US3924448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure drop polymer concentration meter (pcm)
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-06-19
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for, and a method of determining the concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium by accurate dilution with water and subsequent flow measurement in a restrictor tube. The solution to be measured, having a concentration of 100-6000 ppm, is sampled in a continuous process and metered at an accurate flowrate. The solution is then diluted at a known ratio with water having a flowrate determined by measuring the pressure drop along a length of the tube. The flowrate of the water-plus-drag reducing polymer is determined by measuring the pressure drop along a similar length of tube farther downstream. Percent drag reduction is determined by comparing the pressure drop for water and for water-plus-drag reducing polymer solution. Comparison of this percent drag reduction data with the calibration data of the apparatus yields a concentration. Multiplying this concentration with the known dilution ratio yields the concentration of the original solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G Howard
- 👤 Jr Edwin L Zivi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N11/00; G01N11/02; G01N11/04; G01N11/08; G01N33/00; G01N33/44; G01N33/442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of determining the dissolved concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium, comprising the steps of: metering, at a precise flowrate, the drag reducing polymer solution to be measured; diluting said drag reducing polymer solution with water to obtain a measurable concentration of the polymer; measuring the pressure drop of the water along a predetermined length of restrictor tube; measuring the pressure drop of the diluted drag reducing polymer solution along a similar predetermined length of restrictor tube; correlating the pressure drop of the water with that of the diluted drag reducing polymer solution to obtain percent drag reduction; comparing the correlation with calibration data of the apparatus which relates concentration to percent drag reduction; and multiplying the concentration found by the dilution ratio of the drag reducing polymer solution with water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of determining the dissolved concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium, comprising the steps of: metering, at a precise flowrate, the drag reducing polymer solution to be measured; diluting said drag reducing polymer solution with water to obtain a measurable concentration of the polymer; measuring the pressure drop of the water along a predetermined length of restrictor tube; measuring the pressure drop of the diluted drag reducing polymer solution along a similar predetermined length of restrictor tube; correlating the pressure drop of the water with that of the diluted drag reducing polymer solution to obtain percent drag reduction; comparing the correlation with calibration data of the apparatus which relates concentration to percent drag reduction; and multiplying the concentration found by the dilution ratio of the drag reducing polymer solution with water.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of determining the dissolved concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium, comprising the steps of: diluting said drag reducing polymer solution to measurable concentration; measuring the pressUre drop of the diluted solution in a restrictor tube; measuring the pressure drop of fresh water in a restrictor tube; correlating said pressure drops; and comparing the correlation with calibration data of the apparatus which relates concentration to percent drag reduction.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of determining the dissolved concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium, comprising the steps of: diluting said drag reducing polymer solution to measurable concentration; measuring the pressUre drop of the diluted solution in a restrictor tube; measuring the pressure drop of fresh water in a restrictor tube; correlating said pressure drops; and comparing the correlation with calibration data of the apparatus which relates concentration to percent drag reduction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of: metering the flowrate of the drag reducing polymer solution to be measured; and metering the flowrate of water to dilute said drag reducing polymer solution to a known dilution ratio; and multiplying the concentration found by the dilution ratio to obtain the concentration of the original drag reducing polymer solution under consideration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for determining the dissolved concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium comprising: a metering pump sampling and providing a known flow-rate of polymer solution to be measured; a source of water for further diluting the polymer solution to a concentration measurable by flow-rate effects; a dispenser-mixer connected to said metering pump and said source of water for combining the polymer solution and the water; a predetermined length of restrictor tubing connected between said source of water and said disperser-mixer; a manometer spanning said predetermined length of restrictor tubing for measuring the pressure drop and hence flow-rate of the water therein; a similar length of restrictor tubing connected to and farther downstream from said predetermined length; and another manometer spanning said similar length of restrictor tubing, whereby the pressure drop and hence the flow-rate of the drag reducing polymer plus the water may be determined and compared to the flow-rate of the water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for determining the dissolved concentration of drag reducing polymer in a medium comprising: a metering pump sampling and providing a known flow-rate of polymer solution to be measured; a source of water for further diluting the polymer solution to a concentration measurable by flow-rate effects; a dispenser-mixer connected to said metering pump and said source of water for combining the polymer solution and the water; a predetermined length of restrictor tubing connected between said source of water and said disperser-mixer; a manometer spanning said predetermined length of restrictor tubing for measuring the pressure drop and hence flow-rate of the water therein; a similar length of restrictor tubing connected to and farther downstream from said predetermined length; and another manometer spanning said similar length of restrictor tubing, whereby the pressure drop and hence the flow-rate of the drag reducing polymer plus the water may be determined and compared to the flow-rate of the water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said metering pump further comprises: micrometer flowrate adjustment means for regulating the flow of drag reducing polymer solution to be measured.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2971371A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |