A particle size tracking system for providing predictive maintenance and battery tuning of hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration, featuring a control having a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about particle sizes of material flowing in pipes of hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control the operation of each hydrocyclone arranged in the battery configuration, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor may be configured to provide the corresponding signal as control signaling to control the operation of each hydrocyclone arranged in the battery configuration.

Disclosed is a method for determining of fat content of milk having variable solids fractions and flowing with variable gas content in a pipeline. The method includes ascertaining a velocity of sound and an average density value for the milk based on eigenfrequencies of at least two bending oscillation wanted modes of measuring tubes of a densimeter arranged in the pipeline. The method further includes ascertaining a static pressure in the pipeline; a gas volume fraction based on the velocity of sound; the average density; the pressure; a density of the milk without gas content based on the average density and the gas volume fraction; and a permittivity of the milk based on a propagation velocity and/or an absorption of microwaves in the milk. The fat fraction is calculated based on the density of the milk without gas content and on the effective permittivity.

An apparatus for controlling blending of a gas mixture containing known components, including first, second, and third control valves for controlling the flow of first, second, and third components, respectively, a first gas density sensor to measure the density of a first mixture of the first and second components, a second gas density sensor to measure the density of a second mixture of the first mixture and the third component, and a controller to determine based on data from the first and second gas density sensors the relative compositions of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture, and to control the first, second, and third control valves to obtain a desired relative composition of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture.

An apparatus for controlling blending of a gas mixture containing known components, including first, second, and third control valves for controlling the flow of first, second, and third components, respectively, a first gas density sensor to measure the density of a first mixture of the first and second components, a second gas density sensor to measure the density of a second mixture of the first mixture and the third component, and a controller to determine based on data from the first and second gas density sensors the relative compositions of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture, and to control the first, second, and third control valves to obtain a desired relative composition of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture.

A device for continuous measurement of average molecular weight and polarity of a hydrocarbon stream.

Information from the apparatus will be used to characterize the quality of charge stocks and hydrocarbon components of process or utility units. This instrument is based on the concept that each hydrocarbon molecule has a distinct viscosity at a given temperature. While some different weight molecules may have nearly the same viscosity at one temperature, the rate of change of the viscosity is different for each molecule as temperature changes. By observing the viscosity of a hydrocarbon mixture in a closed loop sampling system at two different temperatures, along with specific gravity of the mixture, the average molecular weight of the mixture can be determined. Likewise, different molecular structure (ringed aromatic hydrocarbon molecules versus straight chain hydrocarbon molecules) will have a unique polarity due to differences in electron density for the different structures. The presence of contaminants such as sulfur and nitrogen atoms in hydrocarbon molecules also causes an increase in polarity of the sample. By continuous analysis of the permittivity of hydrocarbon mixtures the relative polarity of the molecules in the hydrocarbon mixture can be observed. Together this will determine the relative Molecular weight, structure and contaminant level of the feedstock. Data can be used for immediate interpretation of the feed quality allowing immediate evaluation, adjustment and control of process units.

A device for continuous measurement of average molecular weight and polarity of a hydrocarbon stream.

Information from the apparatus will be used to characterize the quality of charge stocks and hydrocarbon components of process or utility units. This instrument is based on the concept that each hydrocarbon molecule has a distinct viscosity at a given temperature. While some different weight molecules may have nearly the same viscosity at one temperature, the rate of change of the viscosity is different for each molecule as temperature changes. By observing the viscosity of a hydrocarbon mixture in a closed loop sampling system at two different temperatures, along with specific gravity of the mixture, the average molecular weight of the mixture can be determined. Likewise, different molecular structure (ringed aromatic hydrocarbon molecules versus straight chain hydrocarbon molecules) will have a unique polarity due to differences in electron density for the different structures. The presence of contaminants such as sulfur and nitrogen atoms in hydrocarbon molecules also causes an increase in polarity of the sample. By continuous analysis of the permittivity of hydrocarbon mixtures the relative polarity of the molecules in the hydrocarbon mixture can be observed. Together this will determine the relative Molecular weight, structure and contaminant level of the feedstock. Data can be used for immediate interpretation of the feed quality allowing immediate evaluation, adjustment and control of process units.

A method and a system for predicting a molecular weight of a hydrocarbon fluid are provided. An exemplary method includes measuring a density of the hydrocarbon fluid, obtaining an alternative measurement of a physical property of the hydrocarbon fluid, calculating an index value for the hydrocarbon fluid from the alternative measurement, and calculating a predicted molecular weight using an equation that combines the density with the index value. The predicted molecular weight is provided as an output.

A method and a system for predicting a molecular weight of a hydrocarbon fluid are provided. An exemplary method includes measuring a density of the hydrocarbon fluid, obtaining an alternative measurement of a physical property of the hydrocarbon fluid, calculating an index value for the hydrocarbon fluid from the alternative measurement, and calculating a predicted molecular weight using an equation that combines the density with the index value. The predicted molecular weight is provided as an output.

An apparatus to test a drilling fluid in a laboratory includes a test cell configured to test the fluid to determine a Sag Factor of the fluid. The test cell may be heated with a heating jacket to a predefined temperature. A plurality of densitometers are configured to continuously measure a density of the fluid circulating in the test cell. A computing device processes the density measurements to determine a Sag Factor of the drilling fluid.

An apparatus to test a drilling fluid in a laboratory includes a test cell configured to test the fluid to determine a Sag Factor of the fluid. The test cell may be heated with a heating jacket to a predefined temperature. A plurality of densitometers are configured to continuously measure a density of the fluid circulating in the test cell. A computing device processes the density measurements to determine a Sag Factor of the drilling fluid.