Method and apparatus for collecting and chilling wastewater and like fluid samples

A fluid sample collecting apparatus, comprising:

• a) a refrigeration system having multiple components and that include at least a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator tank, and an evaporator mounted upon a common support frame and a liquid refrigerant;
• b) a sample container vessel that is spaced apart from the support frame, said sample container vessel having an interior for holding a selected sample of fluid;
• c) a piping system that includes a coil mounted in the sample container vessel, the piping system containing and conveying a coolant fluid to the sample container vessel interior for enabling heat transfer but not direct contact between a sample in the sample container vessel and the coolant in the coil;
• d) wherein the piping system includes a closed circuit, recirculating flow line that communicates coolant between the support frame and the coils in the sample container vessel;
• e) an inlet fitting for enabling a selected wastewater sample to be added to the sample container vessel interior;
• f) a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the coil for enabling the temperature of the sample to be lowered to a selected target temperature range;
• and
• g) a pump that is part of the piping system and positioned externally of the sample container interior, the pump having a discharge and a suction that intakes coolant during use.

A wastewater sample collecting apparatus, comprising:

• a) a refrigeration system having a refrigerant containing a first piping circuit that includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator;
• b) a sample container vessel that is spaced apart from the refrigeration system, said sample container vessel having an interior for holding a selected sample of wastewater;
• c) a second piping circuit that includes coils mounted in the sample container, the coils conveying coolant to the sample container for enabling heat transfer between a sample in the sample container and the coils;
• d) wherein the second piping circuit includes a closed flowline that communicates coolant between the coolant reservoir and the coils in the sample container;
• e) an inlet fitting that extends externally of the sample container for enable a selected wastewater sample to be added to the sample container;
• f) a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the coil for enabling the temperature of the sample to be lowered to a selected target temperature range;
• g) a pump that is part of the piping system external to the sample container interior and including a suction side that intakes coolant from the coolant reservoir;
• and
• h) a heat exchanger vessel that contains the evaporator of the first piping circuit and coolant of the second piping circuit.

A fluid sample collecting apparatus, comprising:

• a) a refrigeration system that includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator mounted upon a common support frame, said refrigeration system having a flowing refrigerant;
• b) a sample container vessel that is spaced apart from the support frame, said sample container vessel having an interior for holding a selected sample of fluid;
• c) a piping system that includes coils mounted in the sample container vessel, the piping system conveying a liquid coolant to the sample container vessel interior for enabling heat transfer between a sample in the sample container and the coils;
• d) wherein the piping system includes a closed flow line that communicates coolant between the support frame and the coils in the sample container vessel;
• e) an inlet fitting for enabling a selected wastewater sample to be added to the sample container vessel interior;
• f) a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the coil for enabling the temperature of the sample to be lowered to a selected target temperature range;
• g) a pump that is part of the piping system and positioned externally of the sample container interior, the pump having a suction side that intakes coolant during use;
• and
• h) a heat exchanger that includes a vessel for contacting coolant with the evaporator.

Apparatus for cooling a liquid sample, comprising:

• a) an insulated container;
• b) cooling coils in the insulated container for direct contact with a liquid sample in the insulated container to rapidly cool the liquid sample;
• c) a refrigeration unit for keeping the cooling coils cool;
• and
• d) wherein the cooling coils include upper coils and lower coils and the insulated container includes an upper part and a lower part, and the cooling coils are arranged in the insulated container such that coolant from the refrigeration unit enters through the upper coils and exits through the lower coils, thus causing the liquid sample in the upper part of the insulated container to cool more than the liquid sample in the lower part of the insulated container, so the cool liquid sample drifts downward, and the warmer sample in the insulated container drifts upwardly, so there is no need for a mechanical stirrer to circulate the liquid sample to make it uniformly cool.