Electro-magnetic-thermal monitoring systems and related methods
AssigneeBattelle Energy Alliance, LLC
InventorsTae-Sic Yoo, David L. Zirker, David C. Horvath
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Abstract
A method for determining a material composition of a sample comprises heating a sample having an unknown material composition to an elevated temperature, cooling the sample to a baseline temperature, measuring phase changes of the sample, generating a temperature curve of the sample between the elevated temperature and the baseline temperature, and comparing the temperature curve of the sample to a known temperature curve. Additional methods and electro-magnetic thermal (EMT) monitoring systems are disclosed.
Claims20
A method for determining a material composition of a sample comprising:
- heating a sample having an unknown material composition to an elevated temperature;
- cooling the sample to a baseline temperature;
- measuring temperatures of the sample;
- generating a temperature curve of the sample between the elevated temperature and the baseline temperature;
- and
- comparing the temperature curve of the sample to a temperature curve of a material having a known composition.
An electromagnetic-thermal monitoring system for determining a material composition, the electromagnetic-thermal monitoring system comprising:
- an enclosure configured to hold a sample;
- an induction heating element configured to be in thermal communication with the sample within the enclosure, the induction heating configured to produce an electromagnetic field within the enclosure and proximal to the sample;
- a thermal sensor configured to be in thermal communication with the sample within the enclosure, the thermal sensor configured to measure temperature changes at a focal point of the sample within the enclosure;
- and
- a processor configured to receive temperature data from the thermal sensor and to determine a distinctive phase change temperature correlating to at least one composition of a sample within the enclosure.
A method for determining a material composition of a sample comprising:
- heating a sample having an unknown material composition to a temperature below a melting point of the sample;
- cooling the sample to a baseline temperature;
- measuring temperatures of the sample while heating the sample and cooling the sample;
- correcting the measured temperatures of the sample based on emissivity;
- generating a temperature curve of the corrected temperatures of the sample between the elevated temperature and the baseline temperature;
- comparing the temperature curve of the sample to one or more temperature curves of a known material;
- and
- determining a material composition of the sample based on comparing the temperature curve of the sample and the one or more temperature curves of the known material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.