Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the volumetric water content of a mineral and/or organic mixture with dielectric measurements. The apparatus includes a probe body having a hollow cylinder formed of an insulating material with an annular cutting edge at a lower end. Electrodes and a temperature sensor are carried by the probe body. A bottom plate may be disposed adjacent to the lower end of the cylinder so that the cylinder and the plate define a cavity for receiving a liquid coolant. A removable cover is provided for closing the cavity to prevent rain water from entering. The method includes introducing the probe in the mixture, charging the electrodes with a high frequency electromagnetic wave so as to generate an HF field in a region of the electrodes and reflect a wave from the electrodes, measuring a complex reflection factor of the reflected wave at a temperature T.sub.1 of the mixture, cooling the surrounding mixture to a temperature T.sub.

Abstract: A method of detecting water level in an elongate cavity comprises emitting an alternating signal into the cavity, varying the frequency of said signal to provide a specific response from the cavity, detecting said response, and comparing said outgoing signal and response. In a preferred embodiment the response is a returning signal reflected from the surface of the water. The frequency of the outgoing signal may be varied continuously to establish a substantially steady state difference frequency between the outgoing and returning signal.

Abstract: A co-variance microwave water cut monitor includes a test cell having a petroleum stress flowing through it while permitting the microwave energy to enter the test cell. A microwave source provides microwave energy to a circulator which in turn provides the microwave energy to an antenna. The antenna provides the petroleum stream in the test cell with the microwave energy and receives reflected microwave energy back from the stream. The reflected microwave energy is provided by the antenna to the circulator which in turn provides the reflected microwave energy as test microwave energy. A detector assembly connected to the circulator detects the intensity of the test microwave energy and provides a corresponding intensity signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring two components of an object, such as moisture content and density in a tobacco rod, using scattered electromagnetic radiation are provided. The invention relies on the fact that both the real imaginary parts of the dielectric constant of water vary greatly over frequencies in the gigahertz region while those of the remaining constitutents of tobacco do not, and particularly on the fact that, at frequencies approaching 100 GHz, the real part of the dielectric constant of water is much closer to that of many organic polymers, such as those making up tobacco, than it is at lower frequencies, and the imaginary part of the dielectric constant of water is much lower at frequencies approaching 100 GHz than it is in the region of 20 to 30 GHz. By comparing the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by the object--i.e.