Method and means for determining physical properties from measurements of microstructure in porous media
US4628468A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 1984 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N15/088
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for predicting pore-dependent physical properties of a microporous solid from measurements of the geometric statistical characteristics of the solid. In a preferred embodiment, the method involves a microscopic determination of the number of geometric features of the pore surface as seen by microscopy performed at several levels of magnification. The fractal dimensionality of the pore space and the range of length scales over which the geometric features of the solid obey a self-similar size distribution are determined. From the measured data, such properties as the porosity, electrical conductivity, and permeability are determined. The method may be performed to determine pore-dependent physical properties of various microporous solids, including reservoir rock, heterogeneous catalyst materials, and electrochemical electrodes. The method may be performed automatically using a specially designed measurement system comprising a microscope or microdensitometer and signal processing means including a computer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.