Gca Corporation

Steven J Martinich

Peter Juodikis

Hugh D Jones

A microprocessor controlled distillation analyzer for petroleum products performs, computes, displays and records distillation data. An interactive/keyboard display and printer system reports and records test conditions and prompts user inputs to define test parameters. Before the initial boiling point, the heater is automatically controlled in two time intervals. Following the initial boiling point, the heater is controlled to keep the monitored distillation rate within a predetermined range. Upon attaining an automatically calculated volume of distillate, the final heat is incremented to a programmed level. In one mode, the end point is automatically detected by monitoring vapor temperature for a decline, followed by the cessation of meniscus movement to terminate the test. After measuring the residue, the analyzer automatically recomputes temperatures at a series of percentage volumes of evaporated sample. An IR beam meniscus detector is driven by a stepping motor screw-drive mechanism actuated via the microcomputer to find the initial meniscus position and track the rising meniscus. The vapor temperature sensor emergent stem error is compensated for by a platinum resistive element with opposite nonlinearity. Thermometer-like temperature lag is created by software.

Automatic distillation apparatus

Liquid hydrocarbon samples from a mainstream are diverted through a sample cell in cooling chamber. An optical cloud point detector signals a microprocessor-based control system which controls the charging and cooling of the cell. Cloud point reference level is continuously updated. After each measurement cycle, the control system readjusts the cooling power so that the time interval between the end of the flush cycle and cloud point detection is brought within a predetermined range. The control system switches between several distinct modes of operation automatically.

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Wheaton, IL, United States of America

Steven J Martinich