Light scattering flow cell device
A flow cell device includes a body having a hollow bore in which a liquid sample may reside. An electromagnetic beam may be directed through the body and into the bore to irradiate the liquid sample. The beam may be directed orthogonal to an axis of the bore. A light ray produced as a result of the irradiation may likewise be directed orthogonal to the bore axis along the same plane as the beam, and received by a detector. The body may be secured between a liquid inlet structure and a liquid outlet structure.
1. A flow cell device, comprising:
a solid flow cell body constructed entirely of an optically transmitting material and comprising an outer surface and a hollow bore oriented along a central axis, the outer surface comprising:
a circular liquid inlet surface orthogonal to the central axis;
a circular liquid outlet surface orthogonal to the central axis and parallel to the liquid inlet surface; and
a sidewall extending between the liquid inlet surface and the liquid outlet surface and coaxially surrounding the hollow bore,
wherein the hollow bore comprises a liquid inlet end on the central axis at the liquid inlet surface and a liquid outlet end on the central axis at the liquid outlet surface;
a liquid inlet structure facing the liquid inlet surface and comprising a first protruding section contacting the liquid inlet end and extending through the liquid inlet end into the hollow bore, the liquid inlet structure having a liquid inlet port formed in the first protruding section and fluidly communicating with the hollow bore; and
a liquid outlet structure facing the liquid outlet surface and comprising a second protruding section contacting the liquid outlet end and extending through the liquid outlet end into the hollow bore, the liquid outlet structure having a liquid outlet port formed in the second protruding section and fluidly communicating with the hollow bore.
2. The flow cell device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid inlet structure has a plurality of radial grooves formed in the first protruding section, the plurality of radial grooves extending radially relative to the central axis and fluidly communicating with the hollow bore, and the liquid inlet port is positioned in fluid communication with the radial grooves.
3. The flow cell device of claim 1 , wherein the first protruding section has a first cavity facing the hollow bore such that a cross-sectional area of the first cavity increases in the direction of the hollow bore, and the second protruding section has a second cavity facing the hollow bore such that a cross-sectional area of the second cavity decreases in the direction away from the hollow bore.
4. The flow cell device of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a spherical outer profile.
5. The flow cell device of claim 1 , further comprising a laser source oriented relative to the flow cell body so as to direct a laser beam along a central plane of the flow cell body and through the hollow bore, the central plane being orthogonal to the central axis.
6. The flow cell device of claim 5 , wherein the hollow bore establishes a liquid flow path along the central axis from the liquid inlet port to the liquid outlet port, and the laser source is configured to direct the laser beam orthogonally relative to the liquid flow path.
7. The flow cell device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more light detectors oriented relative to the flow cell body so as to receive one or more light rays propagating from the hollow bore and along a central plane of the flow cell body and through the hollow bore, the central plane being orthogonal to the central axis.
8. The flow cell device of claim 7 , wherein the hollow bore establishes a liquid flow path along the central axis from the liquid inlet port to the liquid outlet port, and the one or more light rays received by the one or more light detectors propagate orthogonally relative to the liquid flow path.
9. The flow cell device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more light detectors are oriented at angles ranging from 20 to 150 degrees relative to the laser beam.
10. The flow cell device of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid sample holder removably inserted in the hollow bore.
11. The flow cell device of claim 1 , wherein the flow cell body comprises a central plane orthogonal to the central axis, and at least a portion of the outer surface is spherical, and further comprising a mounting member, the mounting member comprising a curved surface facing the flow cell body and parallel with the spherical outer surface portion, and a plurality of radial mounting bores opening at the curved surface, the radial mounting bores having respective mounting bore axes collinear with respective radii extending from the hollow bore along the central plane at different angles relative to the central axis.
12. The flow cell device of claim 11 , further comprising one or more light detectors mounted at one or more of the radial mounting bores, each light detector including an optical inlet aligned with a corresponding radius extending along the central plane.
13. The flow cell device of claim 12 , further comprising a laser source oriented relative to the flow cell body so as to direct a laser beam along the central plane and through the hollow bore.
14. The flow cell device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more light detectors include a static light detector and a dynamic light detector.
15. The flow cell device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid inlet structure is secured to the liquid outlet structure by a fastener and the flow cell body is clamped between the liquid inlet structure and the liquid outlet structure.
16. A method for making a light-scattering measurement of a liquid sample, the method comprising:
introducing the liquid sample into the hollow bore of the flow cell device of claim 1 ;
directing an electromagnetic beam through the flow cell body and into the hollow bore along a central plane of the flow cell body orthogonal to the central axis, to irradiate the liquid sample and produce a light ray;
directing the light ray along the central plane away from the hollow bore; and
receiving the light ray at a light detector positioned along the central plane and external to the flow cell body.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein introducing the liquid sample comprises flowing the liquid sample along a liquid flow path from the liquid inlet port, through the hollow bore and to the liquid outlet port, and wherein the electromagnetic beam and the light ray propagate orthogonal to the liquid flow path.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sidewall is spherical, and directing the light ray includes passing the liquid ray through the spherical sidewall.
19. A method for assembling the flow cell device of claim 1 , comprising assembling the flow cell body between the liquid inlet structure and the liquid outlet structure, by contacting the first protruding section with the liquid inlet end and contacting the second protruding section with the liquid outlet end.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising mounting a plurality of light detectors to a plurality of radial mounting bores of a mounting member, the mounting member comprising a curved surface facing the flow cell body and parallel with a spherical outer surface portion of the flow cell body, wherein the radial mounting bores open at the curved surface and have respective mounting bore axes collinear with respective radii extending from the hollow bore along a central plane at different angles relative to a central axis orthogonal to the central plane.