Gas volume fraction measurement and calibration
A system and method of determining a gas volume fraction in a conductive liquid includes: immersing a first electrode in the conductive liquid, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to a resistor and a voltage source; immersing a second electrode electrically connected to the voltage source in the conductive liquid; determining resistance information indicative of an electrical resistance of the conductive liquid between the first electrode and the second electrode; and determining a gas volume fraction in the conductive liquid based on the measurement.
1. A method of determining a gas volume fraction in a conductive liquid, comprising:
(a) immersing a first electrode in the conductive liquid, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to a resistor and a voltage source, and wherein the conductive liquid comprises molten glass;
(b) immersing a second electrode electrically connected to the voltage source in the conductive liquid;
(c) determining resistance information indicative of an electrical resistance of the conductive liquid between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
(d) determining a gas volume fraction in the conductive liquid based on the measurement.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein an end of the first electrode or an end of the second electrode is larger than a gas bubble in the conductive liquid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are a part of an electrical conductivity probe device and each extend along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the electrical conductivity probe device is positioned in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis is not vertically aligned relative to gravity.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of immersing the first electrode and the second electrode in molten glass at a constant temperature.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of measuring one or more resistances by immersing the first electrode and the second electrode in a different conductive liquid with a known gas volume fraction and determining the resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode when immersed in the different conductive liquid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are moved in the liquid and a plurality of measurements of the electrical resistance of the conductive liquid are taken.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is connected to the voltage source via the resistor, and wherein the resistance information includes a first voltage measurement that is taken across the resistor and a second voltage measurement that is taken across the first electrode and the second electrode.
8. A method of determining a gas volume fraction in a conductive liquid, comprising:
(a) immersing a first electrode in the conductive liquid, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to a resistor and a voltage source;
(b) immersing a second electrode electrically connected to the voltage source in the conductive liquid;
(c) periodically measuring a first voltage at the first node relative to a common node and a second voltage at a second node relative to the common node; (d) determining a plurality of resistances using the periodically measured first voltages and the periodically measured second voltages;
(e) associating a gas volume fraction with each resistance;
(f) storing the resistances and the associated gas volume fractions in a memory device;
(g) immersing the first electrode and the second electrode in a different conductive liquid;
(h) measuring a first voltage at the first node relative to a common node and a second voltage at a second node relative to the common node while the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in the different conductive liquid;
(i) determining a resistance based on the first voltage and second voltage measured while the first electrode and second electrode are immersed in the different conductive liquid;
(j) comparing the resistance determined during step (i) with the stored resistances and associated gas volume fractions;
(k) identifying a stored resistance that matches the resistance determined during step (i); and
(l) determining a gas volume fraction associated with the identified stored resistance.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein an end of the first electrode or an end of the second electrode is larger than a gas bubble in the conductive liquid.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are not vertically aligned.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the conductive liquid comprises molten glass.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of immersing the first electrode and the second electrode in molten glass at a constant temperature.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first electrode includes a first immersion paddle and the second electrode includes a second immersion paddle.
14. An electrical conductivity probe device for measuring a gas volume fraction in a conductive liquid, comprising:
a first electrode that is electrically connected to a resistor and a voltage source;
a second electrode electrically connected to the voltage source; and
a processor configured to obtain a first voltage measurement across a first node on the first electrode and a common node on the first electrode and a second voltage measurement across a second node on the second electrode and the common node, wherein the processor: determines an electrical resistance of the conductive liquid based on the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement when the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in the conductive liquid; and determines a gas volume fraction in the conductive liquid based on the measurement, and wherein the conductive liquid comprises molten glass.
15. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , wherein an end of the first electrode or an end of the second electrode is larger than a gas bubble in the conductive liquid.
16. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are not vertically aligned.
17. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , wherein the processor measures one or more resistances while the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in a different conductive liquid with a known gas volume fraction and determines the resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode when immersed in the different conductive liquid.
18. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in the conductive liquid at a constant temperature.
19. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , wherein the electrical conductivity probe device is an electrical conductivity multiprobe device having a first electrical conductivity probe and a second electrical conductivity probe, wherein the first electrical conductivity probe includes the first electrode and the second electrode and the second electrical conductivity probe includes a pair of electrodes referred to as a third electrode and a fourth electrode.
20. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 19 , wherein the first electrical conductivity probe and the second electrical conductivity probe are provided within a common housing.
21. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 20 , wherein the common housing is formed of an elongated tube.
22. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 20 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode project axially past an end of the common housing.
23. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 20 , further comprising a thermocouple that is provided in the common housing.
24. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 20 , wherein the common housing includes a plurality of tubes housing the first electrical conductivity probe and the second electrical conductivity probe.
25. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of tubes includes a first tube having a pair of bores including a first bore and a second bore, and wherein the first electrode is disposed within the first bore and the second electrode is disposed within the second bore.
26. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of tubes includes a first tube and a second tube, and wherein the third electrode is disposed within a bore of the first tube and the fourth electrode is disposed within a bore of the second tube.
27. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , further comprising a handle usable by an operator for positioning, moving, and/or orienting an electrode end, which has a measurement portion of the first electrode and the second electrode, of the electrical conductivity probe device.
28. The electrical conductivity probe device of claim 14 , further comprising a flame deflector oriented between the handle and the electrode end of the electrical conductivity probe device.