Gas saturation monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the amount of a condensable fuel that can be added into a fuel gas before condensation is likely to occur, comprising the steps of:
- measuring a first temperature indicative of the fuel gas temperature;
measuring a second temperature wherein the second temperature is the adiabatic saturation temperature of the condensable fuel and related to the rate at which the condensable fuel evaporates into the fuel gas;
determining a difference between the first measured temperature and the second measured temperature; and
recording the determined difference for selectively determining if the fuel gas is maintained at a safe level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring the amount of butane that can be safely added into a fuel gas before condensation occurs includes a dry-bulb thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the gas and a wet-bulb thermocouple for measuring the temperature of a wick soaked in the butane. For a continuous flowing process the difference in the two measured temperatures indicates the proportion of butane that can be added before saturation, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the butane. The wick is periodically flushed with butane, in order to prevent the heavy hydrocarbon components in the butane from accumulating.
26 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the amount of a condensable fuel that can be added into a fuel gas before condensation is likely to occur, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a first temperature indicative of the fuel gas temperature; measuring a second temperature wherein the second temperature is the adiabatic saturation temperature of the condensable fuel and related to the rate at which the condensable fuel evaporates into the fuel gas; determining a difference between the first measured temperature and the second measured temperature; and recording the determined difference for selectively determining if the fuel gas is maintained at a safe level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
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7. Apparatus for determining the amount of a condensable hydrocarbon-containing fuel needed to saturate a fuel gas, comprising:
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a chamber having a first inlet for admitting the fuel gas and a second inlet for admitting the condensable fuel in liquid form; a receptacle within said chamber for receiving liquid entering said chamber through said second inlet; a first temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the fuel gas in said chamber; a second temperature sensing means for measuring a value related to the rate at which the condensable fuel evaporates into the fuel gas; a wick for conducting the liquid in said receptacle to said second temperature sensing means and means periodically diverting a flow of the liquid from said receptacle to the top of the wick; and means for indicating the difference in the temperature measured by said two temperature sensing means for selectively determining if the fuel gas is maintained at a safe level. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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10. Apparatus for measuring the degree to which a fuel gas is saturated with a condensable fuel, comprising:
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a first temperature sensing device for measuring the temperature of the fuel gas; a second temperature sensing device for measuring the adiabatic saturation temperature of the condensable fuel which is related to the rate at which the condensable fuel evaporates into the fuel gas; means for determining a difference between the first measured temperature and the second measured temperature; and means for indicating the determined difference for selectively determining if the fuel gas is maintained at a safe level. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification