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US 4,908,676 AGranted
Sensors for dissolved substances in fluids
AssigneeBio-Recovery Systems, Inc.
InventorsGlenn W. Bedell, Benjamin Greene, Marion Davis, Floyd J. Abbott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention comprises a simple multi-purpose on-line system for monitoring the concentration and/or the total amount of an organic analyte species or inorganic analyte species in an aqueous solution. The on-line detection system comprises a detection column and a sensor mounted around the detection column. The sensor consists of an electromagnetic radiation source (typically a light source) and an appropriate detector for the electromagnetic radiation. The response from the detector drives an electric circuit, which provides a signal to a recorder as well as a means to trip an alarm system and/or a process system.
Claims80
A method for monitoring the amount of a selected analyte in a process stream comprising:
- withdrawing a side stream from said process stream;
- passing said side stream through a column containing an adsorbent wherein said adsorbent adsorbs said selected analyte and further wherein said adsorbed selected analyte has an extinction coefficient such that said adsorbed selected analyte absorbs detectable electromagnetic energy;
- shining a beam of electromagnetic radiation, having a wavelength absorbed by said adsorbed selected analyte, at a selected location on said column;
- choosing said selected location based upon the amount of said selected analyte and a predetermined sampling period wherein for said predetermined sampling period, said selected location is moved away from an inlet of said column and toward an outlet of said column as said monitored amount of said selected analyte is increased;
- and
- measuring the level of electromagnetic radiation from said selected location on said column containing said adsorbent as said side stream passes through said column.
3 more elements
A method for monitoring the amount of a selected analyte in a process stream comprising:
- directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a selected portion of the process stream, said electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength absorbed by said selected analyte;
- measuring the level of electromagnetic radiation from said selected portion of the process stream and producing a first signal in response thereto;
- comparing said first signal to a preset electrical reference signal representative of a specified reference concentration of said selected analyte in said process stream;
- and
- generating an output signal when the comparison of said first signal to said preset electrical reference signal indicates that the concentration of said selected analyte in the process stream has changed in relation to said reference concentration.
2 more elements
A method as in claim 47 wherein said selected angle is about 0.degree. to 180.degree. thereby said photodetector measures said fluorescence.
A system for monitoring the concentration of a selected analyte in a process stream comprising:
- means for directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a portion of the process stream, said electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength absorbed by said analyte;
- means for measuring electromagnetic radiation from said portion of the process stream and producing a first signal in response thereto;
- means for comparing said first signal to a preset electrical reference signal representative of a specified reference concentration of said selected analyte in said process stream;
- and
- means for generating an output signal when the comparison of said first signal to said preset electrical reference signal indicates that the concentration of said selected analyte in the process stream has changed in relation to said reference concentration.
2 more elements
A system for monitoring the amount of a selected analyte in a process stream comprising:
- means for withdrawing a side stream from said process stream;
- a column having an inlet and an outlet, said column containing an adsorbent wherein said adsorbent adsorbs said selected analyte and further wherein said adsorbed selected analyte has an extinction coefficient such that said adsorbed analyte absorbs detectable electromagnetic energy;
- means for passing said side stream through said column;
- a source of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength absorbed by said adsorbed selected analyte;
- means for positioning said source of electromagnetic radiation so that a beam of electromagnetic radiation from said source is incident upon a selected location on said column, said selected location being any position between said inlet and said outlet of said column;
- and
- means, operatively mounted on said column, for measuring a level of electromagnetic radiation from said selected location on said column containing said adsorbent as said side stream passes through said column.
4 more elements
A colorimeter for comparing the amount of a dissolved substance in a first fluid sample to a selected amount of said dissolved substance in a second fluid sample comprising;
- means for holding said first fluid sample;
- an electromagnetic radiation source producing a beam of radiation having a wavelength absorbed by said dissolved substance, wherein said beam is incident upon said first fluid sample in said means for holding;
- means for detecting electromagnetic radiation from said first fluid sample and for producing an output signal proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation detected;
- means for orienting said source of electromagnetic radiation and said means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation so that said beam of radiation interacts with said first fluid sample in said means for holding said first fluid sample and then electromagnetic radiation from said first fluid sample enters said means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation;
- means for generating a preset reference electrical signal equivalent to said output signal of said means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation when said electromagnetic radiation interacts with said second fluid sample;
- means for comparing said output signal of said means for detecting with said preset reference signal;
- and
- means for generating an output signal when said output signal of said means for detecting is different than said preset reference signal.
5 more elements
A method for monitoring the amount of a selected analyte in a process stream comprising:
- packing a column, having an inlet and an outlet, with an adsorbent that adsorbs said selected analyte;
- withdrawing a side stream from said process stream;
- passing said side stream through said column so that said selected analyte is first adsorbed by said adsorbent at about the inlet of said column and as said process stream continues to pass through said column the portion of the adsorbent in the column containing adsorbed analyte increases, so that a boundary layer consisting essentially of said adsorbed analyte progresses with time from said said inlet towards said outlet;
- and
- detecting whether said boundary layer reaches a selected region on said column, said selected region being between said column inlet and said column outlet, thereby determining the amount of said selected analyte in said process stream relative to a predetermined amount of said selected analyte.
2 more elements
A system for monitoring the amount of a selected analyte in a process stream comprising:
- means for withdrawing a side stream from said process stream;
- a column having an inlet and an outlet;
- an adsorbent, packed in said column, wherein said adsorbent adsorbs said selected analyte and further wherein said adsorbed selected analyte has an extinction coefficient such that said adsorbed analyte absorbs detectable electromagnetic radiation;
- means for passing said side stream through said column so that said selected analyte is first adsorbed by said adsorbent at about the inlet of said column and as said process stream continues to pass through said column the portion of the adsorbent in the column containing adsorbed analyte increases so that a boundary layer consisting essentially of said adsorbed analyte progresses with time from about said inlet towards said outlet;
- and
- means for detecting whether said boundary layer reaches a selected region on said column, said selected region being between said column inlet and said column outlet, thereby determining the amount of said selected analyte in said process stream relative to a predetermined amount of said selected analyte.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.