US4891969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil/water ratio measurement
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-07-07
•
Granted: 1990-01-09
•
Expires: 2008-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the determination of the ratio of components in a multicomponent liquid mixture such as oil and water. The apparatus including a conduit for flow of fluid, a first temperature sensing thermocouple, a plurality of plates disposed in said conduit to uniformly mix the liquid, a microwave energy generator, a second temperature sensing thermocouple downstream of the microwave generator and a flow measuring meter.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Robert Wayland
- 👤 Caroline H. Persson-Reeves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N25/00; G01N25/005; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for measuring the ratio of components with different properties in a fluid mixture of those components flowing through a conduit comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the temperature of a fluid mixture in the conduit; (b) measuring the flow rate of the mixture in the conduit; (c) heating the fluid mixture by applying a microwave field to the mixture within the conduit; (d) measuring the temperature of the mixture in the conduit after it has been heated; (e) measuring the power input of the microwave field; and (f) determining the ratio of components present in the mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for measuring the ratio of components with different properties in a fluid mixture of those components flowing through a conduit comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the temperature of a fluid mixture in the conduit; (b) measuring the flow rate of the mixture in the conduit; (c) heating the fluid mixture by applying a microwave field to the mixture within the conduit; (d) measuring the temperature of the mixture in the conduit after it has been heated; (e) measuring the power input of the microwave field; and (f) determining the ratio of components present in the mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heating of the fluid creates a sufficient temperature rise to allow measurement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the fluid is heated sufficiently to cause temperature rise of from about 2° C. to about 50° C.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for measuring the ratio of components present in a multi-component fluid comprising: (a) flowing a multi-component fluid through a conduit; (b) mixing the multi-component fluid to form a uniform mixture of the components in multi-component fluid; (c) measuring the temperature of the multi-component fluid prior to heating the fluid; (d) heating the multi-component fluid by applying microwave energy to the uniformly mixed fluid; (e) measuring the temperature of said uniformly mixed fluid after it has been heated; (f) measuring the power input of the microwave energy; (g) measuring the flow rate of the fluid within the conduit; and (h) determining the ratio of components in the fluid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for measuring the ratio of components present in a multi-component fluid comprising: (a) flowing a multi-component fluid through a conduit; (b) mixing the multi-component fluid to form a uniform mixture of the components in multi-component fluid; (c) measuring the temperature of the multi-component fluid prior to heating the fluid; (d) heating the multi-component fluid by applying microwave energy to the uniformly mixed fluid; (e) measuring the temperature of said uniformly mixed fluid after it has been heated; (f) measuring the power input of the microwave energy; (g) measuring the flow rate of the fluid within the conduit; and (h) determining the ratio of components in the fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the heating of the fluid creates a sufficient temperature rise to allow measurement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the fluid is heated sufficiently to cause temperature rise of from about 2° C. to about 50° C.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for measuring the ratio of components present in a multi-component fluid comprising (a) a conduit passageway for flow of a multi-component liquid therethrough having an inlet and an outlet; (b) a first temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the multi-component liquid in the conduit, said first temperature measuring means located between the inlet of said conduit and before a means to apply microwave energy; (c) means to apply microwave energy to said multi-component liquid flowing in said conduit located downstream of said first temperature measuring means; (d) a second temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said multi-component fluid flowing in the conduit of said means to apply microwave energy; (e) a flow measuring means disposed along the conduct between said inlet and outlet for measuring the flow rate in the conduit; and (f) a means to calculate the ratio of components present from inputs received from said first temperature measuring means, said second temperature measuring means and said flow measuring means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for measuring the ratio of components present in a multi-component fluid comprising (a) a conduit passageway for flow of a multi-component liquid therethrough having an inlet and an outlet; (b) a first temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the multi-component liquid in the conduit, said first temperature measuring means located between the inlet of said conduit and before a means to apply microwave energy; (c) means to apply microwave energy to said multi-component liquid flowing in said conduit located downstream of said first temperature measuring means; (d) a second temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said multi-component fluid flowing in the conduit of said means to apply microwave energy; (e) a flow measuring means disposed along the conduct between said inlet and outlet for measuring the flow rate in the conduit; and (f) a means to calculate the ratio of components present from inputs received from said first temperature measuring means, said second temperature measuring means and said flow measuring means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means to apply microwave energy comprises a section of said conduit transparent to microwave energy and a microwave energy transmitter disposed over said transparent section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means to apply microwave energy comprises a section of said conduit transparent to microwave energy and a microwave energy transmitter disposed over said transparent section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a pump disposed between said inlet and said outlet of said conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said measuring means are thermocouples.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a means for controlling the output of said means for applying microwave energy which receives input from said temperature measuring means, said flow measuring means from which signals the amount of energy to be applied is determined and control signals are provided to said means for applying microwave energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means to calculate and said means for controlling is a microprocessor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a pump disposed between said inlet and said outlet of said conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a pump disposed between said inlet and said outlet of said conduit.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for measuring the rates of components present in a multi-component liquid flowing through a conduit comprising: (a) a conduit defining a passageway for flow of a multi-component liquid mixture therethrough having an inlet and outlet; (b) a first temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the multi-component liquid in the conduit, said first temperature measuring means located in the conduit between said inlet and a means to apply microwave energy; (c) flow measuring means disposed within the conduit for measuring the flow rate in the conduit; (d) mixing means within the conduit so as to produce a uniform mixture of the multi-component liquid; (e) means to apply a microwave energy to the said uniformly mixed multi-component liquid within the conduit downstream of said first temperature measuring means to heat said multicomponent liquid; (f) a second temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said liquid mixture in the conduit, said temperature measuring means located downstream of said means to apply microwave energy; and (g) a means to calculate the ratio of components present from inputs received from said first temperature measuring means, said second temperature measuring means and said flow measuring means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for measuring the rates of components present in a multi-component liquid flowing through a conduit comprising: (a) a conduit defining a passageway for flow of a multi-component liquid mixture therethrough having an inlet and outlet; (b) a first temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the multi-component liquid in the conduit, said first temperature measuring means located in the conduit between said inlet and a means to apply microwave energy; (c) flow measuring means disposed within the conduit for measuring the flow rate in the conduit; (d) mixing means within the conduit so as to produce a uniform mixture of the multi-component liquid; (e) means to apply a microwave energy to the said uniformly mixed multi-component liquid within the conduit downstream of said first temperature measuring means to heat said multicomponent liquid; (f) a second temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said liquid mixture in the conduit, said temperature measuring means located downstream of said means to apply microwave energy; and (g) a means to calculate the ratio of components present from inputs received from said first temperature measuring means, said second temperature measuring means and said flow measuring means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means to apply microwave energy comprises a section of said conduit transparent to microwave energy and a microwave energy transmitter disposed over said transparent section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means to apply microwave energy comprises a section of said conduit transparent to microwave energy and a microwave energy transmitter disposed over said transparent section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a pump disposed between said inlet and said outlet of said conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said measuring means are thermocouples.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said mixing means is a plurality of plates disposed within said conduit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising straightening vanes downstream of said mixing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said conduit is electrically insulating from the earth and from pipes connected to said inlet and outlet of said conduit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a means for controlling the output of said means for applying microwave energy which receives input from said temperature measuring means, said flow measuring means from which signals the amount of energy to be applied is determined and control signals are provided to said means for applying microwave energy.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means to calculate and said means for controlling is a microprocessor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU255914A1
Cited
US2807956A
Cited
US3049910A
Cited
US3238452A
Cited
US3264558A
Cited
US3304766A
Cited
US3349304A
Cited
US3387748A
Cited
US3430489A
Cited
US3522530A
Cited
US3580072A
Cited
US3693435A
Cited
US3961530A
Cited
US4059987A
Cited
US4080837A
Cited
US4166216A
Cited
US4190768A
Cited
US4200789A
Cited
US4236406A
Cited
US4215567A
Cited
SU1196742A1
Cited
US4644263A
Cited
GB2170909A
Cited
US4773257A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |