MICROWAVE MEASUREMENT OF WATER IN FLUIDS

THE TECHNICAL OBJECTIVE IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING MICROWAVE OPEN-ENDED RESONATORS FOR QUANTIFYING THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN LIQUIDS IN-SITU, PARTICULARLY HYDRAULIC FLUIDS. SPECIFICALLY, WE SEEK TO DEMONSTRATE THE METHOD'S CAPABILITIES TO MEASURE MOISTURE CONTENT DOWN TO A LEVEL OF 100 PARTS/MILLION OR BETTER. THE RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE DESIGN AND USE OF COMPACT, NONOBSTRUCTIVE RESONATORS WHICH CAN BE PORTABLE OR PERMANTELY MOUNTED IN STREAM LINES. MAJOR ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO DETERMINE FACTORS WHICH MAY EFFECT THE CALIBRATION OF THE RESONATORS, AND ON PRACTICAL METHODS OF COMPENSATING FOR SUCH FACTORS.