METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PROPERTIES OF WEAK ELECTROLYTIC, ORGANIC FLUIDS SUCH AS HYDROCARBON-BASED FLUIDS

• US 20090026090A1
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Danyluk, Steven, Tereshko, Sergey, Mess, Francis, Zharin, Anatoly
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A method and system for determining chemical properties of a fluid. The method and system include providing a weak electrolyte fluid, a container for the fluid, a detection method performed by a device having at least two electrodes, a detection and amplification device coupled to the electrodes and a sensed current compared to an uncontaminated, base fluid or compared to data characteristic of fluid contaminated or chemically changed in order to monitor and characterize the fluid.

Claims

1. A method of determining chemical properties of a fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a weak electrolyte test fluid;

providing a fluid container in which a test fluid can be contained;

providing a detection device disposed at least partly in the fluid container, the detection device including at least two electrodes;

providing a detection and amplification device coupled to the at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes and the fluid collectively generating electrical current served by the detection and amplification device; and

comparing the sensed electrical current to a standard electrical current characteristic of an unmodified chemical state of the test fluid, thereby determining the chemical properties of the test fluid.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of measuring Galvanic potential by using high impedance DC techniques.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of measuring corrosion currents by use of low impedance DC techniques.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of applying low frequency voltage bias modulation to at least one of the at least two electrodes.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of using closed-loop feedback to apply and measure electrical potential from the at least two electrodes.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of using closed-loop feedback is used to apply a cancellation potential between the at least two electrodes.

7. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of using closed-loop feedback is used to apply a cancellation current between the electrodes.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least two electrodes comprise concentric cylinders.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least two electrodes comprise a printed circuit board device.

11. The method as defined in claim 8 further including the step of measuring Galvanic potential by using high impedance DC techniques.

12. The method as defined in claim 8 further including the step of measuring corrosion currents by use of low impedance DC techniques.

13. The method as defined in claim 8 further including the step of applying low frequency voltage bias modulation to at least one of the at least two electrodes.

14. The method as defined in claim 8 further including the step of using closed-loop feedback to apply and measure electrical potential from the at least two electrodes.

15. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of using closed-loop feedback is used to apply a cancellation potential between the electrodes.

16. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of using closed-loop feedback is used to apply a cancellation current between the electrodes.

17. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the at least two electrodes comprise concentric cylinders.

18. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the at least two electrodes comprise a printed circuit board device

10. A method of determining chemical properties of a fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a weak electrolyte test fluid;

providing a fluid container in which a test fluid can be contained;

providing a detection device disposed at least partly in the fluid container, the detection device including at least two electrodes;

providing a detection and amplification device coupled to the at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes and the fluid collectively generating electrical current served by the detection and amplification device; and

comparing the sensed electrical current to data characteristic of contaminants present in the test fluid, thereby determining the chemical properties of the test fluid.