Apparatus and method for measuring low boiling component contained in relatively high-boiling liquid

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the concentration of a light hydrocarbon in a relatively high boiling liquid mixture. A chamber is sealed liquid full of the liquid mixture. The internal volume of the chamber is then increased by mechanical means, causing the liquid to boil adiabatically within the chamber. The absolute pressure within the chamber is then measured and indicates the amount of light hydrocarbon present as compared to previous samplings. In a specific embodiment of the invention the apparatus comprises a chamber with a spring and bellows mechanism for increasing the internal volume of the chamber. In a further embodiment of the invention the input of heat to a distillation column is controlled in response to a signal generated corresponding to the absolute pressure measured in a continuous sequential sampling of liquid from a chosen point within the distillation column.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.