Coal slurry monitor means and method

A monitor receives a slurry of coal and water and provides an output signal corresponding to the coal content of the slurry. The monitor includes sensing apparatus which senses the hydrogen content of the water in the slurry and provides a corresponding signal. A circuit supplies a signal corresponding to the hydrogen content of water. An output network provides the output signal corresponding to the coal content of the slurry in accordance with the signals from the sensing apparatus and the circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to monitoring in general and, more 
particularly, to monitors for monitoring slurries. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A monitor receives a slurry of coal and water and provides an output signal 
corresponding to the coal content of the slurry. The monitor includes 
sensing apparatus which senses the hydrogen content of the water in the 
slurry and provides a corresponding signal. A circuit provides a signal 
corresponding to the hydrogen content of water. An output network provides 
the output signal corresponding to the coal content of the slurry in 
accordance with the signals from the sensing apparatus and the circuit. 
The object and advantages of the invention will appear more fully 
hereinafter, from a consideration of the detailed description which 
follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one 
embodiment is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly 
understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only 
and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a coal slurry monitor constructed 
in accordance with the present invention. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed block diagrams of the monitor means and the 
control means, respectively, shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A mixture of coal and water, hereinafter called slurry, flows through a 
line 1. A portion of the slurry is drawn off through a line 3, having a 
valve 7, and is provided to sensing means 10. Water is provided through a 
line 14 having a valve 16 to flow into pipe 3 to sensing means 10. Sensing 
means 10 utilizes low resolution nuclear magnetic resonance techniques in 
sensing properties of either the slurry or the water and provides a signal 
S corresponding to percent of hydrogen in the water in the sample. 
Hydrogen associated with liquids, such as water, can be sensed by low 
resolution nuclear magnetic resonance, whereas hydrogen in solids, such as 
coal, is not. The water in line 14 should come from the same source as the 
water used in preparing the slurry, especially if the water contains 
significant quantities of soluble hydrogen containing materials, such as 
ammonia or formaltis. Sensing means 10 may have a Newport analyzer Mark 
III, manufactured by Newport Oxford Industries, or an equivalent. The 
slurry is discharged through a line 18 having a valve 20. The water is 
discharged through line 18 and through another line 24 having a valve 28. 
Sensing means 10 provides signal S to monitor means 30. Control means 34 
provides control signal C1 to valves 7, 20 and a control signal C2 to 
valves 16, 28 to control the fluid flow through sensing means 10 as 
hereinafter explained. Control means 34 also provides control signals C3 
through C6 to monitor means 30. 
The operation of the system as such is that with valves 7 and 20 in the 
open position, slurry passes through sensing means 10 which provides a 
signal corresponding to the hydrogen content of the water in the slurry. 
During calibration, valves 7 and 20 are initially closed and then valves 
16 and 28 are opened so that water flows through sensing means 10 so that 
signal S now corresponds to the hydrogen content of the water. 
Monitor means 30 utilizes the following equations 
EQU W=(Ss/Sw)100%, 1. 
where Ss is the signal from sensing means 10 for a unit volume of slurry, 
Sw is the signal for a unit volume of water and W is the percent weight 
water in the slurry. 
EQU C=100-W, 2. 
where C is the percent weight of the coal in the slurry. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, switch means 40 receives signal S and control 
signal C3. Switching means 40 is in essence an electronic single-pole 
double throw switch which in effect takes signal S and provides it at one 
of its two outputs. When signal C3 is at a low logic level, switch means 
40 provides signal S as signal ss, corresponding to the instantaneous 
hydrogen content of the water in the slurry. When signal C3 is at a high 
logic level, switch means 40 provides signal S as signal sw corresponding 
to the hydrogen content of the water in the sample. 
Signals ss and sw are provided to analog-to-digital converters 42 and 43, 
respectively, which in turn provide corresponding digital signals to 
registers 47 and 48. Registers 47 and 48 are controlled by control signals 
C4 and C5, respectively, to enter the digital signals and provide digital 
signals to digital-to-analog converters 52 and 53, respectively, which 
provide signal Ss and Sw, respectively. Signals Ss and Sw correspond to 
the sampled percent weight of the slurry and the water, respectively. A 
divider 56 divides signal Ss with signals Sw to provide a signal 
corresponding to the sensed weight of water to a multiplier 60. Multiplier 
60 multiplies the signal with a direct current voltage corresponding to a 
value of 100 to provide a signal corresponding to the term W in equation 
1. 
Subtracting means 63 subtracts signal W from the voltage corresponding to 
100 to provide a signal C corresponding to the term C in equation 2. 
Signal C is provided to display means 68. Display means 68 can either 
visually display signal C in the form of a numeric display or record an 
analog trace of signal C, or both. Display means 68 is inhibited by 
control signal C6 as hereinafter explained so that when switching from a 
measuring mode of operation to a calibration mode and back transient data 
can be omitted. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, control means 34 includes a manually operative 
switch 75 receiving a negative logic voltage L so that when momentarily 
activated, switch 75 provides a negative pulse to the set input of a 
flip-flop 78. Flip-flop 78 has a Q and Q output connected to switch means 
80 and 80A, respectively, whose outputs are commonly connected. The signal 
appearing at the Q output of flip-flop 78 is control signal C3. Switch 
means 80 receives a positive direct current voltage +V and is rendered 
conductive by a high logic level signal appearing at the Q output of 
flip-flop 78 to pass voltage +V as control signal C1 and is rendered 
non-conductive by a low logic level signal appearing at the Q output to 
block voltage +V. Elements having a numeric designation with a suffix are 
similar to elements having the same numeric designation without a suffix. 
Switch means 80A receives a negative direct current voltage -V and is 
controlled by a high logic level signal appearing at the Q output of 
flip-flop 78 to pass voltage -V as signal C1 and to block voltage -V when 
the signal appearing at the Q output of flip-flop 78 is at a low logic 
level. 
The negative pulse from the operation of switch 75 also triggers a one-shot 
multivibrator 84 to provide a pulse which in turn is applied to the set 
input of a flip-flop 86 triggering it to the set state. Flip-flop 86 has 
its Q output connected to switch means 80B, which receives voltage -V, and 
its Q ouput connected to switch means 80C which receives voltage +V. 
Switch means 80B and 80C are connected in the same manner as switch means 
80 and 80A so that combined they provide signal C2. 
The Q output of flip-flop 78 and the Q output of flip-flop 86 are provided 
to an OR gate 90 whose output is connected to another one-shot 
multivibrator 91. One-shot 91 provides control signal C6. 
A timer 95 provides timing pulses to AND gates 97, 98. AND gate 97 provides 
pulses, when enabled, to counting means 100 which count the pulses until a 
predetermined number is reached and then provides a pulse to the set input 
of a flip-flop 103. The Q output of flip-flop 103 is connected to AND gate 
98 and to the clear input of counter means 100. The Q output of flip-flop 
103 is connected to AND gate 97 and to a one-shot multivibrator 108. 
One-shot 108 is connected to another one-shot multivibrator which in turn 
is connected to switch means 40A. Switch means 40A also receives control 
signal C3, and selects pulses from one-shot 109 to be provided as control 
signal C4 or as control signal C5. The output of AND gate 98 is provided 
to counter means 112 which provides a pulse output when it counts a 
predetermined number of passed pulses from AND gate 98. Counter means 112 
provides the pulse to another counter means 120, to another one-shot 
multivibrator 122 and to the clear input of flip-flop 103. One-shot 122 
provides pulses to the clear input of counter means 112. 
Counter means 120 counts the pulses provided by counter means 112 and upon 
reaching a predetermined count provides a pulse to a one-shot 
multivibrator 130 and to the clear input of flipf-flop 86. One-shot 130 
provides a pulse, in response to being triggered, to the clear inputs of 
flip-flop 78 and of counter means 120. 
In operation, flip-flop 78 is in a clear state and provides a low logic 
level signal as signal C3 which causes signal S from sensing means 10 to 
be provided as signal ss. Because flip-flop 78 is in the clear state, 
switch means 80A passes voltage -V as control signal C1 which keeps valves 
7 and 20 open and flip-flop 86 is in the clear state which provides 
voltage +V as signal C2 thereby maintaining valves 16 and 28 closed so 
that sensing means 10 has slurry flowing through it. 
Initially flip-flop 103 is in a clear state, thereby causing AND gate 97 to 
pass timing pulses from timer 95 to counter means 100. Upon reaching a 
predetermined count, counter means 100 provides a pulse to flip-flop 103 
triggering it to the set state so that it provides a high logic level 
signal which enables AND gate 98 so that it passes timing pulses to 
counter means 112 for counting. 
It should be noted that the predetermined count of counter means 112 
corresponds to the test duration. Upon reaching the predetermined count, 
counter means 112 provides a pulse to one-shot 122 and to counter 120 
which is counted by counter means 120. One-shot 122, in response to the 
pulse from counter 112, provides a clear pulse to the C input of counter 
112. The pulse from counter means 112 also clears flip-flop 103 so that 
the signal at Q output goes to a high logic level and again enables AND 
gate 97 while the signal at the Q output goes to a low logic level, 
thereby disabling AND gate 98 so that the test procedure starts over 
again. 
The signal at the Q output of flip-flop 103 in going to a low logic level 
triggers one-shot 108 which in turn provides a time delay pulse. The pulse 
from one-shot 108 triggers another one-shot multivibrator 109 to provide a 
pulse which passes through switch means 40A and is provided as enter pulse 
C4 to register 47. Register 47 enters the data from analog to digital 
converter 42 in response to the enter pulse. The time delay pulse from 
one-shot 108 ensures that the signal S from sensing means 10 has 
stabilized before entering the corresponding digital signals into either 
register 47 or register 48. 
To calibrate the herebefore described monitor, an operator depresses switch 
75 triggering flip-flop 78 to a set state. At this time, the signal C3 at 
the Q output of flip-flop 78 goes to a high logic level, causing switch 
means 40 to provide signal S as signal SW and to cause switch means 40A to 
provide a pulse from one-shot 109 as enter pulse C5. Further, switch means 
80 is rendered conductive to provide signal C1 as a positive direct 
current voltage, causing valves 7 and 20 to close. 
One-shot 84 is also activated by the pulse from switch 75 and acts as a 
time delay in providing a pulse to flip-flop 86, causing it to go to a set 
state. While in the set state, switches 80B and 80C are rendered 
conductive and non conductive, respectively, so as to provide -V as 
control signal C2 thereby opening valves 16 and 28 at some time interval 
after the closure of valves 7 and 20. 
Again, timer 95, AND gates 97 and 98, counter means 100, 112, flip-flop 103 
and one-shot 122 cooperate as hereinbefore described. However, now counter 
means 120 is providing a count of the measurement being made during 
calibration and upon reaching a predetermined count, it provides a pulse 
output to one-shot 130 and to the clear input of flip-flop 86. Clearing 
flip-flop 86 causes switches 80B and 80C to provide +V as signal C2 
thereby closing valves 16 and 28. One-shot 130 provides a pulse to the 
clear input of flip-flop 78 causing it to change to a clear state thereby 
causing switch means 80 and 80A to provide voltage -V as signal C1 thereby 
opening valves 7 and 20 at some time interval after the closing of valves 
16 and 28. 
Again, during the calibration procedures, the pulses provided by one-shot 
109 were provided as enter pulses C5 to register 48 to let it enter the 
signals corresponding to SW. 
The changing of either the Q output signal from flip-flop 78 or the Q 
output signal from flip-flop 86 causes OR gate 90 to go to a low logic 
level triggering one-shot multivibrator 91 which provides an inhibiting 
pulse C6. C6 inhibits display means 68 for a certain time period during 
the changing of the operation of sensing means 10 from test procedure to 
calibration procedure. 
The present invention as hereinbefore described is a monitor for monitoring 
the coal content of a slurry of coal and water.