Degree
Master of Engineering Science
Program
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Supervisor
Anand Prakash
Abstract
To evaluate the suitability of ultrasonic techniques for on-line process monitoring applications, an ultrasonic probe was used to measure acoustic velocity, acoustic impedance, and isentropic compressibility of hydrocarbons (including n-, iso-, and cycloalkanes, toluene, mineral oil, and crude oil) and polar liquids (alcohols, water, salt water) over a temperature range of 25-60°C. Temperature, carbon chain length, molecular shape, and intermolecular forces had significant effects on ultrasonic parameters. Relationships between media characteristics and observed ultrasonic parameters were modeled using empirical-least squares equations. The same parameters were measured in binary mixtures of hydrocarbons in heptane, as well as polar liquids in ethanol. Experimental values were presented as a function of volume fraction and compared to ideal mixing conditions. Excess quantities were computed and shown in a similar manner. Ultrasonic techniques were demonstrated to be effective in estimating ethanol content in n-heptane (representing gasoline) and for detecting volatile losses for stored crude oil.
Recommended Citation
Cooke, William A., "Development of Ultrasonic Techniques for Characterization of Liquid Mixtures" (2016). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4225.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4225
Included in
Fluid Dynamics Commons, Industrial Engineering Commons, Industrial Technology Commons, Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons, Petroleum Engineering Commons, Process Control and Systems Commons, Systems Engineering Commons