System for measuring the concentration of magnetic ballast in a slurry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9651523-B2
Application number	US-201314428740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2013
Priority date	Sep 26, 2012
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for measuring the concentration of magnetic ballast in a slurry to be analyzed is provided. A detection conduit is provided and configured to receive a slurry to be analyzed. The detection conduit may be surrounded by a set of detection coaxial coils. A reference set of two coaxial coils is also provided. A power source is provided for establishing an electrical current. A measurement subsystem for measuring the differential induced voltage between detection and reference coils is provided to determine the concentration of the magnetic ballast in the slurry.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for measuring a concentration of magnetic ballast in a slurry comprising:
a detection conduit surrounded by a first detection coil, the detection conduit configured to receive the slurry, and the first detection coil comprising a first section and a second section both positioned coaxially along the detection conduit;
a reference conduit surrounded by a first reference coil;
a second detection coil surrounding the detection conduit and positioned between the first and second sections of the first detection coil along a common axis of the detection conduit;
a second reference coil surrounding the reference conduit and positioned in proximity to the first reference coil, wherein the first and second detection coils and the first and second reference coils are positioned on a common plane of symmetry perpendicular to each other;
an AC power source configured to generate a magnetic field in the first detection coil and the first reference coil; and
a measurement device configured to measure a differential induced voltage between the second detection coil and the second reference coil to determine the concentration of the magnetic ballast in the slurry based on the measured differential induced voltage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slurry is a static slurry.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slurry is a moving slurry.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detection coil and the first reference coil are symmetrical.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second detection coils are identical to the first and second reference coils.

6. The system of claim 1 , configured to measure a concentration of magnetic ballast in a range of about 0.1 mg/l to about 500,000 mg/l.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the differential induced voltage between the second detection coil and the second reference coil voltage is proportional to the concentration of the magnetic ballast in the slurry.

8. A method for measuring a concentration of magnetic ballast in a slurry comprising:
providing a system comprising:
a detection conduit surrounded by a first detection coil, comprising a first section and a second section both positioned coaxially along the detection conduit;
a reference conduit surrounded by a first reference coil;
a second detection coil surrounding the detection conduit and positioned between the first and second sections of the first detection coil along a common axis of the detection conduit; and
a second reference coil surrounding the reference conduit and positioned in proximity to the first reference coil, wherein the first and second detection coils and the first and second reference coils are positioned on a common plane of symmetry perpendicular to each other;

introducing the slurry into the detection conduit;
generating a magnetic field in the first detection coil and the first reference coil; and
measuring an induced voltage between the second detection coils and the second reference coil to determine the concentration of the magnetic ballast in the slurry based on the measured differential induced voltage.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein introducing the slurry into the detection conduit comprises at least partially immersing the system in a component of a wastewater treatment system.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component includes a component selected from the group consisting of a reaction tank, a mixing tank, and aeration tank, a settling tank, a clarifier, a conduit, line or pipe, an impregnation subsystem, a return activated sludge subsystem, a weighting agent recovery subsystem, a wasting system, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the concentration of the magnetic ballast in the slurry is in a range of about 0.1 mg/l to about 500,000 mg/l.

Assignees

• Evoqua Water Tech Llc

Inventors

• Klyamkin Simone
• Woodard Steven E
• Federico Frank
• Mckean Colin' M

Classifications

• G01N33/18

  Water · CPC title

• G01N27/74 Primary

  of fluids (G01N24/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01R33/028 Primary

  Electrodynamic magnetometers · CPC title

• C02F1/488

  for separation of magnetic materials, e.g. magnetic flocculation · CPC title

• C02F2001/007

  Processes including a sedimentation step · CPC title