Method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the water content of a water-containing liquid mixture
View Patent ↗An apparatus for measuring the water content of a water-containing liquid mixture contained in a tight chemistry tank includes a heating device for controlling the temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature near the boiling point of the liquid mixture, a cooling medium system disposed at the top of the tight chemistry tank having a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet, a temperature measurement system for determining the temperature difference between the cooling medium inlet and outlet, and a computing device for calculating the water content of the liquid mixture from the temperature difference. Also provided is a tank for supplying water to the liquid mixture, and a control system for adjusting the amount of water supplied from the tank based upon the water content measured by the measuring apparatus. Also provided is a method for measure the water content.
1. An apparatus for measuring the water content of a water-containing liquid mixture contained in a tank, the water-containing liquid mixture having a boiling point, the apparatus comprising:
a tank for holding the water-containing liquid mixture, said tank having a top;
a heating device for controlling temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature near the boiling point of the liquid mixture;
a cooling medium system for cooling the liquid mixture, said cooling medium system having:
a condensing surface to condense water evaporating from the liquid mixture in said tank; and
a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet, said cooling medium system being disposed at said top of said tank and conveying a cooling medium;
a temperature measurement system connected to said cooling medium system for determining a temperature difference between said cooling medium inlet and said cooling medium outlet; and
a computing device connected to said temperature measurement system for calculating the water content of the liquid mixture from said temperature difference.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid mixture is an acid/water system.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the acid of the acid/water system is phosphoric acid.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cooling medium inlet is held at a constant temperature.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said computing device is connected to said cooling medium inlet and holds said cooling medium inlet at a constant temperature.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cooling medium is water.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said tank has a lid; and
said cooling medium system is housed in said lid.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cooling medium system is divided into at least two symmetrical branches each having at least one loop.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tank for supplying water to the liquid mixture;
a control system connected to said water-supplying tank and to said computing device for adjusting an amount of water supplied from said water-supplying tank dependent upon the water content measured by said measuring apparatus.
10. An apparatus for measuring the water content of a water-containing liquid mixture, comprising:
a tank for holding a water-containing liquid mixture having a boiling point, said tank having a top;
a heating device at said tank for controlling temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature near the boiling point of the liquid mixture;
a cooling medium system for cooling the liquid mixture, said cooling medium system having:
a condensing surface to condense water evaporating from the liquid mixture in said tank; and
a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet, said cooling medium system being disposed at said top of said tank and conveying a cooling medium;
a temperature measurement system connected to said cooling medium system for determining a temperature difference between said cooling medium inlet and said cooling medium outlet; and
a computing device connected to said temperature measurement system for calculating the water content of the liquid mixture from said temperature difference.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the liquid mixture is an acid/water system.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the acid of the acid/water system is phosphoric acid.
13. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said cooling medium inlet is held at a constant temperature.
14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said computing device is connected to said cooling medium inlet and holds said cooling medium inlet at a constant temperature.
15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said cooling medium is water.
16. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
said tank has a lid; and
said cooling medium system is housed in said lid.
17. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said cooling medium system is divided into at least two symmetrical branches each having at least one loop.
18. The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a tank for supplying water to the liquid mixture;
a control system connected to said water-supplying tank and to said computing device for adjusting an amount of water supplied from said water-supplying tank dependent upon the water content measured by said measuring apparatus.
19. A method for measuring water content of a water-containing liquid mixture having a boiling point, which comprises:
providing the liquid mixture in a tank;
disposing a cooling medium system at a top of the tank for cooling the liquid mixture, the cooling medium system having:
a condensing surface to condense water evaporating from the liquid mixture in the tank; and
a cooling medium inlet; and
a cooling medium outlet;
controlling a temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature near the boiling point of the liquid mixture;
determining a temperature difference between the cooling medium inlet and the cooling medium outlet; and
calculating the water content of the liquid mixture from the temperature difference.
20. The method according to claim 19 , which further comprises adjusting an amount of water supplied from a water supply tank dependent upon the calculated water content.
21. A method for measuring water content of a water-containing liquid mixture having a boiling point, which comprises:
disposing a cooling medium system at a top of a tank containing the liquid mixture for cooling the liquid mixture, the cooling medium system having:
a condensing surface to condense water evaporating from the liquid mixture in the tank; and
a cooling medium inlet; and
a cooling medium outlet;
controlling a temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature near the boiling point of the liquid mixture;
determining a temperature difference between the cooling medium inlet and the cooling medium outlet; and
calculating the water content of the liquid mixture from the temperature difference.
22. The method according to claim 21 , which further comprises adjusting an amount of water supplied from a water supply tank dependent upon the calculated water content.
23. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said control system increases an amount of water supplied from said water-supplying tank to said tank holding the liquid mixture when said temperature difference decreases.
24. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said control system decreases an amount of water supplied from said water-supplying tank to said tank holding the liquid mixture when said temperature difference increases.
25. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said control system has a processor programmed to increase an amount of water supplied from said water-supplying tank to said tank holding the liquid mixture when said temperature difference decreases.
26. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said control system has a processor programmed to decrease an amount of water supplied from said water-supplying tank to said tank holding the liquid mixture when said temperature difference increases.