Systems and methods for determining level and/or type of a fluid

• US 7,710,567 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strube Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Strube Incorporated
• Inventors: Trostle, Brian S., Petrillo, Nicholas P., Webb, Wayne A., Mentzer, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SANG H
• Application Number:
  US11/668,624
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 356432-436, 356/4.01, 356/3.01, 356/5.01, 356/5.1, 250/577, 250/573, 250/903, 250/904, 250/227.14, 250/227.25, 732/93, 733/11, 733/13, 733/14, 733/19
• US Class Current: 356/436
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2924 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element G01F23/2927 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8528 Immerged light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8507 Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for determining the density and/or temperature of a fluid based on the manner in which optical energy is affected as the optical energy propagates across a gap between opposing end faces of optical waveguides, or the manner in which the optical energy is reflected from interfaces of optical waveguides and the fluid.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first plurality of optical waveguides each having an end face capable of being immersed in one or more types of fluids in a container;

a second plurality of optical waveguides each having an end face that opposes an associated end face of one of first plurality of optical waveguides and is spaced apart from the associated end face of the one of first plurality of optical waveguides by a gap;

one or more sources of optical energy in optical communication with the first plurality of optical waveguides;

one or more detectors of optical energy in optical communication with the second plurality of optical waveguides; and

a computing device communicatively coupled to the one or more detectors of optical energy, wherein the computing device is capable of determining a level of the fluid in the container based on an intensity of the optical energy incident upon the one or more detectors of optical energy and relative locations of the end faces of the first and/or second plurality of optical waveguides, and wherein the system comprises only one of the sources of optical energy and only one of the detectors of optical energy and the system further comprises;

(i) a first optical switch in optical communication with the source of optical energy and a first set of the optical waveguides, and communicatively coupled to the computing device; and

(ii) a second optical switch in optical communication with the detector of optical energy and a second set of the optical waveguides, and communicatively coupled to the computing device, wherein the computing device coordinates the operation of the first and second optical switches so that the first optical switch places each of the optical waveguides in the first set of the optical waveguides in optical communication with the source of optical energy as the second optical switch places an associated one of the optical waveguides of the second set of the optical waveguides in optical communication with the detector of optical energy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the end faces of the first plurality of optical waveguides are arranged in a stacked relationship, and the end faces of the second plurality of optical waveguides are arranged in a stacked relationship.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the end faces of the first plurality of optical waveguides are aligned in the vertical direction, and the end faces of the second plurality of optical waveguides are aligned in the vertical direction.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing capable of being immersed in the one or more fluids in the container, wherein the end faces of the first and second pluralities of optical fibers are positioned within the housing.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a conduit, the end faces of the first and second pluralities of optical fibers are positioned within a passage defined by the conduit, and ends of the passage are open so that the one or more types of fluids in the container can enter and exit the passage and the levels of the one or more types of fluids can rise and fall within the passage with the levels of the one or more types of fluids within the container.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of sleeves mounted on the conduit, wherein each of the optical waveguides extends into the passage through an associated one of the sleeves.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the housing further comprises a body, and a top and a bottom portion secured to the body;

the body and the top and bottom portions define a volume within the housing, and the conduit is positioned within the volume.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the top and bottom portions each have a through hole formed therein that aligns with an associated one of the ends of the passage.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first plurality of the optical waveguides extend into the volume by way of a first through hole formed in the top portion of the housing, and a second plurality of the optical waveguides extend into the volume by way of a second through hole formed in the top portion of the housing.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a first and a second sleeve, wherein the first and second sleeves are received by the respective first and second through holes formed in the top portion of the housing, the first plurality of optical waveguides extend into the volume by way of the first sleeve, and the second plurality of optical waveguides extend into the volume by way of the second sleeve.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an optical coupler in optical communication the source of optical energy and the first set of optical waveguides.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an optical coupler in optical communication with the detector of optical energy and the second set of optical waveguides.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an optical coupler in optical communication with the source of optical energy and the detector of optical energy.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguides are optical fibers.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a float, where the float can be positioned in the gaps between the associated end faces of the first and second pluralities of optical waveguides so that the float blocks transmission of the optical energy between the associated end faces of the first and second pluralities of optical fibers.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a housing capable of being immersed in the one or more fluids in the container, wherein the housing comprises a body and a conduit positioned within the body, the conduit defines a passage, the end faces of the optical waveguides are positioned in the passage, ends of the passage are open so that the one or more types of fluids in the container can enter and exit the passage and the levels of the one or more types of fluids can rise and fall within the passage with the levels of the one or more types of fluids within the container, and the float is positioned within the passage so that the float can rise and fall with the levels of the one or more fluids in the passage.