US 12,140,522 B2
Method and apparatus for monitoring microbial contaminants in an industrial process
Crawford Dow, Coventry (GB); and Alexander Boehler, Bad Kreuznach (DE)
Assigned to Alexander Boehler, (DE)
Appl. No. 17/286,294
Filed by CELLFACTS ANALYTICS LIMITED, Coventry (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 18, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/078660
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 16, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/078560, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0389224 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 15/14 (2024.01); C12Q 1/22 (2006.01); C12Q 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 15/14 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/22 (2013.01); C12Q 3/00 (2013.01); G01N 35/00722 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1024 (2024.01); G01N 2015/1029 (2024.01); G01N 2015/1486 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1493 (2013.01); G01N 2035/009 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for the detection of microbiological activity in an industrial process, the system comprising:
a plurality of satellite units configured to:
sample a liquid from the industrial process at a plurality of respective locations,
periodically analyse a sample,
carry out an impedance analysis to count and measure the size of particles passing through an orifice, and
generate sample results data corresponding to the number and size of particles in each sample;
a processing unit configured to compare the sample results data to a predetermined criterion and to generate an alert signal in response to the particle data being outside of the predetermined criterion; and,
a main analysis unit configured to carry out a combined impedance and electromagnetic emission analysis of a sample of liquid from the industrial process following generation of the alert signal.