Method and apparatus for detecting the position of fluid-fluid interfaces
US5394749A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/25
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Precise information is obtainable concerning the position of a fluid-fluid interface (28, 33), such as between a gas and a liquid or between liquids. Such information is important for the control and automation of molten metal refining processes. Specifically, in an electrolytic process for removing magnesium from molten aluminum, knowledge of the vertical position of an interface (33) between the electrolyte and the magnesium and an interface (28) between the electrolyte and the aluminum facilitates the automatic removal of the purified metals when drained or drawn from the furnace. Heat energy is conducted through a thermocouple-heater assembly 34 to a thermocouple (38) located at its tip (36). The equilibrium temperature at the thermocouple junction is dependent upon the heat loss through tip (36). When the tip comes in contact with a fluid of different thermal conductivity, as between molten matter (29) and electrolyte (30), the equilibrium temperature at tip (36) and, thus, of the thermocouple junction will change. This change in temperature is used to determine the level of the liquid-liquid interface between molten matter (29) and electrolyte (30). This information is used t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.