Methods and apparatus for sampling and diluting concentrated emulsions

A method of sampling and diluting a concentrated flowing emulsion to form a dilute emulsion, the method comprising:

• providing a flow rate controlling valve which ensures a constant flow rate irrespective of pressure drop across the flow rate controlling valve;
• obtaining a sample of the concentrated flowing emulsion comprising a dispersed phase and a continuous phase fluid;
• measuring a droplet concentration of the dispersed phase in the sample, wherein the droplet concentration is greater than about 1000 ppm;
• continuously flowing a portion of the concentrated flowing emulsion for dilution in a dilution chamber and for droplet size measurement by a droplet size distribution measuring component;
• continuously diluting the continuously flowing portion of the concentrated flowing emulsion with a pure continuous phase fluid, forming a first diluted emulsion in the dilution chamber;
• and continuously flowing a portion of the first diluted emulsion to the droplet size distribution measuring component at the constant flow rate via the flow rate controlling valve being located downstream the droplet size distribution measuring component to ensure that a flow velocity through the droplet size distribution measuring component is at a suitable velocity for measuring the droplet size distribution.