Conductivity sensor with void correction
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a conductivity sensor for measuring the conductivity of at least a first portion of a fluid sample;
a first capacitance electrode;
a second capacitance electrode; and
a controller configured todetermine a measured conductivity from the conductivity sensor;
determine a measured capacitance between the first capacitance electrode and the second capacitance electrode; and
determine a corrected conductivity measurement based on the measured capacitance and the measured conductivity;
whereinthe first and second capacitance electrodes are positioned so that the capacitance between the first and second capacitance electrodes is affected by the first portion of the fluid sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods can be used for correcting for the presence of voids in a fluid when measuring the conductivity thereof. The conductivity of a fluid can be measured using a conductivity sensor. Capacitance electrodes can be used to measure the capacitance of the fluid. The measured capacitance affected by the fluid can be used in combination with the measured conductivity to determine a corrected conductivity value that compensates for possible voids in the fluid. Other parameters, such as the makeup or temperature of the fluid can be used in determining the corrected conductivity measurement. Some such systems include an annular housing and can be inserted or integrated into fluid flow systems so that fluid to be analyzed flows through an aperture defined by the annular housing.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a conductivity sensor for measuring the conductivity of at least a first portion of a fluid sample; a first capacitance electrode; a second capacitance electrode; and a controller configured to determine a measured conductivity from the conductivity sensor; determine a measured capacitance between the first capacitance electrode and the second capacitance electrode; and determine a corrected conductivity measurement based on the measured capacitance and the measured conductivity;
whereinthe first and second capacitance electrodes are positioned so that the capacitance between the first and second capacitance electrodes is affected by the first portion of the fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for performing a conductivity measurement of a flowing fluid comprising:
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flowing a fluid sample past a conductivity sensor; measuring the conductivity of the fluid sample; flowing the fluid sample past a first capacitance electrode and a second capacitance electrode; measuring a capacitance affected by the fluid sample using the first and second capacitance electrodes; correlating the measured capacitance with a conductivity correction; and determining a corrected conductivity value by adjusting the measured conductivity based on the conductivity correction. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A sensor for determining the conductivity of a fluid in a fluid flow system comprising:
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a sensor board made from a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) material and including a first electrode, a second electrode, a temperature sensor, and a connector, the sensor board being wrapped around a fluid flow path so that at least some of the fluid flowing in the fluid flow system flows between a portion of the first electrode and the second electrode; an excitation toroid coil and a measuring toroid coil, the excitation and measuring toroid coils each surrounding a portion of the fluid flow path so that at least some of the fluid flowing through the fluid flow system flows through both the excitation and measuring toroid coils; and a controller configured to; communicate with the excitation and measuring toroid coils in order to determine a measured conductivity of the fluid flowing through the flow system; determine the capacitance between the first and second electrodes of the sensor board; determine the temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid flow system; and determine a corrected conductivity value for the fluid flowing through the fluid flow system based on the measured conductivity, the determined capacitance, and the determined temperature.
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Specification