US 2009/0153155 A1 · DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY AND/OR DEGRADATION OF FLUID, PARTICULARLY A FOOD OIL

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of a fluid, especially an oil, comprising a sensor consisting of at least one pair of electrodes which are distanced from each other. Said sensor is immersed in the fluid which is to be measured. The electrodes and the fluid form a capacitive element whose capacity varies according to the dielectric constant of the fluid. The sensor can provide an electric output signal representing said dielectric constant. The inventive device also comprises processing means which receive the output signal and which can determine the degree of quality and/or degradation of the fluid on the basis of said output signal. The invention is characterized in that the electrodes extend substantially on the same plane and in that the fluid surrounds the two surfaces of the electrodes on both sides of said plane.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of measuring the quality and/or the degradation of a food oil, said method comprising the steps of:

immersing a sensor in said oil to be measured, said sensor comprising at least one pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other and extending in substantially the same plane, each electrode of each pair of electrodes further having the shape of a comb having a plurality of substantially parallel teeth, the teeth of one of the electrodes being interdigited with the teeth of the other electrode, the electrodes and said oil forming a measuring capacitive element whose capacitance varies as a function of the dielectric constant of the oil, said sensor providing an electrical output signal representative of said dielectric constant;
receiving said output signal and determining the degree of quality and/or degradation of said oil on the basis of said output signal;
immersing both sides of the electrodes in the oil, on either side of said plane, such that said oil can flow passing through said plane, and
selecting a gap between adjacent ones of said teeth to be between 10 nm and 1 mm.

1 more element

Cooking apparatus including a vat for containing a cooking fluid and heating means, wherein it further includes a device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of said cooking fluid, said measuring device including a sensor having at least one pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other and extending in substantially the same plane, each electrode of each pair of electrodes further having the shape of a comb having a plurality of substantially parallel teeth, the teeth of one of the electrodes being interdigited with the teeth of the other electrode, the electrodes and said cooking fluid forming a measuring capacitive element whose capacitance varies as a function of the dielectric constant of the fluid, said sensor being capable of providing an electrical output signal representative of said dielectric constant, and processing means for receiving said output signal and determining the degree of quality and/or degradation of said cooking fluid on the basis of said output signal,

the measuring capacitive element being arranged in said vat such that both sides of its electrodes are immersed in the cooking fluid on either side of said plane of the electrodes so that said cooking fluid can flow passing through said plane,
wherein adjacent ones of said teeth are separated by an air gap of between 10 nm and 1 mm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of fluid, particularly a food oil

Life of this patent

Device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of fluid, particularly a food oil

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18