US 7,072,439 B2 · X-ray tube and method and apparatus for analyzing fluid streams using x-rays

Abstract

A technique for analyzing fluids by means of x-ray fluorescence applicable to any fluid, including liquids and gases, which emit x-ray fluorescence when exposed to x-rays. The apparatus includes an x-ray source (82) including an x-ray tube (64) having improved heat dissipating properties due to a thermally-conductive, dielectric material (70, 1150). The x-ray tube also includes means for aligning (100, 2150, 2715) the tube with the source housing whereby the orientation of the x-ray beam produced by the source can be optimized, and stabilized over various operating conditions. The method and apparatus may also include an x-ray detector having a small-area, for example, a PIN-diode type semiconductor x-ray detector (120), that can provide effective x-ray detection at room temperature. One aspect of the disclosed invention is most amenable to the analysis of sulfur in petroleum-based fuels.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A wavelength dispersive apparatus for analyzing a fluid using x-rays, comprising:

means for exposing the fluid to focused x-rays to cause at least one component of the fluid to x-ray fluoresce, including:
a first focusing optic for focusing the x-rays on the fluid, and
at least one x-ray exposure chamber, having an exposure aperture less than about 10 mm in diameter;
means for analyzing x-ray fluorescence to determine at least one characteristic of the fluid, including:
at least one x-ray detector having an active area operating at a temperature greater than about 0 degrees centigrade and substantially uncooled;
and
a second focusing optic to collect x-ray fluorescence from the fluid, and focus said x-ray fluorescence on the detector;
wherein at least one of the first or second focusing optics is a monochromating optic providing wavelength dispersion for the focused x-rays and/or the x-ray fluorescence from the sample.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/858,173Filed 1 Jun 2004 · continuation

Priority

4 Dec 2001

Published

US 2005/0031073 A110 Feb 2005

Granted

4 Jul 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01N 23/223
By measuring secondary emission from the material: by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence
G01N 23/083
And measuring the absorption: the radiation being X-rays
G01N 23/12
And measuring the absorption: the material being a flowing fluid or a flowing granular solid
G01N 2223/076
Secondary emission: x-ray fluorescence

Family

Application60/336,584Us provisional application · filed 4 Dec 2001

Application60/383,990Us provisional application · filed 29 May 2002

Application10/206,531Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jul 2002

Application60/398,968Us provisional application · filed 26 Jul 2002

Application60/398,965Us provisional application · filed 26 Jul 2002

Application60/398,966Us provisional application · filed 26 Jul 2002

PCT/US02/38792Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Dec 2002

US 2005/0031073 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Feb 2005

US 6,781,060 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2004/0016559 A1Published application

US 7,072,439 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

X-ray tube and method and apparatus for analyzing fluid streams using x-rays

Life of this patent

X-ray tube and method and apparatus for analyzing fluid streams using x-rays

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31