Apparatus and method for automated process monitoring and control with near infrared spectroscopy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for fluid analysis, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a near infrared electromagnetic radiation source;
b. an optical wavelength selector positioned in an optical path from the near infrared electromagnetic radiation source, and configured to select one or more spectral segments of the near infrared electromagnetic radiation;
c. a wavelength reference material positioned in the optical path and comprising at least one polymer optical element, said polymer optical element being at least partially transparent in at least a portion of a near infrared spectral range and exhibiting an absorption spectrum that differs in magnitude between at least two wavelengths;
d. a fluid sampling interface positioned in the optical path;
e. a sensor positioned at a termination of the optical path; and
f. a controller configured to determine the quantity of one or more substances in a fluid sample based upon the measured spectrum of near infrared electromagnetic radiation of said fluid sample at the fluid sampling interface, wherein the controller comprises a sensor input connected to the sensor to receive a sensor signal from the sensor,wherein the controller is configured to adjust a wavelength axis of a measurement based upon a comparison utilizing the wavelength reference material for the entire spectrum collected over a wavelength range of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for continuous, real-time process monitoring and control by means of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides analysis of static or flowing fluid streams which may range from clear to highly optically dense, including fluids primarily of aqueous composition. A NIR source passes through a wavelength selector to select one or more spectral segments, which are passed through the fluid stream at a fluid sampling interface and received at a sensor. A wavelength reference material is positioned in the optical path for calibration. Quantification of a plurality of characteristics or parameters of a fluid and suspended solids or cells contained therein may be performed. An all-solid-state implementation of the optical system ensures high robustness in laboratory and industrial settings.
36 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An apparatus for fluid analysis, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a near infrared electromagnetic radiation source; b. an optical wavelength selector positioned in an optical path from the near infrared electromagnetic radiation source, and configured to select one or more spectral segments of the near infrared electromagnetic radiation; c. a wavelength reference material positioned in the optical path and comprising at least one polymer optical element, said polymer optical element being at least partially transparent in at least a portion of a near infrared spectral range and exhibiting an absorption spectrum that differs in magnitude between at least two wavelengths; d. a fluid sampling interface positioned in the optical path; e. a sensor positioned at a termination of the optical path; and f. a controller configured to determine the quantity of one or more substances in a fluid sample based upon the measured spectrum of near infrared electromagnetic radiation of said fluid sample at the fluid sampling interface, wherein the controller comprises a sensor input connected to the sensor to receive a sensor signal from the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a wavelength axis of a measurement based upon a comparison utilizing the wavelength reference material for the entire spectrum collected over a wavelength range of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining the quantity of one or more substances in a fluid sample, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. generating a beam of near-infrared electromagnetic radiation; b. transmitting at least a portion of said near-infrared electromagnetic radiation through a polymer optical element for wavelength reference, said polymer optical element being at least partially transparent in at least a portion of the near-infrared spectral range, said polymer further comprising an absorption characteristic that differs in magnitude between at least two wavelengths, and adjusting a wavelength axis of a measurement based upon a fit of a transmission spectrum of the wavelength reference material over an entire wavelength range of interest; c. irradiating a fluid sample within a sampling interface with said near-infrared electromagnetic radiation; d. sensing near-infrared electromagnetic radiation having interacted with said fluid sample with a sensor; and e. determining a quantity of a substance within said fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of controlling a fluid process, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. generating a beam of near infrared electromagnetic radiation; b. transmitting at least a portion of said near infrared electromagnetic radiation through a polymer element for wavelength reference, said polymer optical element being at least partially transparent in at least a portion of the near infrared spectral range, said polymer further comprising an absorption characteristic that differs in magnitude between at least two wavelengths, and adjusting a wavelength axis of a measurement based upon a fit of a transmission spectrum of the wavelength reference material over an entire wavelength range of interest; c. irradiating a fluid sample within a sampling interface with near-infrared electromagnetic radiation; d. sensing near-infrared electromagnetic radiation having interacted with said fluid sample with a sensor; e. determining based on an output from the sensor and the optical wavelength selector one or more quantities of components of or materials suspended within said fluid sample; and f. using said determined one or more quantities to adjust one or more parameters or quantities of a substance in said fluid process. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification