Apparatus for physical properties measurements at high temperatures and pressures
AssigneeChevron Research Company
InventorsRalph Simon, Raymond L. Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for measuring physical properties of a sample material at controllable temperatures and pressures. The apparatus includes a sample cell for holding fluid and/or solid samples. The cell includes at least one optically transparent window permitting visual and electromagnetic energy observations of the sample. A probe functions within the cell to collect a subsample for movement to apparatus for measuring properties and for returning the subsample to the cell. One form of optically transparent window is a sapphire. The cell is intended for measurements of physical properties at temperatures from about -40.degree. F. to about +400.degree. F. and at pressures from vacuum to at least 20,000 pounds per square inch.
Claims24
Apparatus for measuring physical and chemical properties of fluid and/or solid systems including composition, density, viscosity and interfacial tension of a sample, said measurements being conducted at controllable temperature and pressure, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a sample cell and means for inserting a sample into said sample cell, said sample cell being capable of maintaining said sample at said controllable temperature and pressure;
- (b) means movable within said sample cell and means for moving said movable means to determinable positions within said sample cell;
- (c) means connected to said movable means for capturing a measured quantity of said sample and for maintaining said measured quantity at the temperature and pressure maintained within said sample cell;
- (d) means for moving said captured sample to means for measuring properties of said sample and for returning said captured sample to said sample cell without changing the temperature and pressure on said captured sample;
- (e) and means for making visual and/or electromagnetic energy observations from outside said sample cell on said sample contained within said sample cell.
Apparatus for measuring characteristics including composition, density, viscosity and interfacial tension of fluid phases of a petroleum based sample having vapor and/or liquid phases at the temperature and pressure existing where said sample was taken, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a sample cell capable of maintaining said sample at a temperature and pressure at least as high as the temperature and pressure existing where said sample was taken, said sample cell having means for inserting a sample into said cell, means for controlling the pressure and temperature of said sample within said sample cell, and means for permitting visual and radiant energy observations from outside said sample cell on said sample contained within said sample cell;
- (b) a sample probe movable within said sample cell and means for moving said probe to determinable positions within said sample cell;
- (c) means for measuring composition of any phase within said sample cell by positioning said sample probe within said sample cell, and means for transporting a measurable quantity of said sample collected at said probe through said sample;
- (d) means for nondestructively measuring density of any phase within said sample cell by performing measurement techniques from outside of said sample cell on said phases of said sample within said sample cell at said temperature and pressure maintained within said sample cell;
- (e) means for nondestructively measuring viscosity on said sample contained within said sample cell;
- (f) and means for nondestructively measuring interfacial tension between phases of said sample within said sample cell at said pressure and temperature maintained with said sample cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.