Microwave water cut monitor with temperature controlled test cell

Claim 1

A petroleum stream microwave water cut monitor comprising: test cell means for containing a reference petroleum multiphase fluid sample and for having a sample stream of a petroleum stream flowing through it, temperature means connected to the test cell means for maintaining the test cell means at a predetermined temperature, source means for providing microwave energy, first antenna means connected to the source means for providing microwave energy into the petroleum sample stream or the reference sample, second antenna means for receiving microwave energy that has passed through the petroleum sample stream or the reference sample and providing the received microwave energy as test microwave energy, detector means connected to the second antenna means for detecting the power of the test microwave energy and providing a power signal corresponding thereto, and indicator means connected to the second antenna means, to the source means and to the detector means for providing an indication of the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the power signal and the phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the received microwave energy; and in which the test cell means includes: a body having at least three channels therein for fluid passage and two channels for microwave energy passage, fluid source means for providing the reference sample to a first fluid channel, sample stream receiving means for receiving the sample stream and providing it to a second fluid channel, temperature control fluid receiving means for receiving the temperature control fluid and providing it to a third fluid channel, means for allowing the sample stream and the temperature control fluid to exit from the body; and wherein one fluid channel and one microwave channel intersect each other at right angles and the second fluid channel and the other microwave channel intersect each other at right angles.