Residue concentration measurement technology

A method of analyzing dissolved non-volatile residue and particulate non-volatile residue in a colloidal suspension, comprising the steps of:

• a:
• forming an aerosol containing droplets from the colloidal suspension and isolating small, uniformly sized droplets from the droplets by:
• i. inputting the suspension to a mixing zone,
• ii. inputting pressurized gas to the mixing zone,
• iii. restricting output from the mixing zone to generate a backpressure in opposition to input of the suspension and the pressurized gas, whereby the kinetic energy of mixing increases and decreases the size of small droplets leaving the mixing zone, and
• iv. forming a thin essentially hemispherical flow path of droplets leaving the mixing zone whereby large droplets leave the flow path and are impacted and removed;
• b. removing liquid from the small, uniformly sized droplets by evaporating them to a predetermined dryness to form dissolved residue particles separate and distinct from particulate residue particles;
• c. analyzing residual particles by counting and sizing to measure the relative concentrations of the dissolved and particulate residues and to measure the particle size distribution of the particulate residue particles;
• and
• d. determining the liquid volumetric inspection rate by inputting a colloidal suspension with a known volumetric concentration of particulate residue and measuring the volumetric concentration of particulate residue in the aerosol produced by steps a-c of the method.

An analysis apparatus for measuring dissolved residue concentration and particulate residue particle concentration and particle size distribution in colloidal suspensions and wherein the liquid and particles are in a colloidal suspension, comprising:

• a. a nebulizer/impactor for forming droplets and for isolating small, uniformly sized droplets therefrom, the nebulizer/impactor comprising a housing forming a mixing chamber including:
• (i) a liquid entrance for receiving a sample colloidal suspension into the chamber,
• (ii) a primary orifice having a first diameter for receiving a pressurized gas into the chamber for merger with the sample suspension to generate an aerosol composed of multiple droplets of the sample liquid suspended in the gas,
• (iii) a secondary orifice having a second diameter for conducting the aerosol out of the chamber;
• and
• (iv) an impactor coaxial with the mixing chamber and spaced apart axially from the secondary orifice downstream of the chamber, said impactor having a convex upstream surface cooperating with a concave surface of the housing to form a generally hemispherical path for conveying the aerosol away from the chamber;
• b. an evaporator communicatively connected to the nebulizer/impactor for removing liquid from the droplets and generating dissolved residue and particulate particles, and
• c. an analyzer, communicatively connected to the evaporator, for counting and sizing dissolved and particulate residue particles.

An analysis apparatus, comprising a droplet former for forming small droplets, an evaporator communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting dissolved and particulate residues, wherein the liquid volumetric inspection rate is determined by inputting a colloidal suspension with a known volumetric concentration of particulate residue and measuring the volumetric concentration of particulate residue by:

• a. forming an aerosol containing droplets from the liquid,
• b. isolating small, uniformly sized droplets from the droplets,
• c. removing liquid from the small, uniformly sized droplets to form dissolved residue particles and particulate residue particles, and
• d. analyzing dissolved and particulate residue particles by counting and sizing.

An analysis apparatus for measuring dissolved residue concentration and particulate residue concentration and particle size distribution in colloidal suspensions and wherein the liquid and particles are in a colloidal suspension, comprising:

• a. a nebulizer/impactor for forming droplets and for isolating small, uniformly sized droplets therefrom, the nebulizer/impactor comprising a housing forming a mixing chamber including:
• (i) a liquid entrance for receiving a sample colloidal suspension into the chamber,
• (ii) a primary orifice having a first diameter for receiving a pressurized gas into the chamber for merger with the sample suspension to generate an aerosol composed of multiple droplets of the sample liquid suspended in the gas,
• (iii) a secondary orifice having a second diameter for conducting the aerosol out of the chamber;
• and
• (iv) an impactor coaxial with the mixing chamber and spaced apart axially from the secondary orifice downstream of the chamber, said impactor having a convex upstream surface cooperating with a concave surface of the housing to form a generally hemispherical path for conveying the aerosol away from the chamber;
• b. an evaporator communicatively connected to the nebulizer/impactor for removing liquid from the droplets and generating dissolved residue and particulate particles, and
• c. an analyzer, communicatively connected to the evaporator, for counting and sizing dissolved and particulate residue particles, and
• wherein the liquid volumetric inspection rate is determined by inputting a colloidal suspension with a known volumetric concentration of particulate residue and measuring the volumetric concentration of particulate residue in the aerosol produced by:
• i. forming an aerosol containing droplets from the liquid,
• ii. isolating small, uniformly sized droplets from the droplets,
• iii. removing liquid from the small, uniformly sized droplets to form dissolved residue particles and particulate residue particles, and
• iv. analyzing dissolved and particulate residue particles by counting and sizing.