Emulsion composition monitor
AssigneeRoxar, Inc.
InventorGregory Scott Gaisford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system monitors the composition of emulsions (e.g., oil/water mixtures) by measuring one or more electrical properties (e.g., dielectric constant) of the emulsion. A computer processor determines a plurality of possible solutions using a predetermined relationship between the measured electrical properties and the component fractions of the emulsion. One possible solution is determined for each component that might be the continuous phase in the emulsion. The computer processor then evaluates the component fractions resulting from each possible solution to choose which single solution is most reasonable based on known physical limits for a continuous phase emulsion involving the component associated with each possible solution. The component fractions associated with the selected solution are output by the processor.
Claims24
A method for determining the composition of an emulsion having a plurality of components, wherein an unknown one of said components constitutes the continuous phase in the emulsion, said method comprising:
- measuring at least one electrical property of the emulsion;
- solving a predetermined mathematical relationship between the measured electrical properties and the component fractions of the emulsion to determine a plurality of possible solutions, wherein one possible solution is determined for each component that might be the continuous phase in the emulsion;
- selecting one of said possible solutions by comparing the component fractions resulting from each of said possible solutions to physical limits for a continuous phase emulsion of the component associated with the possible solution;
- and
- outputting the component fractions associated with the selected solution.
A monitor for determining the composition of an emulsion having a plurality of components, wherein an unknown one of said components constitutes the continuous phase in the emulsion, said monitor comprising:
- means for measuring at least one electrical property of the emulsion;
- means for determining a plurality of possible solutions using a mathematical relationship between said measured electrical properties and the component fractions of the emulsion, wherein one possible solution is determined for each component that might be the continuous phase in the emulsion;
- means for evaluating the component fractions resulting from each possible solution to select one possible solution based on physical limits for a continuous phase emulsion involving the component associated with each possible solution;
- and
- means for outputting the component fractions associated with the selected solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.