Method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content using microwave absorption techniques
Abstract
A self calibrating method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content based on measuring the microwave absorption of a sample of milk at several microwave frequencies. A microwave energy source injects microwave energy into the resonant cavity for absorption and reflection by the sample undergoing evaluation. A sample tube is centrally located in the resonant cavity passing therethrough and exposing the sample to the microwave energy. A portion of the energy is absorbed by the sample while another portion of the microwave energy is reflected back to an evaluation device such as a network analyzer. The frequency at which the reflected radiation is at a minimum within the cavity is combined with the scatter coefficient S.sub.11 as well as a phase change to calculate the butterfat content in the sample. The protein located within the sample may also be calculated in a likewise manner using the frequency, S.sub.11 and phase variables. A differential technique using a second resonant cavity containing a reference standard as a sample will normalize the measurements from the unknown sample and thus be self-calibrating. A shuttered mechanism will switch the microwave excitation between the unknown and the reference cavities. An integrated apparatus for measuring themore »
- Inventors:
-
- Roberts, ID
- Iowa City, IA
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 873378
- Patent Number(s):
- 6147502
- Assignee:
- Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; measuring; butterfat; protein; content; microwave; absorption; techniques; calibrating; based; sample; milk; frequencies; energy; source; injects; resonant; cavity; reflection; undergoing; evaluation; tube; centrally; located; passing; therethrough; exposing; portion; absorbed; reflected; device; network; analyzer; frequency; radiation; minimum; combined; scatter; coefficient; 11; phase; change; calculate; calculated; likewise; manner; variables; differential; technique; containing; reference; standard; normalize; measurements; self-calibrating; shuttered; mechanism; switch; excitation; cavities; integrated; reflected radiation; microwave frequencies; centrally located; cavity containing; microwave energy; phase change; energy source; resonant cavity; passing therethrough; wave energy; sample tube; microwave absorption; absorption techniques; protein content; measuring butterfat; evaluation device; wave excitation; wave frequencies; /324/73/
Citation Formats
Fryer, Michael O, Hills, Andrea J, and Morrison, John L. Method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content using microwave absorption techniques. United States: N. p., 2000.
Web.
Fryer, Michael O, Hills, Andrea J, & Morrison, John L. Method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content using microwave absorption techniques. United States.
Fryer, Michael O, Hills, Andrea J, and Morrison, John L. Sat .
"Method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content using microwave absorption techniques". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873378.
@article{osti_873378,
title = {Method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content using microwave absorption techniques},
author = {Fryer, Michael O and Hills, Andrea J and Morrison, John L},
abstractNote = {A self calibrating method and apparatus for measuring butterfat and protein content based on measuring the microwave absorption of a sample of milk at several microwave frequencies. A microwave energy source injects microwave energy into the resonant cavity for absorption and reflection by the sample undergoing evaluation. A sample tube is centrally located in the resonant cavity passing therethrough and exposing the sample to the microwave energy. A portion of the energy is absorbed by the sample while another portion of the microwave energy is reflected back to an evaluation device such as a network analyzer. The frequency at which the reflected radiation is at a minimum within the cavity is combined with the scatter coefficient S.sub.11 as well as a phase change to calculate the butterfat content in the sample. The protein located within the sample may also be calculated in a likewise manner using the frequency, S.sub.11 and phase variables. A differential technique using a second resonant cavity containing a reference standard as a sample will normalize the measurements from the unknown sample and thus be self-calibrating. A shuttered mechanism will switch the microwave excitation between the unknown and the reference cavities. An integrated apparatus for measuring the butterfat content in milk using microwave absorption techniques is also presented.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}