US 12,276,629 B2Granted

Method, data set and sensored mixer to sense a property of a liquid

Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company

InventorsBenjamin Münstermann, Knut Schumacher, Günter Zilligen, Martin Stottmeister, Robert Bialluch, Michael Bahners, Thomas Keller, Peter Orda, Jörg Hahn, Harald Westkamp, Andreas Backes, Waleri Wischnepolski, David Rudek

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

Sensored mixer, comprising a mixing device for mixing two or more components to produce a mixed liquid at a mixer output, and a property sensor for determining a property of a liquid, the property sensor comprising a) a channel comprising a sensing zone through which the liquid flows; b) two electrodes for generating an electric field of one or more sensing frequencies in the sensing zone; c) a data storage device comprising a pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses measured previously at the one or more sensing frequencies and at different property values of the property of an identical liquid; and d) a device to repeatedly i) generate between the electrodes an electric field of in the sensing zone; ii) sense between the electrodes, a response impedance; iii) derive from the response impedance a property value of the property of the liquid, using the pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses, wherein the property sensor is in fluid communication with the mixer output such that the mixed liquid can flow from the mixer output through the sensing zone. A method for sensing a property of the liquid and a data set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses usable with the sensor and the method are also disclosed.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A sensored mixer comprising a mixing device (120) for mixing two or more components (A, B) to produce a mixed liquid (10) at a mixer output (170), and a property sensor (1) for determining a property value of a property of the mixed liquid (10), the property sensor comprising a) a channel (20) comprising a sensing zone (50) through which-in use-the mixed liquid flows;

b) two electrodes (30, 40) for generating an electric field of one or more sensing frequencies in the sensing zone;
c) a data storage device (230) comprising a pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses measured previously at the one or more sensing frequencies and at different property values of the property of an identical liquid;
and d) a property value deriver (220), electrically connected to the electrodes (30, 40), and operable to repeatedly i) generate, while the mixed liquid (10) flows through the sensing zone (50), between the electrodes (30, 40) an electric field of the one or more sensing frequencies in the sensing zone;
ii) sense between the electrodes (30, 40), at the one or more sensing frequencies, while the mixed liquid (10) flows through the sensing zone (50) and while the electric field is present, a response impedance;
iii) derive from the response impedance a property value of the property of the mixed liquid (10), using the pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses, wherein the property sensor (1) is in fluid communication with the mixer output (170) such that the mixed liquid (10) can flow from the mixer output (170) through the sensing zone (50).

2 more elements

A process of determining a property value of a property of a liquid (10), comprising the steps, in this sequence, of i) providing a liquid (10) and a property sensor (1) for determining a property value of a property of the liquid (10), the property sensor comprising a) a channel (20) comprising a sensing zone (50) through which-in use-the liquid flows;

b) two electrodes (30, 40) for generating an electric field of one or more sensing frequencies in the sensing zone;
c) a data storage device (230) comprising a pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses measured previously at the one or more sensing frequencies and at different property values of the property of an identical liquid;
and d) a property value deriver (220), electrically connected to the electrodes (30, 40), and operable to repeatedly 1) generate, while the liquid (10) flows through the sensing zone (50), between the electrodes (30, 40) an electric field of the one or more sensing frequencies in the sensing zone;
2) sense between the electrodes (30, 40), at the one or more sensing frequencies, while the liquid (10) flows through the sensing zone (50) and while the electric field is present, a response impedance;
3) derive from the response impedance a property value of the property of the liquid (10), using the pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses, and having the liquid (10) flow through the sensing zone (50);
ii) generating, while the liquid (10) flows through the sensing zone (50), between the electrodes (30, 40) an electric field of the one or more sensing frequencies in the sensing zone (50);
iii) sensing between the electrodes (30, 40), at the one or more sensing frequencies, while the liquid (10) flows through the sensing zone (50) and while the electric field is present, a response impedance;
iv) deriving from the response impedance a property value of the property of the liquid (10), using the pre-stored set of calibration data representing calibration impedance responses.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/015,784Filed 14 Jul 2021
Priority: EP 2018630516 Jul 2020
Published: US 2023/0258590 A117 Aug 2023
Granted: 15 Apr 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G01N 27/026
By investigating impedance: dielectric impedance spectroscopy
G01N 27/10
Which is flowing continuously: investigation or analysis specially adapted for controlling or monitoring operations or for signalling
G01N 27/07
Of a liquid: construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor
G01N 27/08
Of a liquid: which is flowing continuously