Apparatus and method for transient thermal infrared spectrometry of flowable enclosed materials
First Claim
1. A method for enabling analysis of a flowable material enclosed in a transport system, comprising the steps of:
- transiently generating a temperature differential between a thin surface layer portion of the material and a lower portion of the material sufficient to alter the thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material from the black-body thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material; and
detecting through an infrared transparent portion of the transport system the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material while the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation, prior to the temperature differential propagating into the lower portion of the material to an extent such that the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is no longer sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation, so that the detected altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is indicative of characteristics relating to molecular composition of the material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enabling analysis of a flowable material enclosed in a transport system having an infrared transparent wall portion. A temperature differential is transiently generated between a thin surface layer portion of the material and a lower or deeper portion of the material sufficient to alter the thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material from the black-body thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material, and the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is detected through the infrared transparent portion of the transport system while the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation. The detection is effected prior to the temperature differential propagating into the lower or deeper portion of the material to an extent such that the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is no longer sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation. By such detection, the detected altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is indicative of characteristics relating to molecular composition of the material.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method for enabling analysis of a flowable material enclosed in a transport system, comprising the steps of:
-
transiently generating a temperature differential between a thin surface layer portion of the material and a lower portion of the material sufficient to alter the thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material from the black-body thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material; and detecting through an infrared transparent portion of the transport system the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material while the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation, prior to the temperature differential propagating into the lower portion of the material to an extent such that the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is no longer sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation, so that the detected altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is indicative of characteristics relating to molecular composition of the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An apparatus for enabling analysis of a flowable material enclosed in a transport system, comprising:
-
an infrared transparent member provided in a wall of the transport system; means for transiently generating a temperature differential between a thin surface layer portion of the material and a lower portion of the material sufficient to alter the thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material from the black-body thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material; and means for detecting through the infrared transparent portion of the transport system the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material while the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation, prior to the temperature differential propagating into the lower portion of the material to an extent such that the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is no longer sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation, so that the detected altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is indicative of characteristics relating to molecular composition of the material. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification