Efficient Grab Sampling for Improved Sample Integrity
Effective grab sampling starts with thoughtful system design. To obtain accurate, representative samples, engineers must consider more than simply collecting fluid from a process. Factors such as sample integrity, operator safety, system performance, contamination prevention, and ease of use all play a critical role in achieving reliable analytical results. Swagelok works closely with customers to understand their sampling requirements, application conditions, material compatibility needs, and operational challenges before recommending a solution. By applying proven grab sampling best practices, including minimizing dead legs, optimizing sample container orientation, simplifying operator interfaces, and incorporating safety-focused features, Swagelok helps improve both sampling efficiency and confidence in results. In this video, learn the key considerations for designing an effective grab sampling system and discover how standardized, application-focused sampling solutions can help improve safety, streamline operations, and protect sample integrity.
Video Transcript
At its essence, grab sampling is all about extracting a sample from a process, pipeline, tank, or vessel and taking it back to a remote laboratory for analysis.
The first element is making sure the system consistently extracts the sample in the same fashion and in the same way. Secondly, we need to have a clean user interface to make it easy to use. Finally, and most importantly, we need to concern ourselves with operator safety.
Each of our systems is enhanced with a safety aspect. We take the time to design the system to make it as safe as possible for the operator when they interact with the system itself.
There are different factors that engineers generally need to consider when they design or configure a grab sampling panel. The first is the parameters of the system: how the system needs to perform in the application and interact with the application. The second element is designing it in a way that eliminates any dead legs that might contaminate the sample. Lastly, engineers need to consider the location where the sampler is going to be installed and how safe it is for the operator to use.
We’ve taken what we consider to be the best practices of grab sampling and put them together to design a series of standard panels.
For example, with cylinder-style panels, we mount the sample cylinder in the vertical orientation, which helps optimize the filling of both gases and liquids. Any dead legs in the system have been moved downstream of the sample container. That way, they can’t contaminate the sample.
You’ll notice that we’ve moved most of the plumbing connections to the back side of the panel. That helps provide a clean interface on the front, which makes it simple for the operator and minimizes the number of potential errors.
Many of our panels include an optional purge, which allows you to purge the system clean and minimize operator exposure. Finally, some of our liquid samplers include a fixed-volume design, which takes a premeasured volume of liquid and dispenses it into a bottle to prevent overfilling.
When we interact with customers, we take the time to understand their needs by looking at their sampling needs, understanding the parameters of the system, understanding material compatibility, and understanding any challenges they have faced in the past when performing sampling within their plants.
We look at ways to streamline the process by which they take the sample from the process itself. Each of our solutions is integrated with simplified features to meet the customer’s needs, as well as options to enhance the sampling process.
