Patent · US Active

Thermal phase separation simulator

US8888362B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 17, 2012
Grant dateNov 18, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/11
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A thermal phase separation simulator and method for testing chemicals is disclosed. The simulator comprises a circular block heater carousel mounted for rotation on a stage. The carousel includes a circular array of test wells for receiving a plurality of test bottles, a plurality of heating elements and thermocouples disposed between the wells. Each well has an illumination port and a vertical slit to the outside to allow visual observation or imaging of a vertical swatch of the bottle. An illumination source aligns with the illumination port of each well in response to rotation of the carousel. The method includes adding a mixed phase fluid to a plurality of bottles, adding a chemical agent to each bottle, and simulating a thermal phase separation. Images of the fluid in each bottle are captured and analyzed to determine the performance of the one or more chemical agents.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.