EP0268399A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Microwave apparatus for measuring fluid mixtures
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1987-11-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring the concentration of one material in another, such as the concentration of water in crude or refined mineral oil, comprises a conduit (14) for receiving and discharging a continuous flow stream of the fluid mixture and which is formed as part of a coaxial microwave transmission line (16, 22). A microwave or radio frequency range signal generator in the form of an unbuffered oscillator (30) is connected to the transmission line for generating a high frequency signal which may be varied by a voltage controlled oscillator tuning circuit (34). A signal receiver (52) monitors the change in frequency caused by impedance pulling of the oscillator due to the change in fluid dielectric constant and transmits a differential frequency signal to a frequency counter (58) and microprocessor (60) for comparison of the measured signal with known reference signals (54) for determining the percentage of one fluid mixed in the other in the flow stream. The apparatus measurement section is adapted to provide for connecting standard microwave coaxial connectors to a relatively large diameter pipe or conduit comprising the coaxial transmission line portion of the measurement section.
Inventors
- 👤 Bentley N. Scott
- 👤 Y. Sam Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N22/00; G01N22/04; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one fluid such as water in another fluid such as oil using the alteration of microwave energy characteristics, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section including a conduit for conducting a fluid mixture therethrough; microwave transmission means extending through said measurement section; an unisolated oscillator circuit operably connected to said transmission means for generating microwave energy for propagation through said measurement section; means for measuring a change in the operating frequency of said unisolated oscillator circuit resulting from the properties of the fluid flowing through said measurement section; and means for comparing the change in frequency with a reference frequency corresponding to a certain concentration of one fluid in the other for determining the concentration of said one fluid in the fluid mixture flowing through said conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one fluid such as water in another fluid such as oil using the alteration of microwave energy characteristics, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section including a conduit for conducting a fluid mixture therethrough; microwave transmission means extending through said measurement section; an unisolated oscillator circuit operably connected to said transmission means for generating microwave energy for propagation through said measurement section; means for measuring a change in the operating frequency of said unisolated oscillator circuit resulting from the properties of the fluid flowing through said measurement section; and means for comparing the change in frequency with a reference frequency corresponding to a certain concentration of one fluid in the other for determining the concentration of said one fluid in the fluid mixture flowing through said conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 1 wherein: said unisolated oscillator circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator which may be controlled to sweep through a predetermined frequency range which is greater than the frequency range through which the oscillator may be pulled due to the changes in impedance in said measurement section whereby the number of full phase shifts in the operating frequency range of said oscillator may be determined.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 1 including: a second oscillator adapted to operate at a predetermined frequency; signal comparison means for comparing the operating frequency of said oscillators and for emitting a signal having a frequency which is related to the difference between the operating frequencies of said unisolated oscillator circuit and said second oscillator, and means for receiving the signal output from said comparison means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 1 wherein: said transmission means comprises a coaxial transmission line comprising a center conductor extending through said conduit and an outer conductor comprising said conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 4 wherein: said measurement section includes opposed end sections connected to said conduit and including means for supporting reduced diameter portions of said center conductor; and connector means connected to opposite ends of said reduced diameter portions of said center conductor for coupling said unisolated oscillator circuit to said measurement section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 1 wherein: said conduit includes inlet and outlet portions disposed at substantially opposite ends thereof for receiving and discharging a flow stream of said fluid mixture; and said measurement section includes means configured to minimize the stagnation of flow of fluid mixture through said measurement section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one fluid such as water in another fluid such as oil using the alteration of microwave energy characteristics, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section including a conduit for conducting a fluid mixture therethrough; microwave transmission means extending through said measurement section; an oscillator circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator operably connected to said measurement section and adapted to be controlled to sweep through a predetermined operating frequency range which is greater than the frequency range through which the oscillator may be pulled due to the changes in impedance in said measurement section whereby the number of full phase shifts in the operating frequency range of said oscillator may be determined; means for measuring a change in the operating frequency of said oscillator circuit resulting from the change in dielectric properties of the fluid flowing through said measurement section; and means for comparing the change in frequency with a reference frequency corresponding to a certain concentration of one fluid in the other for determining the concentration of one fluid in a fluid mixture flowing through said conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one fluid such as water in another fluid such as oil using the alteration of microwave energy characteristics, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section including a conduit for conducting a fluid mixture therethrough; microwave transmission means extending through said measurement section; an oscillator circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator operably connected to said measurement section and adapted to be controlled to sweep through a predetermined operating frequency range which is greater than the frequency range through which the oscillator may be pulled due to the changes in impedance in said measurement section whereby the number of full phase shifts in the operating frequency range of said oscillator may be determined; means for measuring a change in the operating frequency of said oscillator circuit resulting from the change in dielectric properties of the fluid flowing through said measurement section; and means for comparing the change in frequency with a reference frequency corresponding to a certain concentration of one fluid in the other for determining the concentration of one fluid in a fluid mixture flowing through said conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 7 including: a second oscillator adapted to operate at a predetermined frequency; signal comparison means for comparing the operating frequency of said oscillators and for emitting a signal having a frequency which is related to the difference between the operating frequencies of said oscillator circuit and said second oscillator, and means for receiving the signal output from said comparison means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 7 wherein: said transmission means comprises a coaxial transmission line comprising a center conductor extending through said conduit and an outer conductor comprising said conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 7 including: temperature sensing means including means for providing a signal to said comparison means to compensate for changes in temperature of said fluid as it affects said operating frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one fluid such as water in another fluid such as oil using the alteration of microwave energy characteristics, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section including a conduit for conducting a fluid mixture therethrough; means forming a coaxial microwave transmission line including an outer conductor comprising said conduit and a center conductor extending through said conduit; an unisolated oscillator circuit operably connected to said transmission line for generating microwave energy for propagation through said measurement section; a second oscillator adapted to operate at a predetermined frequency; signal comparison means for comparing the operating frequency of said oscillators and for emitting a differential frequency signal which is related to the difference between the operating frequencies of said unisolated oscillator circuit and said second oscillator; and means for comparing said differential frequency circuit with a reference frequency corresponding to a certain concentration of said one fluid in the fluid mixture flowing through said conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one fluid such as water in another fluid such as oil using the alteration of microwave energy characteristics, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section including a conduit for conducting a fluid mixture therethrough; means forming a coaxial microwave transmission line including an outer conductor comprising said conduit and a center conductor extending through said conduit; an unisolated oscillator circuit operably connected to said transmission line for generating microwave energy for propagation through said measurement section; a second oscillator adapted to operate at a predetermined frequency; signal comparison means for comparing the operating frequency of said oscillators and for emitting a differential frequency signal which is related to the difference between the operating frequencies of said unisolated oscillator circuit and said second oscillator; and means for comparing said differential frequency circuit with a reference frequency corresponding to a certain concentration of said one fluid in the fluid mixture flowing through said conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for measuring the complex impedance change of a radio frequency range signal commensurate with the composition of a medium of interest, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section and adapted to propogate said signal through said medium of interest; an unisolated oscillator circuit having significant load pulling characteristics operably connected to said measurement section for generating radio frequency range energy for propagation through said measurement section; means for measuring the operating frequency of said unisolated oscillator circuit resulting from the impedance characteristic of the circuit including said measurment section; and means for comparing the measured frequency with a reference frequency corresponding to a complex impedance exhibited by a said measurement section including a particular composition of said medium of interest.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for measuring the complex impedance change of a radio frequency range signal commensurate with the composition of a medium of interest, said apparatus comprising: means forming a measurement section and adapted to propogate said signal through said medium of interest; an unisolated oscillator circuit having significant load pulling characteristics operably connected to said measurement section for generating radio frequency range energy for propagation through said measurement section; means for measuring the operating frequency of said unisolated oscillator circuit resulting from the impedance characteristic of the circuit including said measurment section; and means for comparing the measured frequency with a reference frequency corresponding to a complex impedance exhibited by a said measurement section including a particular composition of said medium of interest.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 12 wherein: said measurement section includes transmission means comprising a coaxial transmission line having a center conductor extending through a conduit and an outer conductor comprising said conduit, and said medium of interest is interposed in said measurement section between said conductors whereby the dielectric properties of said medium of interest effect the signal frequency and amplitude generated by said unisolated oscillator circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus set forth in Claim 13 wherein: said unisolated oscillator circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator which may be controlled to sweep through a predetermined frequency range which is greater than the frequency range through which the oscillator may be pulled due to the changes in impedance in said measurement section whereby the number of full phase shifts in the operating frequency range of said unisolated oscillator circuit may be determined.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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