Method for determining the onset of crystallization
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsRay W. Chrisman, Richard D. McLachlan, Richard S. Harner
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Abstract
A method for determining the onset of nucleation wherein a zone of a translucent fluid in which crystals may be formed is illuminated by a beam of light. When crystallization commences the crystals in the illuminated zone reflect and scatter light. Some of the scattered light is collected and transmitted to a light sensitive detector operable to generate a signal indicative of nucleation. Upon detection of nucleation either manual or automatic procedures may be instituted to modify the crystallization process in an appropriate manner.
Claims23
In a chemical process, a method of determining the presence in a translucent, continuous first phase fluid medium contained in a vessel of a discontinuous second phase having a refractive index different from that of said first phase, said method comprising:
- (a) inserting a probe in said vessel at such level as to be immersed in said fluid medium;
- (b) illuminating via said probe a zone of said fluid medium prior to the time that said second phase is present in said illuminated zone so that the presence of said second phase in said illuminated zone may scatter light;
- (c) collecting via said probe light scattered by said second phase present in said illuminated zone;
- and
- (d) transmitting said collected light to a light sensitive detector.
In a crystallization process, a method of determining the formation in a translucent fluid medium contained in a vessel of light scattering crystals having a refractive index different from that of said medium, said method comprising:
- (a) inserting a probe in said vessel at such level as to be immersed in said fluid medium;
- (b) illuminating via said probe a zone of said fluid medium prior to the formation of crystals therein so that the presence of crystals in said illuminated zone may scatter light;
- (c) collecting via said probe light scattered by crystals present in said zone;
- and
- (d) transmitting the collected light to light detecting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.