Method and apparatus for optically discriminating between the phases of a three-phase fluid
US5956132A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/113
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
To discriminate optically between the various phases in a three-phase fluid, a light beam (F) of non-zero divergence is injected into a detector block (10) made of a material whose refractive index is greater than the refractive indices of all three phases of the fluid. The block (10) has a sensitive zone (18) and a total reflection zone (20) such that incident rays (Ri) parallel to the axis (12) of the block strike the sensitive zone (17) at an angle of incidence (.THETA.i) and are returned parallel to the axis (12) by the total reflection zone (20). The angle of incidence (.THETA.i) is such that a first phase gives rise to almost total reflection, a second phase gives rise to almost total transmission, and a third phase gives rise to partial transmission and partial reflection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.