Apparatus and Method for Measuring Water Content Profiles, Interfacial levels, Thicknesses and Tensions of Multiphase Dispersions

摘要

A apparatus and method for simultaneously measuring water content profiles, surface/interfacial levels, thicknesses and tensions of multiphase dispersions, such as dispersions with water dispersed in produced oils, crude oils, various fuels, distillates, lubricants, paints and polymers, or reversed dispersions with these organic components dispersed in water. The apparatus with 1-16 channels, namely multi-channel scanning water analyzer (MCSWA) and/or tensiometer, comprising a motorized precision vertical stage with multiple capacitive sensors, a heating system with multiple heating cells for keeping the respective sample bottles, and a data acquisition system, where the capacitive sensors can be precisely controlled via a computer to dip into the samples at a preset scanning velocity and the capacitances of the sensors are continuously measured by the data acquisition system. The measured sensor capacitances are used to derive water content profiles, surface/interfacial levels, interfacial thicknesses and surface/interfacial tensions of the respective samples. The apparatus is a good tool for R&D scientists to select chemicals efficiently and can provide reliable data for engineering design and product quality assurance.