Patent ID: 7948621

Claim:
A pipeline contaminant monitor comprising: a housing; an analyzer, situated within the housing, for (a) illuminating, with a light source, sampled fluid removed from a pipeline having contaminant particles, and (b) collecting, from contaminant particles in the illuminated sampled fluid, scattered light generated from size, distribution and concentration of the contaminant particles in the sampled fluid, the analyzer having a flow cell configured to receive sampled fluid flow at pressure and temperature within the pipeline and to preserve the sampled fluid flow at pressure and temperature within the pipeline, so as to accurately maintain the size, distribution and concentration of the contaminant particles therewithin for subsequent measurement; at least one detector, situated within the housing, for generating electrical signals from the scattered light from the analyzer; and a processor, situated within the housing, for a) converting the electrical signals from the detector into digital data pertaining to the contaminant particles for evaluation, and b) distributing the digital data via a communication network to at least one digital data processor for further processing.