US4902961A — Microwave system for monitoring water content in …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 74 words

Apparatus for analyzing a multi-phase liquid comprising: pipeline means for containing the liquid; a low frequency transmitting antenna substantially in the S-band near a wall of said means for containing a liquid; a low frequency receiving antenna substantially in the S-band located within one-half wavelength of said low frequency transmitting antenna; means for determining a phase shift of a low frequency wave; and means for determining an amplitude change of the low frequency wave.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus for analyzing a multi-phase liquid comprising: pipeline means for containing the liquid; a low frequency transmitting antenna substantially in the S-band near a wall of said means for containing a liquid; a low frequency receiving antenna substantially in the S-band located within one-half wavelength of said low frequency transmitting antenna; means for determining a phase shift of a low frequency wave; and means for determining an amplitude change of the low frequency wave.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 134 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a complementary high frequency transmitting antenna substantially in the X-band located substantially near said low frequency transmitting antenna; a first high frequency receiving antenna substantially in the X-band located within one-half wavelength of said high frequency transmitting antenna; a second high frequency receiving antenna substantially in the X-band located such that a wave transmitted from said high frequency transmitting antenna to said second high frequency receiving antenna passes through a representative portion of the liquid; means for determining a phase shift and an amplitude change of a wave transmitted from said high frequency transmitting antenna and said first high frequency receiving antenna; and means for determining an amplitude change of a wave transmitted from said high frequency transmitting antenna to said second high frequency receiving antenna.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for containing a liquid is a petroleum pipeline.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said antennas are located in ceramic windows flush with the walls of said pipeline.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 64 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising: a duplicate first high frequency receiving antenna substantially in the X-band located adjacent said first high frequency receiving antenna; a duplicate second high frequency receiving antenna substantially in the X-band located adjacent said second high frequency receiving antenna; and a duplicate low frequency receiving antenna substantially in the X-band located adjacent said low frequency receiving antenna.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 168 words

Apparatus for determining the water content of crude oil in a pipeline comprising: (A) a first antenna port mounted flush in a wall of the pipeline further comprising: (1) an X-band link comprising: (a) an X-band transmitting antenna; (b) an X-band receiving antenna located with one-half the wavelength of said X-band transmitting antenna; (2) a sidewall S-band link comprising: (a) a sidewall S-band transmitting antenna; (b) a sidewall S-band receiving antennalocated with one-half wavelength of said first S-band transmitting antenna; (3) a main link S-band transmitting antenna; (B) a second antenna port mounted flush in the wall of the pipeline, said second antenna port containing a main link S-band receiving antenna; (C) means for measuring phase shift and attenuation of a signal transmitted through said X-band link; (D) means for measuring phase shift and attenuation of a signal transmitted through said sidewall S-band link; and (E) means for measuring attenuation of a signal transmitted from said main link S-band transmitting antenna to said main link S-band receiving antenna.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 168 words

Apparatus for determining the water content of crude oil in a pipeline comprising: (A) a first antenna port mounted flush in a wall of the pipeline further comprising: (1) an X-band link comprising: (a) an X-band transmitting antenna; (b) an X-band receiving antenna located with one-half the wavelength of said X-band transmitting antenna; (2) a sidewall S-band link comprising: (a) a sidewall S-band transmitting antenna; (b) a sidewall S-band receiving antennalocated with one-half wavelength of said first S-band transmitting antenna; (3) a main link S-band transmitting antenna; (B) a second antenna port mounted flush in the wall of the pipeline, said second antenna port containing a main link S-band receiving antenna; (C) means for measuring phase shift and attenuation of a signal transmitted through said X-band link; (D) means for measuring phase shift and attenuation of a signal transmitted through said sidewall S-band link; and (E) means for measuring attenuation of a signal transmitted from said main link S-band transmitting antenna to said main link S-band receiving antenna.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising: (a) a duplicate X-band receiving antenna; (b) a duplicate sidewall link S-band receiving antenna; and (c) A duplicate main link S-band receiving antenna.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising a third and a fourth antenna port located at substantially right angles to said first and second antenna port.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 59 words

A method for determining the relative proportions of two mixed, dielectrically-dissimilar fluids in a container comprising: (a) transmitting a low frequency wave substantially in the S-band through said fluids; (b) measuring a phase shift and attenuation of the wave to obtain the complex dielectric constant of the mixed fluids; and (c) calculating the relative proportions of the mixed fluids.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 59 words

A method for determining the relative proportions of two mixed, dielectrically-dissimilar fluids in a container comprising: (a) transmitting a low frequency wave substantially in the S-band through said fluids; (b) measuring a phase shift and attenuation of the wave to obtain the complex dielectric constant of the mixed fluids; and (c) calculating the relative proportions of the mixed fluids.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for determining the water content of oil in a flowing pipeline comprising: (a) transmitting a low frequency signal substantially in the S-band between a low frequency transmitting antenna and a low frequency receiving antenna, said antennas located within one-half wave length; (b) transmitting a first high frequency signal substantially in the S-band between a high frequency transmitting antenna and a high frequency receiving antenna, said antennas located within one-half wavelength of each other and in close proximity to said low frequency transmitting and receiving antennas; and (c) transmitting a second high frequency signal substantially in the X-band between a second high frequency transmitting antenna and a second high frequency receiving antenna.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for determining the water content of oil in a flowing pipeline comprising: (a) transmitting a low frequency signal substantially in the S-band between a low frequency transmitting antenna and a low frequency receiving antenna, said antennas located within one-half wave length; (b) transmitting a first high frequency signal substantially in the S-band between a high frequency transmitting antenna and a high frequency receiving antenna, said antennas located within one-half wavelength of each other and in close proximity to said low frequency transmitting and receiving antennas; and (c) transmitting a second high frequency signal substantially in the X-band between a second high frequency transmitting antenna and a second high frequency receiving antenna.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said mixed fluids are water and oil.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 149 words

The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the steps of: measuring a phase shift and attenuation of said low frequency signal; measuring a phase shift and attenuation of said first high frequency signal; measuring an attenuation of said second high frequency signal; calculating a value of an X-band complex dielectric constant of fluid along a wall of the container from said phase shift and attenuation of said low frequency signal; calculating a value of an S-band complex dielectric constant of said fluid along said wall from said phase shift and attenuation of said first high frequency signal; calculating a volume fraction of water of said fluid along said wall; calculating a correction factor to a mixing law; calculating a conductivity of said water; calculating a value of an S-band complex dielectric constant of fluid within said container; and calculating a bulk volume fraction water in said container.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-02-19	1993-08-21	1994-02-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-02-19	1997-08-21	1998-02-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-02-19	2001-08-21	2002-02-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Microwave system for monitoring water content in a petroleum pipeline

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