Apparatus for detecting contaminants in a liquid and a system for use thereof

• US 9,589,686 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ge-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich, Monk, David James, Tamaki, Ryo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/560,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20120114089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,764 Days
• Field of Search: 422/82.03, 422/513, 422/535, 204/415, 204/416
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1893 using flow cells
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/022 for monitoring liquid coolants or moderators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for detecting and quantifying contaminants in aqueous solutions. In one embodiment, an apparatus for the detection of contaminants within a liquid comprises a sensor and a controller. The sensor comprises a film and a transducer configured such that, during use, a first surface of the transducer is in fluid communication with a liquid, and the film is disposed between the first surface and the liquid. The film can be a polymeric material capable of hindering the transport of a non-desired species therethrough. The controller is in operational communication to the transducer, and is configured to determine the concentration of contaminants within the liquid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the detection of contaminants within a liquid, comprising:

a sensor array comprising;

a first film disposed within an opening of a conduit containing a liquid with a plurality of contaminants, the first film having a first surface and a second surface, wherein, during use, the first surface of the first film is in direct fluid contact with the liquid;

a first purge chamber in direct fluid contact with the second surface of the first film;

a second film having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the second film is in direct fluid contact with the first purge chamber;

a second purge chamber in direct fluid contact with the second surface of the second film;

a first transducer electronically coupled to the first purge chamber; and

a second transducer electronically coupled to the second purge chamber; and

a controller electronically coupled to the first transducer and the second transducer, and is configured to determine a concentration of the plurality of contaminants in the liquid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first film and/or the second film comprise a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyaniline, organosiloxanes, poly vinyl chloride, poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyurethane, acrylate copolymer, sol-gels, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing polymeric materials.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first film and/or the second film is an inorganic material capable of hindering the transport of a non-desired species therethrough.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first film and/or the second film comprises an ionophore capable of selectively binding to an ion of interest.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first film and/or the second film comprises an additive capable of selectively responding to an ion of interest in water of a nuclear reactor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transducer and/or the second transducer are connected in operable communication to the controller via radio frequency.

7. The apparatus for claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second film is selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyaniline, organosiloxane, poly vinyl chloride, poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyurethane, acrylate copolymer, sol-gel, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing polymeric materials.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second film comprises an ionophore configured to selectively bind to an ion of interest.

9. The apparatus for claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second film comprises an additive capable of responding to an ion of interest in water of a nuclear reactor.

10. The apparatus for claim 1, wherein the controller is in operable communication with the first transducer and/or the second transducer via radio frequency.

11. A nuclear power plant, comprising:

a nuclear reactor configured to produce energy, wherein the nuclear reactor comprises water; and

a contaminant detector configured to detect a contaminant in the water, the detector comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.