Apparatus and method for measuring temperature dependent properties of liquid
AssigneeIBET, Inc.
InventorsArmen P. Sarvazyan, George Eric Plum
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for measurement of optical properties of a liquid as a function of temperature. The method and apparatus are based on formation of a stable temperature gradient through the holding cell containing the liquid under study, measurement of the optical property or properties of interest as a function of position, and relating the positions of the optical measurements to the temperature of the studied liquid at that position. In the preferred application, thermal and thermodynamic properties of solutes are obtained.
Claims29
An apparatus for measuring a temperature-dependent optical property of a liquid comprising:
- a first holding cell to contain said liquid, said holding cell defining a first temperature point and a second temperature point,
- a temperature control system adapted to bring a temperature of said first temperature point to and maintain it at a predetermined first temperature level, said temperature control system further adapted to independently and at the same time bring a temperature of said second temperature point to and maintain it at a predetermined second temperature level, whereby defining the difference between said first and said second temperature levels as a temperature gradient between said first temperature point and second temperature point within said holding cell, and
- an optical system adapted to interrogate said liquid contained in said holding cell at a point of measurement and obtain said temperature-dependent optical property, said point of measurement having a known geometrical position relative to said first temperature point and said second temperature point of said holding cell,
- whereby the temperature of said liquid at said point of measurement is defined by said temperature gradient and said known geometrical position of said point of measurement relative to said first temperature point and said second temperature point of said holding cell.
A method for measuring a temperature-dependent optical property of a liquid comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a holding cell containing said liquid, said holding cell defining a first temperature point and a second temperature point,
- b) selecting the values of said first temperature and said second temperature;
- c) bringing a temperature at said first and said second temperature points respectively to said selected first and said second temperature values at the same time by heating or cooling said holding cell at said first and said second temperature points within said holding cell,
- d) illuminating said liquid through said cell with light and collecting said light on the other side of said cell for measuring said temperature-dependent optical property of said liquid at a point of measurement, said point of measurement having a known geometrical position relative to said first temperature point and said second temperature point of said holding cell, and
- e) defining a temperature of said liquid from said first temperature, said second temperature and said known geometrical position of said point of measurement relative to said first temperature point and said second temperature point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.