Method of monitoring and controlling condensate quality
US5578995A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/0222
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved method of monitoring condensate quality in a condensate return system and of controlling the level of particulate matter in the condensate flow so that when this level exceeds an acceptable limit, valves for discharging the condensate flow from the system open automatically or, alternately, an alarm is sounded. Utilization of the method facilitates the conservation of hot steam condensate for reuse in a boiler while preventing water contaminated with particulate matter from returning to the boiler, thereby protecting it from certain types of deposits and corrosion. The improved method includes measuring, on a continuous basis, relative numbers of particulate-type impurities under conditions in which rust or other particles large enough to block flow into a particle counter can be produced in sudden surges. Tests show that a suitable instrument for measuring the impurities under such conditions is a particle monitor. In the improved method, the only restriction on the size of the particles to be monitored is that the particles be small enough to pass through vinyl tubing having an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.