Method for measuring the concentration of a dissolved gas in a fluid

• US 6,192,737 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Analytical, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company), Gkss-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Analytical, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company), Gkss-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
• Inventors: Cegla, Dieter, Steffens, Franz Josef, Hasler, Carsten, Wind, Jan, Ohlrogge, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/197,128
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 73/19.01, 73/19.04, 73/19.05, 73/19.06, 73/19.1, 261/104
• US Class Current: 73/19.06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/14 Beverages
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 7/10 by allowing diffusion of components through a porous wall and measuring a pressure or volume difference

Abstract

The invention pertains to a method for measuring the concentration of dissolved gases in a liquid [(39)], especially of CO₂ in beverages, in which the liquid [(39)] is passed across the retentate side [(140)] of a membrane [(14)] that is at least partially permeable to the dissolved gas, and [in which] the volumetric flow of the permeated gas on permeate side [(16)] of the membrane [(14)] is determined, the temperature of the liquid [(39)] is measured, and the concentration of the dissolved gas in the liquid [(39)] is calculated from these values. In this, the thickness of the membrane [(14)] can be pre-selected as a function of the flow rate of the liquid [(39)] flowing along the retentate side [(140)].

Claims

1. Method for measuring the concentration of dissolved gases in a liquid, especially of CO₂ in beverages, in which the liquid is passed across the retentate side of a membrane that is at least partially permeable to the dissolved gas, and the volumetric flow of the permeated gas on the permeate side of the membrane is determined, the temperature of the liquid is measured, and the concentration of the dissolved gas in the liquid is calculated from these values, characterized by the fact that the thickness of the membrane can be preselected as a function of the flow rate of the liquid flowing along the retentate side.

2. Method as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow rate of the liquid is determined, wherein the calculation of the concentration of dissolved gas in the liquid is interrupted as a pre-set minimum flow rate of the liquid is detected.

3. Method as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that a level of a minimum flow rate can be adjusted.

4. Method as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that besides the determined volumetric flow of the permeating gas and the temperature of the liquid the ambient air pressure is also used for calculating the concentration of the dissolved gas in the liquid.

5. Method as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that to determine the concentration of the dissolved gas in the liquid, the various solubility coefficients of the gas in different liquids is used.

6. Method as per of claim 1, characterized by the fact that a final measured value is calculated or estimated from the slope of a parameter.

7. Method as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that in performing the method, calibration of the computing or evaluating unit is done using a pure gas whose parameters are known.

8. Method as per claim 7, characterized by the fact that the pure gas is CO₂.