EP0368560A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Analyser
Assignee: BP Oil International Ltd
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Filing: 1989-11-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A continuous analyser comprises a spectrometer (2), suitably an NIR spectrometer, and a computer for automatic data processing, for operation in a classified safety area. The spectrometer (2), the central processing unit (3) of the computer, the video monitor (4) and the keyboard are enclosed in a leakproof pressurised cabinet (1) which also contains an air conditioner (9), the condenser (10) of which is located outside the cabinet (1). Purging of the atmosphere initally contained in the cabinet (1), the pressurisation of the cabinet (1) and the subsequent maintenance of this pressure are controlled by a pneumatic logic controller (13). This operates a purging phase during which the pneumatic logic controller (13) checks the escape of the minimum flow through an output module (16) for a specific time before permitting connection of the electrical equipment (2,3,4). This is followed by a pressure maintenance phase during which a desired pressure is maintained inside the cabinet (1) without appreciable escape through the output module (16).
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Louis Lapeyre
- 👤 Roger Verwaerde
- 👤 Didier Charles Lambert
- 👤 Andre Martens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/35; G01N21/359; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/02; G01N2201/023; G01N2201/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A continuous analyser, comprising a spectrometer (2) and a computer for automatic data processing, for operation in a classified safety area, characterised in that the spectrometer (2), the central processing unit of the computer (3), the video monitor (4) and the keyboard, are enclosed in a leakproof cabinet (1), which is pressurised, and which also contains an air conditioner (9), the condenser (10) of which is located outside the cabinet (1); and in that the purging of the atmosphere initially contained in the cabinet, the pressurisation of the cabinet and the subsequent maintenance of this pressure, are controlled by a pneumatic logic controller (13), which is designed to operate a purging phase, during which the pneumatic logic controller checks the escape of a minimum flow through an output module (16) for a specific time, before permitting the connection of the electrical equipment (2,3,4), followed by a pressure maintainance phase during which the desired pressure is maintained inside the cabinet (1), without appreciable escape through the output module (16).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A continuous analyser, comprising a spectrometer (2) and a computer for automatic data processing, for operation in a classified safety area, characterised in that the spectrometer (2), the central processing unit of the computer (3), the video monitor (4) and the keyboard, are enclosed in a leakproof cabinet (1), which is pressurised, and which also contains an air conditioner (9), the condenser (10) of which is located outside the cabinet (1); and in that the purging of the atmosphere initially contained in the cabinet, the pressurisation of the cabinet and the subsequent maintenance of this pressure, are controlled by a pneumatic logic controller (13), which is designed to operate a purging phase, during which the pneumatic logic controller checks the escape of a minimum flow through an output module (16) for a specific time, before permitting the connection of the electrical equipment (2,3,4), followed by a pressure maintainance phase during which the desired pressure is maintained inside the cabinet (1), without appreciable escape through the output module (16).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
An analyser according to claim 1 characterised in that the output module comprises a valve (21), closable by means of a magnet (22), having an air gap which can be regulated by suitable means (24), the gas escaping from this valve being discharged to the atmosphere, passing through an adjustable throttle (25); in that the chamber (27), upstream from the valve (21) is connected by a pressure control line (14) to a pneumatic logic controller (13); and in that the chamber (28) immediately downstream from the valve (21) is connected by a purge flow control line (15) to the pneumatic logic controller (13), a filter (17) being inserted on the route of the gas discharge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An analyser according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is provided with an analytical chamber (6,50) located outside the cabinet (1), containing two optrodes (49) connected to the spectrometer (2) by means of a pair of optical fibres (7).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
An analyser according to claim 3, characterised in that the optical fibres (7) are constructed from fluorinated glass exhibiting low losses in a wide band pass, and in that the terminal face (51) of each optical fibre is located in the centre of the corresponding optical system (47) along the wavelength located essentially in the middle of the band pass range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An analyser according to either of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the optical system (47, 48) of the optrodes are constructed from high purity glass resistant to corrosion and abrasion and the surfaces are treated to limit optical losses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
An analyser according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the analytical chamber (6,50) is located close to the line (8) conveying the product to be analysed, the sampling of which is provided by means of a Pitot tube (43), combined with a symmetrical Pitot discharge tube (46), the two tubes being connected in a circuit (44, 45) to the analytical chamber (6, 50) for natural circulation of the liquid by differential pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An analyser according to any claims 3 to 6 characterised in that it comprises several analytical chambers (6, 50) arranged on different lines (8), the different pairs of optical fibres (7) being connected sequentially to the spectrometer (2) by a multiplexer (5) located inside the cabinet (1).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
An analyser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the central processing unit (3) is programmed to control the dispersive system contained in the spectrometer (2), so that it carries out discontinuous scanning, including stopping at each of the frequencies determined by the analytical method used, in order intially to complete between 1 and 100 no load cycles, before carrying out between 1 and 100 effective measurements to calculate, for each wavelength, the average and the typical difference between the values corresponding to the number of measurements, and to reject, for each wavelength, all values differing by an average of more than twice the typical difference, before recalculating the average of values not rejected for this wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An analyser according to any of the preceding claims wherein the spectrometer is an NIR (Near Infra Red) Fourier Transform Spectrometer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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