Patent ID: 8158432
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. System for marking, detecting and authenticating a hydrocarbon fluid, the system comprising: a hydrocarbon fluid source; a hydrocarbon fluid destination; a flow line between the hydrocarbon fluid source and the hydrocarbon fluid destination; at least one primary marker source containing at least one primary marker; at least one secondary marker source containing at least one secondary marker detectable by X-ray fluorescence, which is different from said at least one primary marker; wherein said secondary marker is selected from the list consisting of: a chemical compound having the general formula C a chemical compound having the general formula C a chemical compound having the general formula C a chemical compound having the formula C where “X” and “Y” designate a chemical element which can be detected by an X-ray fluorescence analyzer; at least one sensor configured to continuously determine at least a flow rate of the hydrocarbon fluid; a first detection system for determining a concentration of said at least one primary marker in said hydrocarbon fluid; a second detection system for detecting at least the presence of said at least one secondary marker in said hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the second detection system is X-ray fluorescence; at least one first fluid flow controller coupled with said at least one primary marker source for dispensing a determined amount of said at least one primary marker into the flow line and at least one second fluid flow controller coupled with said at least one secondary marker source for dispensing a determined amount of said at least one secondary marker into the flow line with the at least one primary marker, and a processor coupled with said first detection system and with said at least one first and second fluid flow controllers, said processor being preprogrammed to determine said amounts of the at least one primary and at least one secondary markers according to said flow rate and predetermined concentrations of said at least one primary and said at least one secondary markers in said hydrocarbon fluid at said hydrocarbon fluid destination, and further configured to direct said at least one first and second fluid flow controllers to dispense said determined amounts of said at least one primary and at least one secondary markers into said hydrocarbon fluid to mark and maintain said hydrocarbon fluid at said predetermined concentrations to enable a determination of the authenticity of said hydrocarbon fluid, wherein said predetermined concentrations are selected such that said predetermined concentration of said at least one secondary marker in said hydrocarbon fluid is substantially lower than said predetermined concentration of said at least one primary marker in said hydrocarbon fluid, and is undetectable by said first detection system and detectable by said second X-ray fluorescence detection system.