AUTOMATED PHASE SEPARATION AND FUEL QUALITY SENSOR
First Claim
1. A system for characterization of fluid in a container, comprising:
- at least one fluid sensor segment comprising a first and second electrode;
excitation circuitry connected to at least one of said electrodes; and
complex current or complex impedance measurement circuitry connected to at least one of said electrodes,wherein said system characterizes the fluid by measuring complex current flowing between electrodes or the complex impedance of the fluid situated between the electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid characterization sensor comprising a plurality of sensor segments is disclosed. Each segment comprises two electrodes, spaced apart so the fluid in the corresponding interval of depth for that segment is positioned between them. Complex current or impedance is measured by exciting one electrode with an AC signal, and measuring the amplitude and phase of the current in the other electrode. After automatically measuring and accounting for pre-determined gain, offset, temperature, and other parasitic influences on the raw sensor signal, the complex electrical impedance of the fluid between the electrodes is calculated from the measured phase/amplitude and/or real/imaginary components of the received electrical current signal and/or the variation of the measured response with variation in excitation frequency. Comparison of measured results with results taken using known fluids identifies fluid properties. Alternatively, measured results are compared to predicted results using forward models describing expected results for different fluids or contaminants.
75 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A system for characterization of fluid in a container, comprising:
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at least one fluid sensor segment comprising a first and second electrode; excitation circuitry connected to at least one of said electrodes; and complex current or complex impedance measurement circuitry connected to at least one of said electrodes, wherein said system characterizes the fluid by measuring complex current flowing between electrodes or the complex impedance of the fluid situated between the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 48, 49, 51)
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28. A method for detecting water or aqueous ethanol in a container holding a liquid product, comprising the steps of:
measuring the complex current or complex impedance of sensor segment electrodes, between which is disposed the fluid in the container, at a plurality of depths to acquire complex current or complex impedance measurements; and
characterizing the fluid at each of said plurality of depths based on said complex current or complex impedance measurements.- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 50)
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33. A method of detecting leaks in a container holding fluids, including intentionally added fluids, said method comprising:
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measuring the complex current or complex impedance of the fluids in the container at a plurality of depths to acquire complex current or complex impedance measurements; comparing said complex current or complex impedance measurements to known complex current or complex impedance values for the intentionally added fluids; determining whether unintentionally added fluids have entered the container the fuel based on said comparison; and if unintentionally added fluids have entered the container, indicating the presence of a leak.
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43. A method for leak detection of fluid that unintentionally enters a container, said method comprising:
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analyzing fluid contents of the container; and detecting fluids not intentionally added to the container. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification