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US3738154A
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Method of measuring entrained gas in a liquid using a converging-diverging nozzle
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-10-20
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A choked converging-diverging nozzle is employed in a method of detecting the presence and measuring the volumetric concentration of entrained gas in a liquid. The liquid-gas mixture is accelerated through the nozzle to critical flow conditions and the pressure at the throat of the nozzle is measured. The temperature and pressure of the mixture of the stagnation region are monitored, the throat pressure of the liquid-gas mixture being a function of only the void fraction at any given stagnation temperature and pressure. The method is employed in safety instrumentation for a liquidcooled nuclear reactor. The throat pressure is monitored with an increase in the throat pressure indicating an undesirable increase in the concentration of entrained gas in the liquid coolant of the reactor which operates at approximate steady state conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 R Henry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N7/00; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/02; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of detecting the presence and measuring the volumetric concentration of entrained gas in a liquid comprising: accelerating the liquid-gas mixture through a choked convergingdiverging nozzle to critical flow conditions; measuring the temperature and pressure in the stagnation region; and measuring the pressure at the throat of the converging-diverging nozzle, the throat pressure of the liquid-gas mixture being a function of only the void fraction at any given stagnation temperature and pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of detecting the presence and measuring the volumetric concentration of entrained gas in a liquid comprising: accelerating the liquid-gas mixture through a choked convergingdiverging nozzle to critical flow conditions; measuring the temperature and pressure in the stagnation region; and measuring the pressure at the throat of the converging-diverging nozzle, the throat pressure of the liquid-gas mixture being a function of only the void fraction at any given stagnation temperature and pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of detecting the presence of and measuring the volumetric concentration of entrained gas in a liquid in accordance with claim 1 in which the void fraction of the mixture is calculated from the formula -ln Beta Beta 2/2 (l - Alpha o/ Alpha o)2 - (l - Alpha o/ Alpha o) (l - 2 Beta ) + 1/2 wherein Beta Pt/Po the critical pressure ratio, Pt the pressure at the throat of the nozzle, Po the pressure in the stagnation region, and Alpha o the stagnation void fraction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of detecting the presence of and measuring the volumetric concentration of entrained gas in a liquid in accordance with claim 2 wherein the liquid is the liquid-metal coolant of a liquid-metal-cooled-nuclear reactor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of detecting and measuring an increase in the average concentration of entrained gas in the liquid coolant of a nuclear reactor operating under steady state conditions comprising: a. accelerating a portion of the liquid coolant through a choked converging-diverging nozzle to critical flow conditions; and b. measuring the pressure at the throat of said choked converging-diverging nozzle, an increase in said throat pressure indicating an increase in the average concentration of entrained gas.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of detecting and measuring an increase in the average concentration of entrained gas in the liquid coolant of a nuclear reactor operating under steady state conditions comprising: a. accelerating a portion of the liquid coolant through a choked converging-diverging nozzle to critical flow conditions; and b. measuring the pressure at the throat of said choked converging-diverging nozzle, an increase in said throat pressure indicating an increase in the average concentration of entrained gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of detecting and measuring an increase in the average concentration of entrained gas of claim 4 wherein said portion of the liquid coolant is taken from the reactor core side of a primary loop coolant pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3060722A
Cited
US3453867A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |