Acoustic-wave sensor apparatus for analyzing a petroleum-based composition and sensing solidification of constituents therein

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871118

Spates, James J ^[1]; Martin, Stephen J ^[1]; Mansure, Arthur J ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

An acoustic-wave sensor apparatus and method. The apparatus for analyzing a normally liquid petroleum-based composition includes at least one acoustic-wave device in contact with the petroleum-based composition for sensing or detecting the presence of constituents (e.g. paraffins or petroleum waxes) therein which solidify upon cooling of the petroleum-based composition below a cloud-point temperature. The acoustic-wave device can be a thickness-shear-mode device (also termed a quartz crystal mircrobalance), a surface-acoustic-wave device, an acoustic-plate-mode device or a flexural plate-wave device. Embodiments of the present invention can be used for measuring a cloud point, a pour point and/or a freeze point of the petroleum-based composition, and for determining a temperature characteristic of each point. Furthermore, measurements with the acoustic-wave sensor apparatus can be made off-line by using a sample having a particular petroleum-based composition; or in-situ with the petroleum-based composition contained within a pipeline or storage tank. The acoustic-wave sensor apparatus has uses in many different petroleum technology areas, including the recover transport, storage, refining and use of petroleum and petroleum-based products.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 5661233
• OSTI ID: 871118
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

acoustic-wave
sensor
apparatus
analyzing
petroleum-based
composition
sensing
solidification
constituents
therein
method
normally
liquid
device
contact
detecting
presence
paraffins
petroleum
waxes
solidify
cooling
below
cloud-point
temperature
thickness-shear-mode
termed
quartz
crystal
mircrobalance
surface-acoustic-wave
acoustic-plate-mode
flexural
plate-wave
embodiments
measuring
cloud
pour
freeze
determining
characteristic
furthermore
measurements
off-line
sample
particular
in-situ
contained
pipeline
storage
tank
technology
including
recover
transport
refining
products
flexural plate
acoustic-wave device
storage tank
sensor apparatus
quartz crystal
acoustic-wave sensor
petroleum-based composition
normally liquid
wave device
wave sensor
temperature characteristic
liquid petroleum-based
/73/166/356/374/