Patent US3686930A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3686930A
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Method for measuring odor level in natural gas
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1970-05-07
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus which is particularly applicable to directly and objectively measure odor level in natural gas. The apparatus responds selectively to sulfur compounds in natural gas and produces an output signal proportional to the odor level of the gas, in the same manner as an ''''average'''' nose. A set of odor intensity factors developed empirically are applied to the output signal to provide a numerical value which expresses odor intensity of the gas in terms of a reference odorant compound.
Inventors
- 👤 Duane V Kniebes
- 👤 John Adrian Chisholm
- 👤 Robert C Stubbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0001; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0036; G01N33/0044; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N2030/022; G01N2030/025; G01N30/26; G01N30/38; G01N30/46; G01N30/466; G01N33/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for measuring odor intensity of sulfur compounds in gas in terms of a reference compound comprising the steps of: separating the different sulfur compounds in a predetermined volume sample of said gas; detecting each of said separated sulfur compounds; determining the concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds; and determining the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound by applying to said determined concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds a relative odor intensity factor empirically determined by having a panel of individuals sniff different concentrations of each of a plurality of different sulfur compounds and compare the odor thereof with a known concentration of said reference compound to determine the concentration of each of said plurality of different sulfur compounds which is equivalent in odor intensity to said known concentration of said reference compound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for measuring odor intensity of sulfur compounds in gas in terms of a reference compound comprising the steps of: separating the different sulfur compounds in a predetermined volume sample of said gas; detecting each of said separated sulfur compounds; determining the concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds; and determining the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound by applying to said determined concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds a relative odor intensity factor empirically determined by having a panel of individuals sniff different concentrations of each of a plurality of different sulfur compounds and compare the odor thereof with a known concentration of said reference compound to determine the concentration of each of said plurality of different sulfur compounds which is equivalent in odor intensity to said known concentration of said reference compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: summing the determined odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound for each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds to provide a determination of the total concentration of all of said separated and detected sulfur compounds in said sample of gas in terms of the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 2, further including the step of: comparing the determined odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference comPound with a pre-determined range of concentrations of said reference compound which is known to provide an acceptable odor intensity level in gas, to thereby provide a means of determining whether the odor intensity of said gas is at an acceptable level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of separating the different sulfur compounds in a predetermined volume sample of said gas using a gas chromatograph; detecting each of said separated sulfur compounds using a sulfur specific detector which provides an electrical output signal representative of the concentration of each of the respective ones of said separated and detected sulfur compounds; recording each of said electrical output signals to as to provide an odor profile of the sulfur compounds in said gas; determining the concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds from said recorded odor profile; and determining the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound by applying said relative odor intensity factor to said determined concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 4, further including the step of: summing the determined odor intensity equivalent concentrations of said reference compound for each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds to provide a determination of the total concentration of all of said separated and detected sulfur compounds in said sample of gas in terms of the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
The method of claim 5, comprising the steps of separating the different sulfur compounds in a predetermined volume sample of said gas using a gas chromatograph; detecting each of said separated sulfur compounds using a sulfur specific detector which provides an electrical output signal representative of the concentration of each of the respective ones of said separated and detected sulfur compounds; recording each of said electrical output signals so as to provide an odor profile of the sulfur compounds in said gas; determining the concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds from said recorded odor profile and determining the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound by applying said relative odor intensity factor to said determined concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of separating the different sulfur compounds in a predetermined volume sample of said gas using a gas chromatograph; detecting each of said separated sulfur compounds using a sulfur specific detector which provides an electrical output signal representative of the concentration of each of the respective ones of said separated and detected sulfur compounds; determining the concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds, determining the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds and summing the determined odor intensity equivalent concentrations of said reference compound using electrical convertor means which is responsive to said electrical output signals from said detector and is operable to provide an electrical output signal representative of the total concentration of said separated and detected sulfur compounds in terms of the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound; and providing a numerical display of the total odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound using an electrical digital display device which is responsive to the electrical output signal from said convertor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, further including the steps of recording each of said electrical output signals from said detector so as to provide an odor profile of the sulfur compounds in said gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
216 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of separating the different sulfur compounDs in a predetermined volume sample of said gas using a gas chromatograph; detecting each of said separated sulfur compounds using a sulfur specific detector which provides an electrical output signal representative of the concentration of each of the respective ones of said separated and detected sulfur compounds; determining the concentration of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds, determining the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound of each of said separated and detected sulfur compounds and summing the determined odor intensity equivalent concentrations of said reference compound using electrical convertor means which is responsive to said electrical output signals from said detector and is operable to provide an electrical output signal representative of the total concentration of said separated and detected sulfur compounds in terms of the odor intensity of an equivalent concentration of said reference compound; and operating an odorizing device to supply additional odorant material to the gas from which said sample of gas was taken when said electrical output signal from said convertor means is of a value corresponding to a concentration of said reference compound less than a pre-established minimum acceptable odor level, to thereby maintain an acceptable odor level in said gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3095728A
Cited
US3489498A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |