Method to monitor and control chemical treatment of petroleum, petrochemical and processes with on-line quartz crystal microbalance sensors
First Claim
1. A method for the rapid determination of a scaling, corrosion or biological growth condition occurring on a surface in contact with an industrial water contained in an industrial water system, and for taking steps to correct such condition which comprises the steps of:
- a. inserting a thickness-shear mode resonator device into the industrial water whereby the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device is in contact with the industrial water;
b. continuously exciting the thickness-shear mode resonator device and measuring the output of the thickness-shear mode resonator device as the mass and viscosity-density components of the industrial water in contact with the thickness-shear mode resonator device;
c. continuously determining the condition of the industrial water contacting the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device based on the mass and viscosity-density components of said industrial water; and
then,d. continuously correcting the condition of said industrial water in contact with the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device by taking an action from the group consisting of;
i. activating or deactivating a chemical feed pump applying a condition correcting chemical to the industrial water;
ii. increasing the flow of water out of the system;
or,iii. decreasing the flow of water out of the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Thickness-shear mode resonators which simultaneously measure mass deposition and fluid properties can be utilized to monitor petroleum processing, petrochemical and water treatment systems. Specialty chemical additive materials can be accurately and instantaneously added to control conditions detected by the thickness-shear mode resonators. The thickness-shear mode resonators are piezoelectric crystals used in conjunction with oscillator circuitry that can determine mass as well as viscosity and/or density of a fluid in contact with the piezoelectric surface.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for the rapid determination of a scaling, corrosion or biological growth condition occurring on a surface in contact with an industrial water contained in an industrial water system, and for taking steps to correct such condition which comprises the steps of:
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a. inserting a thickness-shear mode resonator device into the industrial water whereby the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device is in contact with the industrial water; b. continuously exciting the thickness-shear mode resonator device and measuring the output of the thickness-shear mode resonator device as the mass and viscosity-density components of the industrial water in contact with the thickness-shear mode resonator device; c. continuously determining the condition of the industrial water contacting the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device based on the mass and viscosity-density components of said industrial water; and
then,d. continuously correcting the condition of said industrial water in contact with the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device by taking an action from the group consisting of; i. activating or deactivating a chemical feed pump applying a condition correcting chemical to the industrial water; ii. increasing the flow of water out of the system;
or,iii. decreasing the flow of water out of the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for the rapid determination of a fouling, corrosion, scale, or biological growth condition occurring on the surface of a hydrocarbon processing unit in contact with a hydrocarbon fluid and for taking steps to correct such condition which comprises the steps of:
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A. placing a thickness-shear mode resonator device into the fluid contained in the hydrocarbon processing unit whereby the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device is in contact with the hydrocarbon; B. continuously exciting the thickness-shear mode resonator device and measuring the output of the thickness shear-mode resonator device as the mass and viscosity-density components of the hydrocarbon fluid in contact with the thickness shear-mode resonator device; C. continuously determining the condition of the hydrocarbon fluid contacting the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator based on the mass and viscosity-density components of said fluid; and
then,D. continuously correcting the condition of the hydrocarbon fluid contacting the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator by activating or deactivating a chemical feed pump applying a hydrocarbon fluid condition correcting chemical to the hydrocarbon processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for the rapid determination of a viscosity-density or viscosity/temperature condition of a hydrocarbon fluid and for taking steps to correct or modify such condition which comprises the steps of:
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A. inserting a thickness-shear mode resonator device into the hydrocarbon fluid whereby the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device is in contact with the hydrocarbon fluid; B. continuously-exciting the thickness-shear mode resonator and measuring the output of said thickness shear-mode resonator device as the mass and viscosity-density components of the hydrocarbon fluid; C. continuously determining the condition of the hydrocarbon fluid in contact with the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator based on the mass and viscosity-density components; and
then,D. continuously correcting the condition of the hydrocarbon fluid by activating or deactivating a chemical feed pump applying a condition correcting chemical to hydrocarbon fluid. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for the rapid determination of the condition of a hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture contained in a container, and for taking steps to correct or modify such condition which comprises the steps of:
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A. inserting into the hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture at least one thickness-shear mode resonator device whereby the quartz surface of the thickness-shear mode resonator device is in contact with the hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture; B. continuously exciting the thickness-shear mode resonator device and measuring the output of the thickness shear-mode resonator as the mass and viscosity-density components of the hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture; C. continuously determining the condition of the hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture based on the mass and viscosity-density components of said hydrocarbon/fluid mixture; and
then,D. continuously correcting the condition of the hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture by activating or deactivating a chemical feed pump applying a condition correcting chemical to the hydrocarbon/aqueous fluid mixture. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification