Patent ID: 7777868
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
1. An instrument for measuring non-volatile residue in a test liquid, including: a conduit arrangement comprising an entrance conduit for conveying a test liquid downstream, and first and second downstream conduits fluid coupled to the entrance conduit for respectively conveying first and second portions of the test liquid; an aerosol generating stage fluid coupled to the first downstream conduit to receive the first portion of the test liquid, and adapted to generate an aerosol comprised of multiple test liquid droplets suspended in a gas; an aerosol drying stage downstream of the aerosol generating stage for evaporating the test liquid as the aerosol is conveyed therealong, whereby the aerosol downstream of the drying stage consists essentially of non-volatile residue particles suspended in the gas; a droplet forming stage, downstream of the drying stage, including a holding component adapted to receive a condensing medium in liquid form and release the condensing medium in vapor form as the aerosol is conveyed therealong, to supersaturate the aerosol and cause droplet growth through condensation of said medium onto the residue particles; and a droplet detector disposed at a sensing location downstream of the droplet forming stage and adapted to detect the droplets resulting from said condensation as they pass the sensing location; wherein the droplet forming stage is coupled to the second downstream conduit to receive the second portion of the test liquid, and to provide said second portion of the test liquid to the holding component as the condensing medium.