Apparatus and process for analyzing a stream of fluid

• US 6,784,988 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Vijayakumar, Rajagopal, Masset, Sylvain Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): STAFIRA, MICHAEL PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US10/196,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 356/244, 356/246, 356/445-448, 250/574, 250/576, 250/227-1-2, 250/341.2, 250/341.8, 250/339.07, 250/339.09, 250/339.11, 250/339.12
• US Class Current: 356/244
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0205 by optical means

Abstract

An analyzing probe for insertion into numerous different environments to determine at least one characteristic of particulate matter suspended in a fluid stream of a test sample. Preferably, the analyzing probe includes a minimal amount of optical elements such as lenses that are subjected to the conditions of the environment of the fluid stream to be tested. Further, the analyzing probe is preferably designed so that it can be readily manufactured, operated and installed by relatively unskilled laborers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing probe adapted to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing probe having a substantially tubular housing, said substantially tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said substantially tubular housing, at least a portion of said fluid passageway extends at a first angle to said longitudinal axis and between said exterior surface of said substantially tubular housing and said scattering chamber;

(c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber, said at least one transmitting optical fiber having first and second ends, said second end being connected to a source; and

,

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis, said at least one collecting optical fiber having first and second ends, said second end being connected to a detection device, said first end of said at least one collecting optical fiber being offset along said longitudinal axis from said first end of said at least one transmitting optical fiber.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said scattering chamber includes at least one cone-shaped portion, said cone-shaped portion forms an angle less than 90°

; and

,

(b) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers, said transmitting optical fibers are disposed at an angle less than 90°

to said longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said plurality of transmitting optical fibers is directed to approximately the same point in said scattering chamber thereby obviating the need for a lens for focusing the electromagnetic radiation to approximately a single point.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said transmitting optical fibers are disposed at approximately a 30°

angle to said longitudinal axis and said cone-shaped portion forms approximately a 60°

angle.

6. An apparatus a set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said substantially tubular housing includes first and second end caps and a body portion, said first and second end caps are secured to opposite ends of said body portion; and

,

(b) said at least one transmitting optical fiber extends outwardly from said first end cap; and

,

(c) said at least one collecting optical fiber extends outwardly from said second end cap.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said scattering chamber has first and second cone-shaped portions; and

,

(b) at least a portion of said fluid passageway is disposed between said first cone-shaped portion and said second cone-shaped portion.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said fluid passageway extends at approximately a 90°

angle to said longitudinal axis.

2. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing probe adapted to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing probe having a substantially tubular housing, said substantially tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said substantially tubular housing, at least a portion of said fluid passageway extends at a first angle to said longitudinal axis and between said exterior surface of said substantially tubular housing and said scattering chamber;

(c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis, and;

(e) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers, said transmitting optical fibers are disposed at a second angle to said longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said plurality of transmitting optical fibers is directed to approximately the same point in said scattering chamber thereby obviating the need for a lens for focusing the electromagnetic radiation to approximately a single point.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

(a) said second angle is less than 90° and

said first angle is approximately 90°

.

9. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing probe adapted to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing probe including a housing having a longitudinal axis;

(b) said analyzing probe further including a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber;

(c) at least first and second transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber, said first and second transmitting optical fibers being disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said first and second transmitting optical fibers is directed to approximately the same point in said scattering chamber thereby obviating the need for a lens for focusing the electromagnetic radiation to approximately a single point; and

,

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for colleting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said collecting optical fiber extends along said longitudinal axis of said housing.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said scattering chamber includes first and second cone-shaped portions forming first and second angles, said first and second angles being less than 90°

.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further including:

(a) at least three transmitting optical fibers disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

(a) said at least three transmitting optical fibers are disposed at approximately a 30°

angle to said longitudinal axis.

14. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into a hazardous environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a housing;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said housing;

(c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis; and

(e) a reflecting member disposed in said housing for redirecting electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said at least one transmitting optical fiber to said scattering chamber, said at least one transmitting optical fiber being disposed closer to said reflecting member than said at least one collecting optical fiber.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

(a) said fluid passageway extends through at least a portion of said housing of said analyzing member.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

(a) said transmitting optical fiber has first and second ends, said first end is connected to a source of electromagnetic radiation and said second end is disposed adjacent said reflecting member.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

(a) said collecting optical fiber has first and second ends, said first end is connected to a device for detecting electromagnetic radiation and said second end is disposed in said housing.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

(a) said scattering chamber is positioned between said second end of said collecting optical fiber and said second end of said transmitting optical fiber.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

(a) said housing has first and second sections, said scattering chamber is disposed in said first section and said reflecting member is disposed in said second section.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

(a) said first section includes an inner sleeve and an outer shell, said scattering chamber is formed in said inner sleeve, said fluid passageway is formed in said outer shell.

21. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into an environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member having a longitudinal axis, said analyzing member including a substantially tubular housing having first and second sections, said first section includes an inner member and an outer member, at least a portion of said inner member overlapping said outer member along said longitudinal axis;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being formed in one of said first and second sections of said housing;

(c) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber; and

,

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for colleting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, further including:

(a) a reflecting member disposed in said housing for redirecting electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said at least one transmitting optical fiber to said scattering chamber.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein:

(a) said reflecting element is disposed in said second section of said substantially tubular housing and redirects electromagnetic radiation to said first section of said substantially tubular housing.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

(a) said plurality of transmitting optical fibers are supported on an exterior surface of said inner member.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

(a) each of said transmitting optical fibers include a collimator.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

(a) said collimators are disposed in an annular collar.

27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said annular collar is disposed in said second section of said housing.

30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

(a) said substantially tubular housing includes first and second end caps;

(b) said plurality of transmitting optical fibers extend through said first end cap; and

,

(c) said collecting optical fiber extends through said first end cap.

28. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into an environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a substantially tubular housing having first and second sections, said first section includes an inner member and an outer member;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being formed in one of said first and second sections of said housing;

(c) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis

(e) said plurality of transmitting optical fibers extend in said first and second sections of said substantially tubular housing.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein:

(a) said collecting optical fiber has first and second ends, said first end is connected to a detecting device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, said second end is disposed in said first section of said housing.

31. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into an environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a substantially tubular housing having first and second sections, said first section being detachably connected to said second section;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being formed in one of said first and second sections of said housing;

(c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber; and

,

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for colleting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis.

32. An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:

(a) an analyzing member for analyzing a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a housing;

(b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said housing;

(c) first and second transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;

(d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis; and

(e) a focusing member for focusing the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said first and second optical fibers to a focal point, said focal point being located in said scattering chamber, said focal point further being removed from said first and second transmitting optical fibers and said collecting optical fiber.