Other

Chemtrac Systems, Inc.

Robert L Bryant

Charles R Veal

John W Clark

An improved method for isolating the impacts of flow-altering events in corrosion transport from those due to steady state corrosion in boiler/steam cycle processes. The method includes monitoring, in real time, with a particle counter or particle monitor levels of suspended particles in a fluid flow stream and of automatically collecting insoluble particulates large enough to be captured on a 0.45 micron filter when, and only when, these levels exceed an 'event threshold'. For use in subsequently characterizing flow-altering events without necessarily weighing the collected particulates for each excursion above this threshold, an average particle count/particle index is obtained and compared with the actual weight of insoluble particulates captured. When excursions are highly infrequent, concentrations of insoluble metal oxides likely to be present in the flow stream and capable of producing above-threshold PC/PIs can be determined and used to identify anomalies when particulates are captured.

Method for selectively sampling particulates in boiler/steam cycle corrosion transport

An improved method and apparatus for monitoring, in real time, the quality of a flowing fluid stream and of automatically taking samples therefrom when the level of particulate matter in the flow stream exceeds an acceptable limit for a predetermined period of time. The apparatus includes a particle monitor and at least one three-way valve electronically linked via a programmable logic controller to the particle monitor. Not only is the latter an instrument for continuously measuring, on-line, numbers known as particle indices which are indicative of particulate matter concentrations in the flow stream, but also the particle monitor generates electronic signals. Both these signals and the particle index are proportional to fluctuations in the intensity of a light beam traversed by particles which are present in a portion of the flow stream during a fixed interval of time. Importantly, the particle monitor can detect relatively short-lived 'spikes' in the level of 0.50 micron or larger particles which may be present in the flow stream. Utilizing this sensitivity of the particle monitor to such 'spikes', the apparatus can be set to automatically take samples when excursions in the levels of particulate matter occur rather than at random intervals. As a result, the method can facilitate the diagnosis of an impending process equipment breakdown/malfunction in its early stages, while its observable effect is only an infrequent 'spike'.

Method for monitoring and selectively sampling a fluid flow stream

An improved method of monitoring condensate quality in a condensate return system and of controlling the level of particulate matter in the condensate flow so that when this level exceeds an acceptable limit, valves for discharging the condensate flow from the system open automatically or, alternately, an alarm is sounded. Utilization of the method facilitates the conservation of hot steam condensate for reuse in a boiler while preventing water contaminated with particulate matter from returning to the boiler, thereby protecting it from certain types of deposits and corrosion. The improved method includes measuring, on a continuous basis, relative numbers of particulate-type impurities under conditions in which rust or other particles large enough to block flow into a particle counter can be produced in sudden surges. Tests show that a suitable instrument for measuring the impurities under such conditions is a particle monitor. In the improved method, the only restriction on the size of the particles to be monitored is that the particles be small enough to pass through vinyl tubing having an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters.

Method of monitoring and controlling condensate quality

A streaming current detector having a probe with an electrode holder which can be removed and replaced within only about one minute, allowing the probe to be kept on line nearly continuously even in highly contaminated wastewater. The probe also includes a reciprocating piston and a housing with both a cylindrical void and a transverse passageway. In assembled relation, the electrode holder is slidably disposed within the cylindrical void; and the piston is slidably engaged with an inner wall of the electrode holder. Capillary-sized channels formed between this inner wall and the piston communicate fluidly with the transverse passageway. From it, any test flow stream present is partially sucked into the capillary-sized channels during an upstroke of the piston and then expelled from them, back into the transverse passageway, during the succeeding downstroke. Lacking any low velocity or stagnate areas in the transverse passageway or in the capillary-sized channels, solids cannot accumulate in the probe, making it almost self-cleaning. But, in severely contaminated waters, the electrodes in the probe still tend to foul. With the detector, electrode replacement is readily accomplished: a retaining fitting is removed, the electrode holder is slid out of the flow member, a clean electrode holder is slid into position, and the retaining fitting is replaced.

Easily cleaned streaming current monitor

A streaming current detector which utilizes the test flow stream to keep the electrodes of the detector probe washed and its dielectric surfaces from becoming fouled. The test stream first enters a housing surrounding the probe at a position proximate the inlet to a transverse passageway within the probe. Most of the flow moves directly through the probe along the transverse passageway, but a small portion of this flow is sucked into capillary-sized channels within the probe by the action of a piston during its upstroke and then expelled from them back into the transverse passageway during the downstroke. The flow leaving the transverse passage plummets downwardly where it joins a smaller fraction of the test stream that did not enter the transverse passageway and together they are discharged out the bottom of the housing. There are no low velocity or stagnate areas where solids can accumulate either in the housing surrounding the probe or within the probe itself. The flow velocity is kept high everywhere so that floc which does come in contact with the probe is constantly washed off from the flow stream. In this manner, the inlet to the probe, its through passageway and its capillary-sized channels as well as the housing surrounding the probe are kept free from contamination allowing both a continuous operation and a higher electrical output. The higher electrical output makes possible a signal with remote sensing capabilities. This design answers the long standing problem of keeping a streaming current detector clean during operation.

Self-cleaning streaming current monitor

A system for creating and displaying colored roulette curves representative of music on a screen includes an X-,Y-deflection control circuit which is driven in part by at least two musically-related fixed frequency signals. These frequencies are taken from an arithmetic progression of pseudotempered scale tones and are very nearly equal in frequency to frequencies of tones in the geometric progression of tempered scale music tones. In addition, they form a ratio of integers, one to the other, approximately equal to [N(1.0594631)n]/N, where N is an integer, n-1 is the number of tones skipped between two corresponding tones in the tempered scale, and (1.0594631)/1 is the common ratio relating adjacent tempered scale music tones as well as the common difference in various arithmetic progressions of pseudo-tempered scale tones as related to changes in musical key. These fixed frequency signals are each divided into quadrature components and, after being amplitude modulated by audio-derived music signals, applied to the X-,Y-deflection control circuits. A circuit for determining the colors of the roulette curves receives audio-derived music signals, separates these signals into various frequency bands, splits these frequency bands into components phase-shifted from one another and applies respective like phase-shifted components to respective color producing elements. Audio-derived music signals are also used to vary the brightness of the display. The tint of the roulettes is determined by the phase relationship between the audio-derived music signals which are used to control brightness and those which are used to control color. Solo-tone-produced roulettes are given added color and tint by insertion of fixed musically-related tones. A high-frequency signal may be used for amplitude modulation of the X-,Y-deflection signals to increase the width of the trace.

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Dunnwoody, GA, United States of America

Robert L Bryant