Instruments for monitoring electrostatic phenomena in reactors
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsWilliam Anthony Lamberti, Joseph Andres Moebus, Harry William Deckman, Charles R. Buhler, Judson S. Clements
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Probes for monitoring electrostatic phenomena in challenging environments, such as fluidized bed reactors. These probes include a coated or uncoated static probe for measuring electric field and or particle charge state, an oscillatory electric field probe for measuring electric field, a chopped electric field probe for measuring electric field, and a radio-frequency antenna probe for detecting electrostatic discharges.
Claims26
A coated static probe which monitors the electrostatic charge on particles entrained in the gas stream of a vessel, said probe comprising:
- an electrode with a modified surface comprising an electrically insulating coating, thereby mitigating triboelectrification of said probe arising from charge transfer from impinging particulates and extraneous signals via charge saturation of said coating.
A coated static probe which monitors the electrostatic charge on particles entrained in the gas stream of a vessel, said probe comprising:
- an electrode with a modified surface comprising a coating which measures the ambient direct current electric field by periodically blocking the field near said probe while also substantially preventing particle-to-surface interactions via purging of a sensing element with a flowing gas.
An RF probe which monitors electrostatic discharges in a vessel, said probe comprising:
- an antenna;
- a flange bolted to a mating flange welded on the outside of a wall of said vessel;
- an electrode connected to said antenna, wherein said rod is hermetically sealed by means of an insulating material, thereby electrically isolating said antenna from said flange;
- an electronics module and a power supply disposed within a pressure containment housing or a separate shielded, cooled external enclosure located outside of said vessel and electronically connected to said rod;
- and
- an electrically conductive wire which electronically connects said antenna to said electronics module.
A probe which monitors the electrostatic state in a vessel, said probe is at least one selected from the group consisting of:
- a coated or uncoated static probe, an oscillatory electric field probe, a chopped electric field probed, and a radio-frequency antenna probe.
A fluidized bed reactor comprising either a coated static probe or a radio frequency (RF) probe disposed in at least one portion of the fluidized bed reactor selected from the group consisting of:
- a recycle line, product discharge system, fluid bed, expanded or disengagement zone above the fluidized bed, purge system, and product handling or shipping system.
A stirred, slurry or other type of reactor system with a coated static probe or a radio frequency (RF) probe disposed in said reactor system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.