Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Gerald L Carlson

William A Byers

William M Hickam

David F Pensenstadler

Warren E Snider

David C Phillips

James C Bellows

Frederick M Ryan

Michael J Wootten

James E Richards

A continuous on-line monitor of carbon dioxide dissolved in high purity water includes a cation conductivity cell and associated bridge for measuring first and second cation conductivities at first and second temperature and a heater for heating the sample from the first to the second temperature. A microcomputer calculates first and second concentrations of a fully dissociated acid alone and carbon dioxide alone, respectively, which will produce the first measured cation conductivity at the first temperature and then determines the actual carbon dioxide concentration from the first and second concentrations and the second measured cation conductivity.

Rugged dissolved carbon dioxide monitor for high purity water

An improved system for quantitative chemical analysis incorporates a chromatographic column. A radiation source of a predetermined range of wavelengths is in optical communication with an emerging specie from the chromatographic column by of a first optical path whereby radiation is modified by characteristic of the specie. A detector is in optical communication with the emerging specie by a second optical path whereby a first output signal reflective of the detected radiation is generated. An acousto-optic tunable filter system is disposed in one of either the first or second optical paths. The radiation is passed through the crystal at a predetermined angle relative to the crystal's optic axis. An acoustic transducer is coupled to the crystal to launch acoustic waves into the crystal to interact with a selected narrow bandwidth portion of the radiation to make it distinguishable from the remaining radiation. A computer to which the detector output signal is applied determines the emerging specie by the identifiable characteristics. An auxiliary detector responsive to the emerging specie can be associated with the chromatographic column. A parallel optical path can also be included to define a reference cell. A second output signal reflective of the detected radiation passing through the parallel optical path is generated. The difference between the first and second output signals represents a measure of the emerging specie's absorption characteristic. In an alternative embodiment, an acoustooptic dispersive light filter can be inserted in the system.

System for chemical analysis

A system for automatically sampling, monitoring and analyzing power plant steam cycle water supplied from various points in a power plant steam cycle system as a plurality of influent fluid sample streams. A continuous monitor module including continuous on-line monitors and a calibration unit provides continuous on-line monitoring of each influent fluid sample stream, and an ion chromatograph unit provides semi-continuous monitoring of a selected one of the influent fluid sample streams. Each calibration unit is operable to condition the corresponding influent fluid sample stream to provide a conditioned influent fluid sample stream having predetermined chemical characteristics; the continuous on-line monitors are calibrated with respect to the predetermined chemical characteristics of the corresponding conditioned influent fluid sample stream and the ion chromatograph unit is calibrated with respect to the predetermined chemical characteristics of the selected conditioned influent fluid sample stream supplied thereto. A control unit receives signals representative of the monitored chemical characteristics from the continuous on-line monitors and the ion chromatograph unit and uses these signals in a feedback loop to control the monitoring system and to detect, analyze and correct steam cycle water chemistry changes before corrosion or other problems related to water chemistry imbalances. The control unit controls the monitoring system by determining the sequence in which the plural influent fluid sample streams are supplied to the ion chromatograph unit, controlling the monitoring performed by the ion chromatograph unit, and automatically calibrating the continuous on-line monitors and the ion chromatograph unit.

Automatic on-line chemistry monitoring system

A system for automatically sampling, monitoring and analyzing power plant steam cycle water supplied from various points in a power plant steam cycle system as a plurality of influent fluid sample streams. Plural continuous monitor modules each include continuous on-line monitors and provide continuous on-line monitoring of a corresponding influent fluid sample stream, and an ion chromatograph unit provides semi-continuous monitoring of a selected one of the influent fluid sample streams. Each continuous monitor module also includes an improved calibration unit including a conditioning unit which creates a pressure differential in the influent fluid sample stream and utilizes the pressure differential to inject a mixed standard solution into the influent fluid sample stream, thereby providing a conditioned influent fluid sample stream having predetermined chemical characteristics; the continuous on-line monitors are calibrated with respect to the predetermined chemical characteristics of the corresponding conditioned influent fluid sample stream and the ion chromatograph unit is calibrated with respect to the predetermined chemical characteristics of the selected conditioned influent fluid sample stream supplied thereto. A control unit receives signals representative of the monitored chemical characteristics from the continuous on-line monitors and the ion chromatograph unit and uses these signals in a feedback loop to control the monitoring system, to automatically calibrate the continuous on-line monitors and the ion chromatograph unit in accordance with the predetermined chemical characteristics of the conditioned influent fluid sample streams, and to detect, analyze and correct steam cycle water chemistry changes before corrosion or other problems related to water chemistry imbalances.

Automatic on-line chemistry monitoring system having improved

An on-line calibration system for calibrating chemical monitors which monitor a selected chemical characteristics of a fluid sample stream, including a conditioning system for conditioning an influent fluid sample stream to produce a conditioned fluid sample stream having a predetermined level of the selected chemical characteristic. By exposing a sensor of the monitor to the conditioned fluid sample stream and calibrating the response of the sensor with respect to the predetermined level of the selected chemical characteristic in the conditioned fluid sample stream, this calibration system eliminates the effects on the response of the sensor of any ionic species in the fluid sample stream which do not affect the chemical characteristic being monitored. The on-line calibration system also includes a system which is selectively operable to establish first and second fluid sample stream flow paths, the first flow path providing the influent fluid sample stream to the detector for monitoring of the selected chemical characteristic, and the second flow path providing the influent fluid sample stream to the conditioning system and the conditioned fluid sample stream to the detector for calibrating the monitor.

On-line calibration system for chemical monitors

Apparatus is disclosed for collecting and concentrating trace ions from a pressurized aqueous sample in a sample line. A three-way valve is connected to the sample line which in one position can divert the sample into a syringe and in another position can close off the sample line and permit the sample to flow from the syringe through the three-way valve into a concentrator column. In an alternative apparatus, the sample line is connected to a tee which permits the diversion of the sample into a concentrator column connected to the tee. The other end of the concentrator column is joined to a syringe for drawing the sample through the concentrator column. Methods of operating the apparatus are also disclosed.

Sampling high purity water for trace ion determination

The SO.sub.3, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 content of a gas environment containing SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O is measured by cooling the gas to a temperature to convert SO.sub.3 in the presence of H.sub.2 O to H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 to effectively separate SO.sub.3, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 from SO.sub.2 to permit the individual measurements of SO.sub.x (SO.sub.2 +SO.sub.3), SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.3, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4.

Technique for monitoring SO.sub.3, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in exhaust gases

An on-line apparatus and method of using particulography as a technique for detecting and locating overheated material such as insulation within a gas-cooled dynamoelectric machine is disclosed. This technique detects the presence of and identifies the origin of thermoparticulates in a gas stream which are produced by thermal degradation of materials. The gas cooling system is continuously monitored by a gas stream monitor and upon the detection of thermoparticulates in the gas stream, the gas stream is diverted through a particulate collection chamber for entrapment of a sample of the thermoparticulates. The sample is then isolated from the gas cooling system and a flow of clean gas is forced through the sample while the collection chamber is heated at a predetermined rate. Heating the collection chamber will cause reparticulation of the thermoparticulates which are carried to a gas stream monitor located downstream by the flowing gas. The gas stream monitor will monitor the gas and will produce a signal that is proportional to the intensity of the thermoparticulates entrapped in the flowing gas stream. The signal from the gas stream monitor is applied to one axis of a recording device and a signal that is proportional to the temperature of the collection chamber is applied to the other axis producing a particulograph. A particulograph is unique to each kind of material that is present within the machine due to the unique thermoparticulation temperature of each material. Thus, by knowing where different types of materials are located within the machine, the location that is overheated can be identified.

Growing community of inventors

Mt. Lebanon, PA, United States of America

Gerald L Carlson