Paraffin Monitor

The present invention relates to monitors in general and, more particularly, to monitors for monitoring characteristics of oils.

A paraffin monitor includes an electronic circuit providing an output voltage which is affected by a pair of probes, immersed in a medium having paraffin, that are part of the circuit so that over a period of time the voltage is representative of a change in the amount of paraffin on the probes.

The objects 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 of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a paraffin monitor constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the voltage reading on the meter shown in FIG. 1 versus time.

A need exists for a reliable method which can be used to monitor paraffin build-up over a period of time or to screen paraffin inhibitors and dispersants for crude oil prior to actual field use. A need also exists to be able to monitor paraffin build-up or dispersal in pipelines carrying crude oil production streams. The present invention is a paraffin monitor and may be used for the paraffin build-up directly or by monitoring the effect of an inhibitor or dispersant on the paraffin so as to test the inhibitor or dispersant.

For the purpose of the present invention the word "medium" will be used to denote a liquid containing some crude oil or to a liquid that is substantially, if not 100%, crude oil. The crude oil contains paraffin.

Referring to FIG. 1, an amplifier/oscillator 1 includes an operational amplifier 2 having a capacitor 4 shunted by a resistor 7 connected to its non-inverting input. Capacitor 4 and resistor 7 are also connected to ground 8 so as to form a parallel resistor-capacitor circuit. The inverting input of amplifier 2 has a variable resistor 12 connected to ground 8.

One feedback loop connecting an output of amplifier 2 to the non-inverting input of amplifier 2 includes a resistor 16 and a capacitor 18 connected in series. Probes 20, 22 are connected to the inverting input and the output, respectively, of amplifier 2 and with the medium between them form another feedback loop. Probes 20, 22 are located in a shaker 26 having a heater coil 30 wrapped around it.

Amplifier 2 experiences both positive and negative feedback and thus causes amplifier/oscillator 1 to function as amplifier and as an oscillator. The positive feedback is applied to resistors 7, 16 and capacitors 4, 18 which are arranged in a series-parallel configuration and in the absence of other consideration would provide a controlled audio oscillator which is very stable in frequency. The frequency f of operation being given by f=1/(2.pi..sqroot.R.sub.T R.sub.F C.sub.T C.sub.F where R.sub.T C.sub.T are the resistance and capacitance, respectively, of the parallel resistor-capacitor which in this example are provided by resistor 7 and capacitor 4, respectively. The terms R.sub.F C.sub.F refer to the feedback resistance and capacitance, respectively, which are provided by resistor 16 and capacitor 18. When R.sub.T equals R.sub.F and C.sub.T equals C.sub.F ; the foregoing equation may be rewritten as f=1/(2.pi.RC) where R is the resistance of resistor 7 or 16 and C is the capacitance of capacitor 4 or 18. The oscillator portion of amplifier/oscillator 1 provides a small AC current or voltage which prevents polarization of the paraffin. A DC current or voltage produces polarization effects of the paraffin in oil producing systems which either invalidates or complicates data interpretation.

The negative feedback amplifier function of amplifier/oscillator 1 is achieved through resistor 12 and the resistance between probes 20, 22. The gain of the amplifier function is the ratio of the resistance between probes 20, 22 to the resistance of potentiometer 12. Thus as paraffin is deposited on probes 20, 22, the negative feedback resistance increases causing an increase in the amplifier's function gain. Obviously, if paraffin is removed from probes 20 and 22, the gain of the amplifier function would decrease.

Another effect of paraffin build-up or growth on probes 20, 22 is to turn the oscillator function of elements 1, 4, 7, 12, 16 and 18 from controlled oscillations into uncontrolled oscillations due to the increase of positive feedback, the benefit of which will be explained hereinafter. The removal of paraffin causes the AC signal to go from uncontrolled oscillation, if there was sufficient paraffin on probes 20 and 22, to controlled oscillation.

The output of amplifier/oscillator 1 is provided to the non-inverting input of another operational amplifier 35. The output signal from amplifier 35 is provided to a diode 38 whose output is connected to the inverting input of amplifier 35. Amplifier 35 is connected to ground 8 through a diode 36. A capacitor 40 is also connected to diode 36 and amplifier 35.

The output of diode 38 is also connected to a meter 34 and diodes 47 and 48 which provide overvoltage protection for meter 44. Meter 44 and diodes 47, 48 are connected to ground 8. Meter 44 may be calibrated so that a normal high gain signal from diode 38 causes a reading on meter 44 that is approximately three-fourths of full scale. When the aforementioned uncontrolled oscillations occur, meter 44 will be driven to full scale as an indication of the severity of paraffin build-up on probes 20, 22.

Operational amplifiers 2 and 35 receive biasing voltages V+ and V- from a power supply not shown for convenience of explanation.

Formation and growth of a paraffin film on the probes 20, 22 change the loop characteristics and, in turn, change the Q and the gain of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, which depicts the reading on voltmeter 44 versus time, a build-up of paraffin results in the output voltage increasing. When the paraffin build-up is severe, meter 44 reads full-scale due to the uncontrolled oscillation as noted previously.

The voltage provided to meter 44 may be related to the paraffin inhibitor or dispersant effectiveness. When a paraffin inhibitor is being tested, the lack of paraffin build-up or the increase in the build-up time is indicative of the inhibitor's efficiency. When a paraffin dispersant is being tested, the removal time of the paraffin, and the extent of removal, from probes 20, 22 are representative of the paraffin dispersant's effectiveness.

The present invention as hereinbefore described is a paraffin monitor. The present invention may also be used to test paraffin inhibitors and dispersants. The monitor includes a circuit, that functions as an amplifier and an oscillator providing a signal having controlled oscillation or uncontrolled oscillation, which is affected to alter the gain of the amplifier function and the type of oscillation of the signal.