The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 04, 2010
Drop counter and flow meter for apparatus and method for determining the thermal stability of fluids
David G. Anderson, San Antonio, TX (US);
Larry M. Youngblood, Houston, TX (US);
Guoxing Yang, Pearland, TX (US);
Larry A. Spino, Houston, TX (US);
Scott K. Berkhous, Spring, TX (US);
Fang Fang, Houston, TX (US);
David G. Anderson, San Antonio, TX (US);
Larry M. Youngblood, Houston, TX (US);
Guoxing Yang, Pearland, TX (US);
Larry A. Spino, Houston, TX (US);
Scott K. Berkhous, Spring, TX (US);
Fang Fang, Houston, TX (US);
Petroleum Analyzer Company, LP, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A thermal oxidation tester is shown for determining thermal stability of a fluid, particularly hydrocarbons when subjected to elevated temperatures. The tendency of the heated fluid to oxidize and (1) form deposits on a surface of a heater tube and (2) form solids therein, are both measured at a given flow rate, temperature and time. The measured results are used to determine whether a fluid sample passes or fails the test. Sample flow rate is important in the jet fuel thermal oxidation test. Current practice requires manual drop counting or flow confirmation with the use of volumetric glassware. An apparatus is described to precisely measure the flow rate and automatically perform flow rate check using a drip rate method and/or volumetric method.