Alfred F Morin

US Patent:

48734896, Oct 10, 1989

Filed:

Mar 2, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/163384

Inventors:

James R. Melcher - Lexington MA
Alfred J. Morin - Cambridge MA
Markus Zahn - Lexington MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G01R 3112

US Classification:

324453

Abstract:

The density of charge entrained in fluids such as oils in transformer systems, capacitors, cables, pumps and fuel transfer systems is measured by introducing the oil into a conductive container which expands in volume to receive the fluid without expelling any fluid. The container is shielded by a grounded conductor which prevents inducement of charge on the container by external sources. By measuring the current between the conducting expandable container and the surrounding shield and accounting for the effects of the charge induced on the outer wall of the container by its own induced voltage, the net charge entrained in the fluid as it is brought into the container is deduced. Extraneous effects of conduction and electrokinetic currents are automatically excluded from the measurement. The oil is then automatically returned to the transformer system by the contraction of the conductive container so that the measurement can be repeated without accumulating an inventory of fluid.