Method and apparatus for measuring properties of weak electrolytic, organic fluids such as hydrocarbon-based fluids

• US 8,007,655 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Danyluk, Steven, Tereshko, Sergey, Mess, Francis, Zharin, Anatoly
• Primary Examiner(s): Barton; Jeffrey T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dieterle; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/782,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 204/404, 204/400, 205/793.5, 205/775.5, 205/776, 205/775, 205/777.5, 324424-450, 324/698, 422/53
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A method and system for determining chemical properties of a fluid. The method and system include providing a weak electrolyte fluid, a container for the fluid, a detection method performed by a device having at least two electrodes, a detection and amplification device coupled to the electrodes and a sensed current compared to an uncontaminated, base fluid or compared to data characteristic of fluid contaminated or chemically changed in order to monitor and characterize the fluid.

Claims

1. A method of determining chemical properties of a fluid, comprising the steps of:

placing a weak electrolytic hydrocarbon fluid into a fluid container;

disposing a detection device at least partly in the fluid container, the detection device including at least two electrodes;

coupling a detection and amplification device to the at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes and the weak electrolytic hydrocarbon fluid collectively generating a galvanic electrical current sensible by the detection and amplification device; and

measuring a change in composition of the weak electrolytic hydrocarbon fluid based on a change in the galvanic electrical current.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of measuring corrosion currents by use of low impedance DC techniques.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of applying low frequency voltage bias modulation to at least one of the at least two electrodes.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of using closed-loop feedback to apply and measure electrical potential from the at least two electrodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the weak electrolytic hydrocarbon fluid comprises an oil.