Acoustic-wave sensor apparatus for analyzing a petroleum-based composition and sensing solidification of constituents therein
Abstract
An acoustic-wave sensor apparatus and method are disclosed. 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 microbalance), 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 recovery, transport, storage, refining and use of petroleum and petroleum-based products. 7 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 527760
- Patent Number(s):
- 5661233
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-621,929
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 26 Aug 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 02 PETROLEUM; PETROLEUM; ACOUSTIC TESTING; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; ALKANES; WAXES; DETECTION; SOLIDIFICATION; SOUND WAVES
Citation Formats
Spates, J J, Martin, S J, and Mansure, A J. Acoustic-wave sensor apparatus for analyzing a petroleum-based composition and sensing solidification of constituents therein. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Spates, J J, Martin, S J, & Mansure, A J. Acoustic-wave sensor apparatus for analyzing a petroleum-based composition and sensing solidification of constituents therein. United States.
Spates, J J, Martin, S J, and Mansure, A J. Tue .
"Acoustic-wave sensor apparatus for analyzing a petroleum-based composition and sensing solidification of constituents therein". United States.
@article{osti_527760,
title = {Acoustic-wave sensor apparatus for analyzing a petroleum-based composition and sensing solidification of constituents therein},
author = {Spates, J J and Martin, S J and Mansure, A J},
abstractNote = {An acoustic-wave sensor apparatus and method are disclosed. 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 microbalance), 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 recovery, transport, storage, refining and use of petroleum and petroleum-based products. 7 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}