Dynamic Magnetic Susceptibility Sensing for Rapid Mixture Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring the relative concentrations of materials in binary mixtures, particularly in nuclear environments or continuous production lines, are destructive, time-consuming, and require large equipment, making them impractical for real-time monitoring and integration into constrained spaces.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a compact, low-field magnetic susceptibility measurement system with a transmitting and receiving coil setup, applying variable frequency excitation to determine the relative concentrations of materials based on their magnetic susceptibilities, allowing for non-destructive, rapid analysis of binary or multi-component mixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If chemical analysis methods are used to measure material concentrations, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement time increases significantly and the process becomes destructive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical analysis methods with a magnetic measurement system that uses a transmitting coil to generate an alternating magnetic field and a receiving coil to detect magnetic susceptibility. This substitution eliminates the need for destructive chemical procedures while providing rapid, non-destructive measurement of material concentrations in mixtures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures magnetic susceptibility as a physical parameter that correlates with material concentration. By changing from chemical analysis to measuring magnetic susceptibility through induced voltage in receiving coils, the system achieves both speed and precision without destruction of the sample.
2Measurement precision
If VSM magnetometry is used to measure magnetic susceptibility, then measurement precision is improved, but device size and complexity increase making it unsuitable for constrained environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential magnetic measurement function from the complex VSM system. Instead of using a full vibrating sample magnetometer with large electromagnets and superconducting magnets, the invention uses a simplified setup with transmitting and receiving coils that measures magnetic susceptibility through induced voltage, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex, and large-scale magnetic measurement equipment with a simpler, more compact coil-based system. This simplified apparatus is much easier to install in constrained environments like nuclear glove boxes or continuous production lines, making the measurement capability accessible where previously it was prohibitively expensive and complex.
3Measurement precision
If large electromagnets or superconducting magnets are used for VSM, then measurement precision is improved, but the equipment size increases making installation in glove boxes or production lines impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical and bulky magnet systems with an electromagnetic induction setup. Instead of using large electromagnets or superconducting magnets that require significant space, the invention uses a transmitting coil to generate an alternating magnetic field and a receiving coil to detect the response, dramatically reducing equipment volume while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement approach from static magnetic field methods requiring large magnets to dynamic magnetic susceptibility measurement using alternating fields. This parameter change enables the use of compact coil systems instead of large magnet systems, making the equipment suitable for installation in constrained environments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast, non-destructive, and compact measurement of material concentrations suitable for nuclear environments and continuous production lines, providing real-time data on mixture compositions without the need for sampling, with measurement times reduced to seconds compared to hours or days.
Implementation Method 1
supplying the transmitting coil with an electric voltage generator at at least one non-zero excitation frequency so as to generate an excitation magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
measurement of the signal of the electric voltage induced in at least one receiving coil
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for measuring relative concentrations of materials in a mixture, comprising the following steps: • a/ providing an emission coil (2) and at least one reception coil (3.1, 3.2); • b/ providing a mixture (P, E) comprising n materials having different magnetic susceptibilities (χ 1, χ 2,.. χ n); • c/ introducing the mixture into the reception coil; • d/ using a voltage generator to supply the emission coil at at least one nonzero excitation frequency so as to generate an excitation magnetic field; • e/ measuring the signal of the voltage induced in the reception coil; • f/ determining relative concentrations of the n materials based on comparison between the overall susceptibility of the mixture as obtained through the voltage measurement in step e/ and that of a reference mixture for which the relative concentrations of said n materials are known. The invention also relates to the associated system.