, clogs up the exit hole will also function as entrance hole. The technical drawing shows, where two curves with different radii meet. The first radius is the upper surfaces, 7, weak downward form, whereas the other radius is the curve form of a terminal down party, the second inclined surface, 6, in the other end of the container.

[0055] The sampling device is smooth, and bottom and top part are both an extruded foil sheet of PETG (polyethylene terephthalate-glycol modified, which is vacuum formed over a form. Another sampling device could have been made from a material as smooth as plastic. Other materials could be PEHD or PELD (Polyethylene or High/Low Density) or PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylate). PETG is preferred.

[0056] The sampling device in Fig. 1 has in a finally produced version downstream the entrance holes, 4, an exit hole with, e.g., 02mm. [0057] Fig. 2 shows a technical drawing of a transparent prototype of a sampling device, as in Fig. 1 . It shows three walls, 8, 9 and 10. They have a corrugated form to increase the possibility for particulate material to deposit on the bottom and accumulate. This depositing is optimized at a place, 11 , where there is a lower water flow velocity or stagnant water. Next to said places there will be a higher flow velocity, such that less or no at all particulate material will deposit here. Rises, 3, and entrance holes, 4, are placed over chamber b, which is between wall 8 and 9. The prototype has an exit hole in its final version, not drawn, over chamber b between wall 8 and 9 closer to 9.

[0058] Fig. 3 shows a technical drawing of the prototype of a sampling device in Fig. 1 with drawn section lines A-A and C-C in transparent view. Each of the corrugated walls, 8, 9 and 10, are here shown perpendicular to the upper surface, 7, of the container, 1 , and bottom. The walls go from the same one side and end some distance from the opposite side, so that water can stream forward to an exit hole (not drawn), which can be on upper surface, 7, of the container, 1 .

[0059] Fig. 4 shows a technical drawing of the prototype of a sampling device in Fig. 1 seen from a vertical section through C-C in transparent view in the direction towards the ramp, 2. The two rises, 3, are seen as thin lines over the thicker line, which is cross-going. The thicker line is the surface of the container, 1, At the end there are two downward bended lines, which each indicates one of the entrance holes, 4. The thinner line which runs the whole way across is the ramp, 2. There are also two lines which run more steeply downward. One indicates the wall, 8, and the other the ramp, 2.

[0060] Fig. 5 shows a technical drawing of the prototype of the sampling device in Fig. 1 seen from a section through A-A in transparent view in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3, wherein the walls, 8, 9 and 10, do not run all the way to the side most far away of the container, 1 . One of the two rises, 3, and two of the four entrance holes, 4, are seen. The ramp, 2, is in the middle of the plane of the container. Therefore, it is shown with a straight line. Facing towards the side tree curved surfaces meet each having its own radius. The ramp has the form of a cone, and this meets a downward curve on the upper surface of the container, 1. The wall on the middle of the container, 1 , is seen as a vertical line and facing towards the side as a bent line and because the walls, 8, 9 and 10, bend downwards, in the height, facing towards the side, the lines end bent corresponding to this. The second inclined surface, 6, is seen as a straight line, because it is a planar slope on the middle. On the side is seen a minor rise of a line. This indicates that two radii meet, the one radius is from the curved inclined way down of the other inclined surface, 6. The other is from the downward curved upper surface, 7.

[0061] Fig. 6 shows a technical drawing of the sampling device in Fig. 1 seen from outside the shorter side. There are seen the two rises, 3. The first inclined surface is seen as a downward curve. Inner walls are 0ot seen. The ramp, 2, and the other inclined surface, 6, are not seen.

[0062] Fig. 7 shows a technical drawing of the beholder, 12, of an according to the invention separable sampling device. There are shown four entrance holes, 4, two rises, 3, and an exit hole, 13, in the upper surface, 7, in perspective.

[0063] Fig. 8 shows a technical drawing of the container of the sampling device in Fig. 7 in transparent 3D perspective seen from above. A-A shows the section, which is shown in Fig. 9. The sampling d has three corrugated walls, 8, 9, 10, which runs from one long side towards the other and ends before the other long side. Hereby water can stream from entrance hole to exit hole. Over time materiel will sediment or accumulate, where there is no large circulation as, e.g., up in chamber a, b, c, or d, as earlier described as for the sampling device in Fig. 1 . Entrance holes, 4, are placed in the upper surface, 7, in chamber b. This place is chosen, because one does not desire, that accumulated sampling material is flushed out, but can stay in chamber a, b, c, and d during heavy downpours.

[0064] Fig. 9 shows a longer side of the container, 12, which is seen here transparent, so that each wall, 8, 9 ,10, gives more of two close-to-each-other lying vertical dashed lines because the walls are corrugated. A pair is from the first part of the wall seen from the section A-A (see Fig. 8). Towards the middle and to the other side of the container a set of thinner lines are seen which is a continuation of the wall, 8. The same is true for the walls 9 and 10. Entrance holes, 4, and rises, 3, are also shown.

[0065] Fig. 10 shows a technical drawing of the container, 12, in Fig. 7 seen from the shorter side in the end opposite the entrance holes, 4. There is shown the two rises, 3. There are no vertical dashed lines, as the container, 12, is not shown transparent.

[0066] Fig. 11 shows a technical drawing of the container, 12, in Fig. 7 seen in transparent perspective from the longer side. It shows merely the walls 8, 9 and 10. It is seen that the walls start at the bottom and ends before the upper surface. Hereby incoming water can float unhindered between the chambers a, b, c, and d.

[0067] Fig. 12 shows a technical drawing of the container, 12, in Fig. 7 seen from the shorter side in the end with the entrance holes, 4. There is shown the two rises, 3, which are placed in the opposite end. There are no vertical lines, as the container, 12, is not shown transparent. On the middle there is shown a downward curve, which shall illustrate a possibility for accommodation to a part also having a curve towards the middle, where the part is placed up this end, so that water can flow at a larger rate over the entrance holes.

[0068] Yet an embodiment of the container of the sampling device, where the container has one or more entrance holes on the upper surface and an exit hole. There are no walls, but the container may be configured to protect a sensor, which must not be covered by materiel, which often is sampled, as when sampling materiel is sampled.

[0069] Roughness can be physically quantified my measuring the difference between top and bottom of several peaks, over, e.g., 1 cm, and be measured in pm in an electron microscope calculating the average. Plastic is suitable as a sufficiently smooth surface. Glass, metal, and concrete are also suitable materials. The materials must not give off unwanted compounds to the samples, which are sampled in the water environments, as the substances must not cause measurement of false values.

[0070] Embodiments of the invention are, where the first inclined surface and the upper surface is very little rough. A roughness as for plastic, i.e., 0,01 mm -0,05 mm, is suitable of the surface on the first inclined surface and the upper surface.

[0071] Brass and glass have a roughness of 0,00-0,003 mm and rapids in streams with larger stones a roughness of 10- 600 mm. [0072] The following relation between roughness and Mannings number for water streams are provided:

Claims

[Claim 1] A sampling device for sampling in aquatic environments comprising a container (12) with an upper surface (7), which is mostly planar, at least one entrance hole (4), and a bottom, e.g. planar, characterized by that said sampling device comprises a second unit, where said upper surface of said second unit is a first inclined surface (2), e.g. a ramp, which is configured to lead water to and over the upper surface (7) of the container, and where said sampling device (1) has said at least one entrance hole a. in the one end or half part of the upper surface (7) or b. in said first inclined surface (2) close to the upper surface (7) or in a plateau on said first inclined surface (2), in that said bottom is curved, planar, oval or V-formed, where the sampling device is an inseparable sampling device (1), wherein one end of said container is an integral part of said first inclined surface (2), and where the entrance hole, optionally is on said first inclined surface (2) close to the upper surface (7), or a separable unit separable in a container (12) and said second unit, and in that the surfaces of said container form a chamber, which has said at least one entrance hole (4) and is otherwise closed.

[Claim 2] A sampling device according to claim 1, which comprises at least one entrance hole (4) and at least one entrance hole (13).

[Claim 3] A sampling device according to claim 2, wherein said container (12) further comprises inner walls (8, 9 ,10).

[Claim 4] A sampling device according to claim 2, wherein said container (12) comprises a mounting device inside on which there can be mounted e.g. at least one sensor, in that said mounting device in a sampling device with or without walls inside has the mounting device placed, and if with walls between two walls, and said entrance hole (13) is placed between the same two walls or down streams said sensor.

[Claim 5] A sampling device according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein said upper surface (7) and, optionally said first inclined surface (2), has a roughness as for plastic of 0,01 mm to 0,05 mm, on at least the surface of said upper surface (7) and said first inclined surface (2).

[Claim 6] A sampling device according to any of the claims 2 or 5, wherein said container (1 ) has at least one exit hole in the other end or half part of the upper surface (7), or according to any of the claims 3 or 4 in second inclined surface (6) in the other end or half part of the container (1), in that the total cross section area of said at least one entrance hole (4) is larger than the total area of said at least one exit hole in said other end or half part.

[Claim 7] A sampling device according to any of the claims 2 to 6, wherein said container (12) has at least two entrance holes (4) distributed with a distance corresponding to e.g. 1/20 to 1/3 of the width of the container, preferably distributed with at least one entrance hole on each side of and on the middle of the upper surface (7), or if according to any of the claims 5 to 6 according to claim 3, at least one exit hole (13), preferably, between two walls in the upper surface closer to the terminal before the side of the container of said walls.

[Claim 8] A sampling device according to any of the claims 2 to 7, wherein said upper surface (7) of said container (12) is curved downward in the direction of the length of the container preferably with the lowest point on the curve at the middle of the container (12).

[Claim 9] A sampling device according to claim 3 or any of the claims 4 to 8 according to claim 3, wherein said container (12) has wedge formed chambers partly separated by said inner walls (8), (9) and (10), and where the wedges have the shorter width towards the first inclined surface (2), and the larger towards the opposite end of the container (12).

[Claim 10] A sampling device according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein said first inclined surface (2) has the form of a section of a cone surface optionally supplemented with a curve downward towards the middle of the container (12).