System and method for sensing using diamond based microelectrodes
First Claim
1. A sensor for monitoring characteristics associated with a fluid, the sensor comprising:
- a housing;
an insulating layer comprising non-conducting diamond positioned within said housing and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid;
a plurality of microelectrodes each comprising electrically conducting diamond and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid, wherein the exposed surface of each microelectrode is modified so as to be sensitive to pH; and
an electrical circuit in electrical communication with each of the microelectrodes adapted to convert electrical signals from the microelectrodes into at least one signal associated with a characteristic being monitored, wherein the characteristic being monitored is one of the presence of hydrogen sulphide within the fluid and the pH of the fluid.
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Abstract
A method and system is disclosed for monitoring one or more characteristics associated with a fluid. An insulating layer comprising non-conducting diamond is positioned within a housing and has a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid. A plurality of microelectrodes made of electrically conducting diamond each have a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with each of the microelectrodes is adapted to convert electrical signals from the microelectrodes into at least one signal associated with a characteristic being monitored. The sensing system is well suited to hydrocarbon wellbore related applications, but can also be used in other applications.
26 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A sensor for monitoring characteristics associated with a fluid, the sensor comprising:
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a housing; an insulating layer comprising non-conducting diamond positioned within said housing and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid; a plurality of microelectrodes each comprising electrically conducting diamond and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid, wherein the exposed surface of each microelectrode is modified so as to be sensitive to pH; and an electrical circuit in electrical communication with each of the microelectrodes adapted to convert electrical signals from the microelectrodes into at least one signal associated with a characteristic being monitored, wherein the characteristic being monitored is one of the presence of hydrogen sulphide within the fluid and the pH of the fluid. - 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, 28, 29)
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30. A sensor for monitoring characteristics associated with a fluid, the sensor comprising:
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a housing; an insulating layer comprising non-conducting diamond positioned within said housing and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid; a plurality of microelectrodes each comprising electrically conducting diamond and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid; an electrical circuit in electrical communication with each of the microelectrodes adapted to convert electrical signals from the microelectrodes into at least one signal associated with a characteristic being monitored, wherein the characteristic being monitored is one of the presence of hydrogen sulphide within the fluid and the pH of the fluid; a counter electrode mounted within the housing and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid, and wherein the microelectrodes form a working electrode; and a gas permeable membrane mounted between a main flow of fluid and the exposed surfaces of the insulating layer and the microelectrodes, wherein the sensor is adapted to sense characteristics associated with a gas that is allowed to pass though the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A sensor for monitoring characteristics associated with a fluid, the sensor comprising:
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a housing; an insulating layer comprising non-conducting diamond positioned within said housing and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid; a plurality of microelectrodes each comprising electrically conducting diamond and having a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid, wherein the microelectrodes are position within the insulating layer and the exposed surface of each of the microelectrodes is co-planar with the exposed surface of the insulating layer, an electrical circuit in electrical communication with each of the microelectrodes adapted to convert electrical signals from the microelectrodes into at least one signal associated with a characteristic being monitored, wherein the characteristic being monitored is one of the presence of hydrogen sulphide within the fluid and the pH of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification