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Title: System and method for monitoring water content or other dielectric influences in a medium

Abstract

A sensor system is provided that measures water content or other detectable properties in a medium along the entire length of the sensor at any point in time. The sensor system includes an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmission line disposed in a medium to be monitored. Alternatively, the transmission line can be configured for movement across a medium to be monitored, or the transmission line can be fixed relative to a moving medium being monitored. A signal is transmitted along the transmission line at predetermined frequencies, and the signal is returned back along the transmission line and/or into an optional receive line in proximity to the transmission line. The returned signal is processed to generate a one-dimensional data output profile that is a function of a detectable property of the medium. The data output profile can be mapped onto a physical system to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional profile if desired. The sensor system is useful in a variety of different applications such as agriculture, horticulture, biofiltration systems for industrial offgases, leak detection in landfills or drum storage facilities at buried waste sites, and in many other applications.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Idaho Falls, ID
  2. Firth, ID
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
873959
Patent Number(s):
6281801
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; monitoring; water; content; dielectric; influences; medium; sensor; provided; measures; detectable; properties; entire; length; time; electromagnetic; signal; generator; transmission; line; disposed; monitored; alternatively; configured; movement; fixed; relative; moving; transmitted; predetermined; frequencies; returned; optional; receive; proximity; processed; generate; one-dimensional; data; output; profile; function; property; mapped; physical; two-dimensional; three-dimensional; desired; useful; variety; applications; agriculture; horticulture; biofiltration; systems; industrial; offgases; leak; detection; landfills; drum; storage; facilities; buried; waste; sites; waste sites; data output; leak detection; buried waste; entire length; transmission line; signal generator; electromagnetic signal; waste site; water content; dimensional data; returned signal; monitoring water; filtration systems; predetermined frequencies; /340/73/324/

Citation Formats

Cherry, Robert S, and Anderson, Allen A. System and method for monitoring water content or other dielectric influences in a medium. United States: N. p., 2001. Web.
Cherry, Robert S, & Anderson, Allen A. System and method for monitoring water content or other dielectric influences in a medium. United States.
Cherry, Robert S, and Anderson, Allen A. Mon . "System and method for monitoring water content or other dielectric influences in a medium". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873959.
@article{osti_873959,
title = {System and method for monitoring water content or other dielectric influences in a medium},
author = {Cherry, Robert S and Anderson, Allen A},
abstractNote = {A sensor system is provided that measures water content or other detectable properties in a medium along the entire length of the sensor at any point in time. The sensor system includes an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmission line disposed in a medium to be monitored. Alternatively, the transmission line can be configured for movement across a medium to be monitored, or the transmission line can be fixed relative to a moving medium being monitored. A signal is transmitted along the transmission line at predetermined frequencies, and the signal is returned back along the transmission line and/or into an optional receive line in proximity to the transmission line. The returned signal is processed to generate a one-dimensional data output profile that is a function of a detectable property of the medium. The data output profile can be mapped onto a physical system to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional profile if desired. The sensor system is useful in a variety of different applications such as agriculture, horticulture, biofiltration systems for industrial offgases, leak detection in landfills or drum storage facilities at buried waste sites, and in many other applications.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001}
}