Loading patent…
AssigneeCanadian Patents and Development Limited
InventorsHugo I. de Lasa, Shiun-Liang Lee, Maurice A. Bergougnou
Estimating the term…
Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining one or more physical characteristics of individual bubbles in a gas-liquid system and a gas-liquid-solid system at high temperatures and pressures. An in situ probe device is inserted into the system over which individual bubbles flow. The probe device has a plurality of independent probes. Each has a rounded fibre optic end portion projecting into the system. A source of incident light is directed onto each of the probes. The rounded end portion of each probe is formed with a radius of curvature sufficiently large whereby the angle of incidence of the source light at the rounded portion is greater than the angle of total reflection for the fibre optic when in contact with the gas. The angle of incidence is less than the angle of total reflection for the fibre optic when in contact with the liquid. The plurality of probes are spatially arranged to detect one or more of the bubble physical characteristics as a bubble flows over the probe device. The change in light intensity of reflected light emerging from the probe is measured. The change in light intensities of each of the probes over time is evaluated to determine the one or more bubble characteristics. Each probe is formed of sufficiently thin fibre optic and spaced from the other probes of the device to enable detection of the bubble characteristics for individual bubbles flowing over the probe device. This probe system enables the monitoring of physical characteristics of bubbles in two and three phase systems in an efficient, reliable, economical manner. The system also provides for a measure of solid, gas and liquid hold-ups in a three-phase system.
A method for determining one or more physical characteristics of individual bubbles and particle solid hold-up in a gas-liquid-particulate solid system by use of an in situ probe device inserted into said system over which said individual bubbles and solid particle flow, said probe device having a plurality of independent probes, each having a rounded fibre optic end portion projecting into said system, directing a source of incident light onto each of said probes of said device, said rounded end portion being formed with a radius of curvature sufficiently large whereby the angle of incidence of said source light at said rounded portion is greater than the angle of total reflection for said fibre optic when in contact with said gas and the angle of incidence is less than the angle of total reflection for said fibre optic when in contact with said liquid, spatially arranging said plurality of probes of said probe device to detect one or more of said bubble physical characteristics as a bubble flows over said probe device, measuring the change in light intensity of reflected light emerging from each said probe, evaluating said change in light intensities of each said probe over time to determine said one or more bubble characteristics, each said probe being formed of sufficiently thin fibre optic and spaced from said other probes of said device to enable detection of said bubble characteristics for individual bubbles flowing over said probe device, establishing a base line value for measured light intensity emerging from each said probe while said probe is in contact with said liquid and particles, detecting a slight increase relative to said base line value in intensity of said reflected light emerging from said probe, converting said detected slight increase into a value for increased concentration of said particulate solids in said system adjacent said probe in accordance with a predetermined scheme which relates particulate solids concentration to a detected increase in said light intensity relative to said base line value of light intensity of said emerging light.
An apparatus for determining one or more physical characteristics of individual bubbles in a gas-liquid system comprising an in situ probe device adapted for insertion into such gas-liquid system in an area where individual bubbles flow in such system, said probe device comprising a plurality of independent probes, each of said probes having a rounded fibre optic end portion, means for directing a source of incident light onto each of said probes, said rounded end portion having a geometric shape defined by:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.