Patent US5222032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5222032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-26
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2010-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid such as a wastestream comprises a vessel including a liquid space containing the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid inlet is disposed in communication with the head space for injecting a stream of the liquid into the vessel at a sufficient velocity to creates bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase. A liquid outlet including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port discharges the liquid from the vessel. An air pump and an exit conduit remove a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel. An instrument measures the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space, and a computer converts this value to a liquid phase concentration value. In the preferred embodiment, a re-entry conduit re-introduces the gas into the vessel, thereby using the liquid sampled to continuously enhance the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Sydney W. Fleming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/18; G01N33/1826; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0036; G01N33/0047; G01N33/0049; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/2226; G01N2001/2229; G01N1/28; G01N1/40; G01N1/4055; G01N2001/4066; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) a vessel including a liquid space containing a sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid; (b) liquid inlet means disposed in communication with the head space for injecting a stream of the liquid into the vessel at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (c) liquid outlet means including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port for discharging liquid from the vessel, the liquid discharge conduit being configured to maintain the volume of the liquid within the vessel constant; (d) means for removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (e) means for measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (f) means for calculating the gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration and for converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) means for re-introducing the gas into the vessel, thereby continuing to enhance the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) a vessel including a liquid space containing a sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid; (b) liquid inlet means disposed in communication with the head space for injecting a stream of the liquid into the vessel at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (c) liquid outlet means including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port for discharging liquid from the vessel, the liquid discharge conduit being configured to maintain the volume of the liquid within the vessel constant; (d) means for removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (e) means for measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (f) means for calculating the gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration and for converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) means for re-introducing the gas into the vessel, thereby continuing to enhance the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid inlet means includes an inlet manifold for introducing a plurality of samples of the liquid in sequence to the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring means is a Fourier transform infrared instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the gas re-introducing means includes a re-entry conduit disposed in communication with the liquid space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1, further including a bubbler for compensating for inadvertent changes in the quantity of gas in the vessel, the liquid inlet means, the liquid outlet means, the gas removing means, the monitoring instrument and the means for re-introducing gas into the vessel, the bubbler being disposed in communication with the head space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for introducing water into the vessel to flush the vessel, the water introduction means being disposed in communication with the head space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the calculation and conversion means is a computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 7, wherein the computer is a microcomputer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the means for removing a portion of the gas comprises an exit conduit disposed in communication with the head space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the means for removing a portion of the gas further includes an air pump disposed in the exit conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 9, further including a dryer for removing moisture from the gas removed from the head space, the dryer being disposed in the exit conduit upstream of the instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9, further including a condenser for removing condensation from the gas removed from the head space, the condenser being disposed in the exit conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12, further including a liquid detector for detecting the level of condensation in the condenser, the liquid detector being disposed in the exit conduit downstream of the condenser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9, further including means for introducing air to the instrument to zero the instrument, the air introduction means being disposed in the exit conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the means for introducing air to the instrument includes an inlet valve disposed upstream of the instrument and an outlet valve disposed downstream of the instrument.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) injecting a stream of the liquid into a vessel including a liquid space containing a sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (b) discharging the liquid from the vessel; (c) removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (d) measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (e) calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration; (f) converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) re-introducing the gas into the vessel, thereby continuing to enhance the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) injecting a stream of the liquid into a vessel including a liquid space containing a sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (b) discharging the liquid from the vessel; (c) removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (d) measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (e) calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration; (f) converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) re-introducing the gas into the vessel, thereby continuing to enhance the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
207 words
A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) a vessel including a liquid space containing a sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid; (b) liquid inlet means disposed in communication with the head space for introducing the sample of the liquid into the vessel; (c) means for removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (d) means for measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (e) means for calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration and for converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; (e) means for re-introducing the gas into the vessel to create bubbles in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; and (f) liquid outlet means including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port for discharging the sample of the liquid from the vessel, the liquid discharge conduit being configured to maintain the volume of the liquid within the vessel constant.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
207 words
A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) a vessel including a liquid space containing a sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid; (b) liquid inlet means disposed in communication with the head space for introducing the sample of the liquid into the vessel; (c) means for removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (d) means for measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (e) means for calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration and for converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; (e) means for re-introducing the gas into the vessel to create bubbles in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the volatile material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; and (f) liquid outlet means including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port for discharging the sample of the liquid from the vessel, the liquid discharge conduit being configured to maintain the volume of the liquid within the vessel constant.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) introducing a sample of the liquid into a vessel including a liquid space containing the sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas; (b) removing a portion of gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (c) measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (d) calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration; (e) converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; (f) re-introducing the gas into the vessel to create bubbles in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; and (g) discharging the sample of the liquid from the vessel.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) introducing a sample of the liquid into a vessel including a liquid space containing the sample of the liquid and a head space containing gas; (b) removing a portion of gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (c) measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (d) calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration; (e) converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; (f) re-introducing the gas into the vessel to create bubbles in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; and (g) discharging the sample of the liquid from the vessel.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
204 words
A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) a vessel including a liquid space containing the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid; (b) liquid inlet means disposed in communication with the head space for injecting a stream of the liquid into the vessel at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (c) liquid outlet means including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port for discharging the liquid from the vessel, the liquid discharge conduit being configured to maintain the volume of the liquid within the vessel constant; (d) means for removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (e) means for measuring the concentration of material in the gas removed from the head space; (f) means for calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration and converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) means for discharging the gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
204 words
A system for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) a vessel including a liquid space containing the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid; (b) liquid inlet means disposed in communication with the head space for injecting a stream of the liquid into the vessel at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (c) liquid outlet means including a liquid outlet port formed in the vessel and a liquid discharge conduit disposed in communication with the liquid outlet port for discharging the liquid from the vessel, the liquid discharge conduit being configured to maintain the volume of the liquid within the vessel constant; (d) means for removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (e) means for measuring the concentration of material in the gas removed from the head space; (f) means for calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration and converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) means for discharging the gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) injecting a stream of the liquid into a vessel including a liquid space containing the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (b) discharging the liquid from the vessel; (c) removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (d) measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (e) calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration; (f) converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) discharging the gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for monitoring the concentration of volatile material dissolved in a liquid, comprising: (a) injecting a stream of the liquid into a vessel including a liquid space containing the liquid and a head space containing gas disposed above the surface of the liquid at a sufficient velocity to create bubbles and turbulence in the liquid, thereby enhancing the transfer of the material from the liquid phase to the gas phase; (b) discharging the liquid from the vessel; (c) removing a portion of the gas contained in the head space from the vessel; (d) measuring the concentration of the material in the gas removed from the head space; (e) calculating a gas phase concentration value from the measured concentration; (f) converting the gas phase concentration value to a liquid phase concentration value; and (g) discharging the gas to the atmosphere.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |