Non-invasive, in-line consistency measurement of a non-newtonian fluid
First Claim
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1. A method for measuring and monitoring the consistency of a fluid having at least two components and flowing through a conduit, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fluid feedstock into a conduit in a manner where the fluid flows through the conduit in a substantially non-turbulent manner,(b) sensing the velocity of the fluid feedstock flowing through the conduit,(c) sensing the pressure of the fluid at two points separated by a selected distance along the conduit,(d) determining the pressure differential between the two points,(e) inputting values of the pressure differential, distance and velocity into a calculating device, and(f) calculating the consistency of the fluid according to a power-law algorithm applicable to the cross-sectional geometry of the conduit.
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Abstract
Provided herein is an in-line, non-invasive device and method for calculation of consistency of a non-Newtonian fluid flowing in a laminar manner through a non-rotating conduit where the consistency is calculated directly from a power-law model equation employing as independent variables pressure head loss over a specific distance and the bulk velocity of the fluid.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for measuring and monitoring the consistency of a fluid having at least two components and flowing through a conduit, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a fluid feedstock into a conduit in a manner where the fluid flows through the conduit in a substantially non-turbulent manner, (b) sensing the velocity of the fluid feedstock flowing through the conduit, (c) sensing the pressure of the fluid at two points separated by a selected distance along the conduit, (d) determining the pressure differential between the two points, (e) inputting values of the pressure differential, distance and velocity into a calculating device, and (f) calculating the consistency of the fluid according to a power-law algorithm applicable to the cross-sectional geometry of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
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6. A method of controlling the consistency of a liquid comprised of at least two components and which simulates a pseudoplastic when flowing in a substantially laminar condition through a substantially circular conduit, the steps comprising:
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(a) flowing said liquid in a substantially laminar conditon through the conduit, (b) measuring the bulk velocity of said fluid as it flows through said conduit, (c) measuring any change in the pressure of the fluid in said conduit as said fluid flows between two points spaced a distance L from each other, (d) adjusting the level of a component in the liquid to thereby control the consistency of the liquid in response to the following formula;
##EQU15## where C=consistency (%)
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7. A method of controlling the consistency of a liquid comprised of at least two components and which simulates a pseudoplastic when flowing in a substantially laminar condition through a conduit of a slotted cross-sectional configuration, the steps comprising:
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(a) flowing said liquid in a substantially laminar condition through the conduit of a slotted cross-sectional configuration, (b) measuring the bulk velocity of said fluid as it flows through said conduit, (c) measuring any change in the pressure of the fluid in said conduit as said fluid flows between two points spaced a distance L from each other, (d) adjusting the level of a component in the liquid to thereby control the consistency of the liquid in response to the following formula;
##EQU16## where C=consistency (%).
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9. An apparatus for monitoring the consistency of a liquid composed of at least two components simulating a non-Newtonian fluid when flowing in a substantially laminar manner through a conduit of a given cross-sectional configuration, comprising:
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(a) means for flowing said fluid in a substantially laminar manner through the conduit, (b) means for measuring the bulk velocity of the fluid flowing through the conduit, said measuring means producing a signal representative of the bulk velocity, (c) at least two separate and spaced apart means for sensing the pressure of the fluid in the conduit where each sensing means produces a signal representative of the pressure at each point, and (d) means for directly calculating consistency of the liquid according to a power-law model requiring as independent values, said representative signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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18. An apparatus for controlling the consistency of a liquid comprised of at least two components and which simulates a non-Newtonian fluid when flowing in a substantially laminar condition through a conduit of a given cross-sectional configuration, comprising:
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(a) means for flowing said liquid in a substantially laminar condition through the conduit of a given cross-sectional configuration, (b) means for measuring the bulk velocity of said fluid as it flows through said conduit, (c) means for measuring any change in the pressure of the fluid in said conduit as said fluid flows between two points spaced a distance L from each other, (d) means for adjusting the level of a component in the liquid to thereby control the consistency of the liquid in response to the formula;
##EQU19## where C=consistency (%).
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19. An apparatus for controlling the consistency of a liquid comprised of at least two components and which simulates a non-Newtonian fluid when flowing in a substantially laminar condition through a conduit of a given cross-sectional configuration, comprising:
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(a) means for flowing said liquid in a substantially laminar condition through the conduit of a given cross-sectional configuration, (b) means for measuring the bulk velocity of said fluid as it flows through said conduit, (c) means for measuring any change in the pressure of the fluid in said conduit as said fluid flows between two points spaced a distance L from each other, (d) means for adjusting the level of a component in the liquid to thereby control the consistency of the liquid in response to the formula;
##EQU20## where C=consistency (%).
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Specification