Patent ID: 8817241

Claim:
An automated oil in water analyzer for analyzing the oil concentration in an effluent stream, the oil in water analyzer comprising: a dewatering/desalting system associated with the effluent stream; a sample loop connected to an effluent stream and arranged for acquiring a sample from the effluent stream, wherein the sample loop includes valving that may be opened to acquire a sample and closed to isolate the acquired sample from the effluent stream; an extraction device; valving for connecting the sample loop to the extraction device such that an acquired sample may be transferred into the extraction device; a pressurized gas system arranged to assist in the transfer of an acquired sample into the extraction device for extracting a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture from the sample; a solvent pump connected to the extraction device and suited for injecting a known volume of solvent into the extraction device to be mixed with the acquired sample; a spectroscopic cell for determining the hydrocarbon concentration of the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture by spectroscopy techniques; a water pump system for lifting the mixture of solvent and the acquired sample in the extraction device and transporting the same to the spectroscopic cell; a waste line arranged for discharging a fully analyzed mixture of an acquired sample and solvent; and a control system connected to the dewatering/desalting system and arranged to continuously alter operation of the dewatering/desalting system based upon the concentration of the hydrocarbon material in a sample.