Liquid composition analyzer and method

Abstract

An apparatus which determines concentrations of each of three components that are intermixed in a homogeneous solution. Each component is detectable by at least one characteristic and more than one characteristic is associated with more than one component. First, characteristics that are quantitatively detectable in relation to the concentrations of the components are identified. A mathematical relationship is then developed between the components and the detectable characteristics using the detectable characteristics as independent variables. A sample of the solution is then analyzed to obtain quantitative data of each of the characteristics. The obtained quantitative data is then employed in the mathematical relationship to obtain the concentration of each of the components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for detecting a concentration of each of at least three components in a homogenous solution, the apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting three different characteristics of each of the three components and for providing a respective signal that is representative of the magnitude of the characteristics of each of the three components in solutions;   computing means for receiving and storing each of said signals provided by the detecting means, the computing means being in signal receiving relationship with the detecting means; and   a mathematical expression employed in the computing means that relates the three different characteristics detected by the detecting means to the concentration of each of the at least three components in the homogenous solution such that the mathematical expression includes at least three equations solve simultaneously, each equation including each of the three characteristics as independent variables, and each equation solving for the concentration of one of the components.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detecting means includes a conductivity detector, a density detector, and a sulfide ion concentration detector. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detecting means includes a UV absorption detector, a conductivity detector, and a refractive index detector. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including valving means and conduit means for extracting a single sample of solution which passes through the detecting means. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including valving means and conduit means for obtaining a continuous sample of the solution which passes through the detecting means. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including control means for controlling the relative concentration of each of the three components by utilizing the information characteristic of the concentration of each of the components.