Method and apparatus for measurement of steam quality

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the resultant operating frequency preferably is in the range of from 25 to 70 MHz.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the resultant operating frequency is most preferably about 40 MHz.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of mixing the resultant frequency with a reference frequency to produce a beat frequency.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said reference frequency of said mixing step has a frequency that is separated from the frequency of said resultant frequency by about 10 MHz.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the reference frequency of said mixing step is about 50 MHz.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mixing the resultant frequency with a reference frequency to produce a beat frequency.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein the reference frequency of said mixing step is separated from the said resultant frequency by about 10 MHz.

Claim 10

Apparatus for continuously measuring the steam quality of a hybrid stream in a flow line containing both a gas phase and a liquid phase, said hybrid stream having a temperature and a pressure, said apparatus comprising: an electrical circuit operating at a resultant frequency exceeding 20 MHz; flow means for said hybrid stream passing through an element of said electrical circuit to induce a change in capacitance within said circuit which, in turn, produces a change in said resultant frequency; means for measuring the magnitude of said resultant frequency, said magnitude being a function of a variance in dielectric constant resulting from the fluctuation in said liquid phase; means for measuring the temperature or pressure of said hybrid stream; means for calculating the steam quality given the resultant frequency and the temperature or pressure of said hybrid stream.

Claim 11

Apparatus for continuously measuring the steam quality of a hybrid stream in a flow line containing both a gas phase and a liquid phase, said hybrid stream having a temperature and a pressure, said apparatus comprising: an electrical circuit operating at a resultant frequency exceeding 20 MHz; flow means for said hybrid stream passing through an element of said electrical circuit to induce a change in capacitance within said circuit which, in turn, produces a change in said resultant frequency; means for measuring the magnitude of said resultant frequency, said magnitude being a function of a variance in dielectric constant resulting from the fluctuation in said liquid phase; means for measuring the temperature or pressure of said hybrid stream; means for calculating the steam quality given the resultant frequency and the temperature or pressure of said hybrid stream.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said electrical circuit more preferably has a resultant operating frequency in the range from 25 to 70 MHz.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said electrical circuit most preferably has a resultant operating frequency of about 40 MHz.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said element of said electrical circuit through which said hybrid stream passes comprises a capacitance cell inserted directly in said flow line.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said capacitance cell comprises a center rod, spool-type capacitance cell.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the surfaces of the center rod and the spool of said capacitance cell are coated with a corrosion-resistant, thermally resistant and electrically insulative material.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said corrosion-resistant, thermally resistant and electrically insulative material is polyphenylene sulfide.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for generating a reference frequency and means for mixing said reference frequency and said resultant frequency to produce a beat frequency.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for generating said reference frequency comprises a crystal oscillator which produces a frequency of about 50 MHz.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for mixing said hybrid stream to homogenize the liquid phase within the gas phase of said hybrid stream, upstream of the element in said electrical circuit through which said hybrid stream flows.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said mixing means comprises a mixing orifice situated in said flow line immediately upstream of said element in said electrical circuit.