Auburn International, Inc.

Ronald L Dechene

Thomas B Smith

Robert E Newton

Ajoy K Roy

Scott A Marino

Ronald J Tache

Frank G Grimaldi

David R Day

Russell S Girgenti

Christian I Tanzer

Ron L Swartzentruber

Gary H Tougas

Pulsed NMR system for industrial measurements comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay (FID) curves (C), from which fast Gaussian, slower modified Gaussian or preferably slower Gaussian, and exponential components are determined using a Marquardt-Levenberg iteration technique, and using regression techniques to correlate the FID curve components to the physical quantities of the target nuclei.

NMR analysis of polypropylene in real time

Pulsed NMR system for industrial measurements comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C), from which Abragam, Gaussian, and exponential components are determined using a Marquardt-Levenberg iteration technique, and using regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei.

Magnetic resonance analysis in real time, industrial usage mode

A microprocessor (48) controlled triboelectric instrument with probe fouling detection, zero offset adjustments and temperature compensation. The system programmability provides for enhanced operator control and operator monitoring wherein the system may be reprogrammed to advantage to reduce instrument down time.

Triboelectric instrument with DC drift compensation

A pulsed nmr analysis system for polymers materials extracted from industrial processes at a mobility enhancing temperature (at or above glass transition temperature for amorphous polymers, at the crystalline transition temperature for crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers). The sample is measured via nmr techniques and results correlated to viscosity and melt index or melt flow (which are related to average molecular weights). The nmr system (in or out of resonance) includes: sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C), from which components functions are determined using linear or non-linear regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei and to flow rates in plastics. Substantial improvement of correlation of nmr derived constants and equations of a free induction decay curve with the foregoing polymer properties is obtained via (1) conducting the nmr process at a mobility enhancing temperature (normally elevated compared to the industrial process temperature of the industrial process) and (2) holding temperature substantially constant at such elevated temperature.

NMR system for measuring polymer properties

Apparatus and process for measuring mass flow of a slurry mixture of two components of materials, such as a flow of catalyst solid particles (the first component) or droplets in a fluid carrier (the second component). The slurry mixture is added to a process stream (10) or batch reactor. The flow velocity and the volume fraction of one component are measured and combined with the known specific gravity, of the component being measured, and the physical dimensions of the pipe, in which the slurry mixture is flowing, to determine the mass flow of the component. The flow velocity is measured by correlating signals at two separated locations along the flow path, and the volume fraction is measured by combining the known dielectric constants of each of the materials in the mixture and the measured capacitance of the mixture. The capacitance is measured from electrodes which may be isolated from the flowing materials in some applications, but not isolated from the flowing materials in other applications. The temperature (9) and pressure (11) are compensated in the final calculation, and the mass flow result is used to control, via feedback, the amount of such materials delivered. Also, a subtraction technique to remove interfering power line noise is implemented to improve sensitivity.

On-line mass flow measurement in flowing two component systems

A pulsed NMR analysis system and process comprising an air curtain (137), sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C) , from which components functions are determined using linear or nonlinear regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei and to flow rates in plastic including MI and FRR for polyethylene and MF for polypropylene.

Apparatus to obtain flow rates (melt index) in plastics via fixed

A pulsed NMR analysis system and process comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C), from which components functions are determined using non-linear regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei.

Real time magnetic resonance analysis with non-linear regression means

Pulsed NMR system for industrial measurements comprising sample throughout system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C), from which Abragam, Gaussianand exponential components are determined using a Marquardt-Levenberg iteration technique, and using regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei.

Magnetic resonance analysis in real time industrial usage mode

Pulsed NMR system for industrial measurements comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay (FID) curves (C), from which fast Gaussian, slower modified Gaussian and exponential components are determined using a Marquardt-Levenberg iteration technique, and using regression techniques to correlate the FID curve components to the physical quantities of the target nuclei.

An improved input circuit (9) for accepting a signal from a triboelectric probe (2). The circuitry provides gain, zero and probe contamination information which allows verification of said information without taking the probe and instrument off-line.

On line triboelectric probe contamination detector

A sample holder and compactor system (10), for use in an industrial NMR (or like) instrument, wherein particulate non-uniform samples can be loaded and compacted. The system comprises a tubular holder/compactor member (20) with an internal sleeve (26) and a ram (30), all fabricated from materials that are non-interactive with the excitation NMR fields and do not interfere with the sample analysis and provides a repeatable, simple way of handling disparate materials in routine repeatable ways ensuring reliable NMR analyses.

Sample holder compactor for industrial NMR analysis

Monitoring apparatus (10) of particles in a gas stream comprising a probe (12) and circuit (14) for detecting electrical activity of the probe and an actuator (20) for insertion and retraction of the probe into and out of the stream, the circuit providing periodic measurement of the retracted probe and self-adjustment to compensate for changing probe characteristics. The apparatus also provided probe cleaning and protection means (30, 32, 34, 36), which work in interaction with the self-check instrumentation. The self-check tests include baseline, gain and sensitivity monitoring.

Long term particle monitoring

Particle analysis apparatus (10) in combination with a triboelectric probe (P) and including means (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) to analyze individual particle collisions with the probe as a useful measure of flow conditions--of a fluid with suspended solid particles--in the region of the probe.

Flow measurement by collision characterization

Pulsed NMR system for industrial purposes comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) magnetic field adjustment (120, 124) and thermal adjustment (134-138 and 142-146). The resonance is established by a coil (100), excited by a transceiver (104) and interacting with the sample and the magnetic field at resonance to establish received and digitized free induction decay curve forms (C) which are automatically analyzed into Gaussian and exponential components--providing simplified high speed computation means with repetitive test sequence and thermal controls that systematically minimize errors to assure reliable determination of target nuclei quantities in successive samples from an industrial process and utilizing Hahn spin echo based equipment to automatically adjust the analysis of one or more of the analyzed components.

Magnestic resonance system for industrial purposes comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) magnetic field adjustment (120, 124) and thermal adjustment (134-138 and 142-146). The resonance is established by a coil (100), excited by a transceiver (104) and interacting with the sample and the magnetic field at resonance to establish received and digitized free induction decay curve forms (C) which are synthesized into bound (Gaussian) and unbound (exponential) components--pairing simplified high speed computation means with repetitive test sequence and thermal controls that systematically minimize errors to assure reliable determination of target nuclei quantities in successive samples from an industrial process.

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Boxford, MA, United States of America

Ronald L Dechene