SELF-CLEANING OPTICAL SENSOR
First Claim
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1. An optical sensor comprising:
- a sensor head that includes a first optical window, a second optical window, at least one light source, and at least one detector, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit light through the first optical window into a flow of fluid and the at least one detector is configured to detect fluorescent emissions through the second optical window from the flow of fluid;
a flow chamber that includes a housing defining a cavity into which the sensor head is inserted, an inlet port configured to communicate the flow of fluid from outside of the cavity to an interior of the cavity, and an outlet port configured to communicate the flow of fluid from the interior of the cavity to back outside of the cavity,wherein the inlet port defines a first fluid nozzle configured to direct a portion of the flow of fluid against the first optical window and a second fluid nozzle configured to direct a portion of the flow of fluid against the second optical window.
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Abstract
An optical sensor may include a sensor head that has an optical window for directing light into a flow of fluid and/or receiving optical energy from the fluid. The optical sensor may also include a flow chamber that includes a housing defining a cavity into which the sensor head can be inserted. In some examples, the flow chamber includes an inlet port defining a flow nozzle that is configured to direct fluid entering the flow chamber against the optical window of the sensor head. In operation, the force of the incoming fluid impacting the optical window may prevent fouling materials from accumulating on the optical window.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An optical sensor comprising:
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a sensor head that includes a first optical window, a second optical window, at least one light source, and at least one detector, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit light through the first optical window into a flow of fluid and the at least one detector is configured to detect fluorescent emissions through the second optical window from the flow of fluid; a flow chamber that includes a housing defining a cavity into which the sensor head is inserted, an inlet port configured to communicate the flow of fluid from outside of the cavity to an interior of the cavity, and an outlet port configured to communicate the flow of fluid from the interior of the cavity to back outside of the cavity, wherein the inlet port defines a first fluid nozzle configured to direct a portion of the flow of fluid against the first optical window and a second fluid nozzle configured to direct a portion of the flow of fluid against the second optical window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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directing fluid through a first fluid nozzle of a flow chamber against a first optical window of a sensor head; and directing fluid through a second fluid nozzle of the flow chamber against a second optical window of the sensor head, wherein the sensor head includes at least one light source configured to emit light through the first optical window into a flow of fluid and at least one detector configured to receive optical energy through the second optical window from the flow of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An optical sensor system comprising:
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an optical sensor that comprises a sensor head that includes an optical window, at least one light source configured to emit light through the optical window into a flow of fluid, and at least one detector configured to detect fluorescent emissions through the optical window from the flow of fluid; and a flow chamber that includes a housing defining a cavity into which the sensor head is inserted, an inlet port configured to communicate the flow of fluid from outside of the cavity to an interior of the cavity, and an outlet port configured to communicate the flow of fluid from the interior of the cavity to back outside of the cavity, the inlet port defining a fluid nozzle configured to direct the flow of fluid against the optical window; a liquid source configured to supply the flow of fluid communicating through the inlet port; a gas source configured to supply the flow of fluid communicating through the inlet port; and a controller configured to control the gas source to place the gas source in fluid communication with the flow chamber so as to evacuate the flow chamber of liquid, and control the liquid source so as to place the liquid source in fluid communication with the flow chamber so as to direct liquid through the fluid nozzle, through a space of the flow chamber evacuated of liquid, and against the optical window. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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evacuating a flow chamber of an optical sensor of liquid, wherein the optical sensor includes a sensor head having an optical window that is inserted into the flow chamber, and the flow chamber includes an inlet port defining a fluid nozzle configured to direct fluid against the optical window; flowing liquid through the inlet port of the flow chamber so as to direct liquid through the fluid nozzle, through a space of the flow chamber evacuated of liquid, and against the optical window. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification