US4814281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Differential conductivity sulfate monitor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1988-05-06
•
Granted: 1989-03-21
•
Expires: 2008-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A differential conductivity sulfate monitor for determining the sulfate concentration of a fluid sample by monitoring the cation conductivity of the fluid sample before and after sulfate has been removed therefrom. The cation conductivities of the fluid sample before and after sulfate has been removed are compared to establish a differential conductivity, and the differential conductivity is used to calculate the sulfate concentration in accordance with a known relationship between a conductivity differential and the sulfate concentration of a fluid sample.
Inventors
- 👤 William A. Byers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/18; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/255
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions comprising: measuring conductivity of an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions; selectively removing sulfate ions from the aqueous stream to present a sulfate free stream; measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the aqueous stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions comprising: measuring conductivity of an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions; selectively removing sulfate ions from the aqueous stream to present a sulfate free stream; measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the aqueous stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of selectively removing sulfate ions is conducted utilizing a macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin in the mixed Ba ++ and H + form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein an acidic local environment is provided for said macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in steam cycle water of a nuclear reactor system comprising: removing a sample stream of steam cycle water from a nuclear reactor system; removing cations other than H + ions from the sample stream and replacing the removed cations with H + ions utilizing strong acid cation exchange means to thereby present a strongly acid stream; measuring conductivity of the strongly acid stream; selectively removing sulfate ions from the strongly acid stream to present a sulfate free stream; measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the steam cycle water.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in steam cycle water of a nuclear reactor system comprising: removing a sample stream of steam cycle water from a nuclear reactor system; removing cations other than H + ions from the sample stream and replacing the removed cations with H + ions utilizing strong acid cation exchange means to thereby present a strongly acid stream; measuring conductivity of the strongly acid stream; selectively removing sulfate ions from the strongly acid stream to present a sulfate free stream; measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the steam cycle water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of selectively removing sulfate ions is conducted utilizing a macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin in the mixed Ba ++ and H + form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein an acidic local environment is provided for said macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as set forth in claim 4 including the step of removing cations other than H + ions from the sulfate free stream and replacing the removed cations with H + ions utilizing a second strong acid cation exchange means to present a strongly acid sulfate free stream, said step of measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream comprising measuring conductivity of the strongly acid sulfate free stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of selectively removing sulfate ions is conducted utilizing a macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin in the mixed Ba ++ and H + form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein an acidic local environment is provided for said macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions comprising: means for measuring conductivity of an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions; means for selectively removing sulfate ions from the aqueous stream to present a sulfate free stream; means for measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and means for comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the aqueous stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions comprising: means for measuring conductivity of an aqueous stream containing a mixture of anions including sulfate ions; means for selectively removing sulfate ions from the aqueous stream to present a sulfate free stream; means for measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and means for comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the aqueous stream.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for selectively removing sulfate ions comprises a macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin in the mixed Ba ++ and H + form.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin has an acidic local environment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in steam cycle water of a nuclear reactor system comprising: means for removing a sample stream of steam cycle water from a nuclear reactor system; strong acid cation exchange means for removing cations other than H + ions from the sample stream and replacing the removed cations with H + ions to present a strongly acid stream; first means for measuring conductivity of the strongly acid stream; means for selectively removing sulfate ions from the strongly acid stream to present a sulfate free stream; second means for measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and means for comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the steam cycle water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for continuously monitoring sulfate concentration in steam cycle water of a nuclear reactor system comprising: means for removing a sample stream of steam cycle water from a nuclear reactor system; strong acid cation exchange means for removing cations other than H + ions from the sample stream and replacing the removed cations with H + ions to present a strongly acid stream; first means for measuring conductivity of the strongly acid stream; means for selectively removing sulfate ions from the strongly acid stream to present a sulfate free stream; second means for measuring conductivity of the sulfate free stream; and means for comparing the measured conductivities as a function of sulfate concentration in the steam cycle water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for selectively removing sulfate ions comprises a macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin in the mixed Ba ++ and H + form.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin has an acidic local environment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including second strong acid cation exchange means interposed between the means for selectively removing sulfate ions and the second means for measuring conductivity, said second strong acid cation exchange means being positioned and arranged from removing cations other than H + ions from the sulfate free stream and replacing the removed cations with H + ions before the conductivity of the sulfate free stream is measured.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for selectively removing sulfate ions comprises a macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin in the mixed Ba ++ and H + form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said macroreticular weak acid cation exchange resin has an acidic local environment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2832673A
Cited
US2950176A
Cited
US3468764A
Cited
US3622277A
Cited
US4251219A
Cited
US4251220A
Cited
US4242097A
Cited
US4272246A
Cited
US4290775A
Cited
US4622306A
Cited
US4732686A
Cited
US4699718A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-20 | 1992-09-19 | 1993-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-20 | 1996-09-19 | 1997-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-20 | 2000-09-19 | 2001-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |