Method and apparatus for determining a mass of a droplet from sample data collected from a liquid droplet dispensation system

A method for collecting sample data from a liquid droplet dispensation system comprising a reservoir, the method comprising:

• dispensing a droplet of a first fluid sample from the reservoir at a first pressure;
• measuring a first velocity of the droplet of the first fluid sample during dispensation at the first pressure;
• measuring a first mass of the droplet of the first fluid sample;
• conducting further testing on the first fluid sample in a repeating pattern and in the following order:
• dispensing a different droplet of the first fluid sample from the reservoir at a different first fluid sample pressure that is different from the first pressure;
• measuring a velocity of the different droplet of the first fluid sample during dispensation at the different first fluid sample pressure;
• and
• measuring a mass of the different droplet of the first fluid sample;
• dispensing a droplet of a second fluid sample from the reservoir at a second pressure;
• measuring a second velocity of the droplet of the second fluid sample during dispensation at the second pressure;
• and
• determining a mass of the droplet of the second fluid sample based upon the first velocity, the first pressure, the first mass, each different first fluid sample pressure, the velocity of each different droplet of the first fluid sample, the mass of each different droplet of the first fluid sample, the second pressure, and the second velocity.

A liquid droplet dispensation testing system comprising:

• a liquid droplet dispensation system comprising:
• a reservoir configured to contain a fluid;
• a pressure source configured to selectively impart different pressures to the fluid in the reservoir;
• a valve associated with the reservoir and configured for selective actuation between a closed position and an opened position to facilitate dispensation of a droplet of fluid from the reservoir;
• a velocity sensor that is provided adjacent to the valve and is configured to measure a velocity of the droplet as it is dispensed from the valve;
• a controller associated with the pressure source and the valve and configured to:
• operate the pressure source to facilitate pressurization of a first fluid sample in the reservoir to a first pressure, the first fluid sample having a first amount of entrained air contained therein;
• operate the valve to facilitate dispensation of a first droplet of the first fluid sample from the reservoir at the first pressure;
• operate the pressure source to facilitate pressurization of the first fluid sample in the reservoir to a second pressure;
• operate the valve to facilitate dispensation of a second droplet of the first fluid sample from the reservoir at the second pressure;
• operate the pressure source to facilitate pressurization of a second fluid sample in the reservoir to a third pressure;
• and
• operate the valve to facilitate dispensation of a droplet of the second fluid sample from the reservoir at the third pressure;
• and
• a computing system comprising one or more processors configured to:
• measure a first velocity of the first droplet of the first fluid sample via the velocity sensor during dispensation at the first pressure;
• measure a first mass of the first droplet of the first fluid sample;
• measure a second velocity of the second droplet of the first fluid sample via the velocity sensor during dispensation at the second pressure;
• measure a second mass of the second droplet of the first fluid sample;
• measure a third velocity of the droplet of the second fluid sample via the velocity sensor during dispensation at the third pressure;
• and
• determine a mass of the droplet of the second fluid sample based upon the first velocity, the first pressure, the first mass, the second velocity, the second pressure, the second mass, the third pressure, and the third velocity.