On-line optical analysis of a substance through a conduit section of a process line

• US 20040233453A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Abb Bomem, Inc. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Chabot, Paul, Dion, Sylvain, Turcotte, Benoit, Buijs, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/436
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10

Abstract

A conduit-mounted light-transmitting device (10) for allowing optical analysis of a substance through a process line conduit (14) made of a light-transmitting material. The device (10) comprises a clip (24) adapted to be detachably secured about the conduit section. The clip (24) defines an optical path intersecting the conduit section when the clip (24) is mounted thereon.

Claims

1. A non-intrusive device for allowing spectrum analysis of a confined process stream through a light-transmitting conduit section of a process line, comprising a clip adapted to be externally mounted on the light-transmitting conduit section, said clip being at least partly made of a light-transmitting material and connectable to a source of light to direct a beam of light transversally through the conduit section, wherein said light-transmitting material is selected from a group consisting of:

near infrared transmitting material and infrared transmitting material, and wherein said clip includes a hollow body housing at least one optical element, said hollow body defining a peripheral open ended slot for receiving the light-transmitting conduit section of the process line.

2. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 1, wherein said clip is adapted to be releasably secured about the light-transmitting conduit section.

3. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 1, wherein said clip is adjustable so as to be securable on light-transmitting conduits having different cross-sectional dimensions.

4. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral slot receives interchangeable conduit adapters adapted to grip conduits of different external diameters.

5. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 4, wherein said clip further includes a removable cover for maintaining a selected one of said interchangeable conduit adapters captive in said peripheral slot.

6. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral slot has walls made of a light-transmitting material.

7. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 6, wherein said body has a first connector adapted to be connected to a fiber optic cable to direct the beam of light through said peripheral slot and through the light-transmitting conduit section on which the clip is mounted.

8. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 7, wherein said body has a second connector adapted to be connected to a light-receiving sensor for receiving the light emanating from the process stream through the light-transmitting conduit and the peripheral slot of the clip.

9. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 8, wherein said second connector is connectable to said light-receiving sensor via a second fiber optic cable.

10. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral slot defines an optical path therethrough for receiving and conducting the beam of light through the light-transmitting conduit section of the process line, said at least one optical element collecting the light transmitted through the conduit section.

11. A non-intrusive device as defined in claim 10, wherein a conduit adapter is removably installed in said open ended slot, said conduit adapter having a base wall from which extends a pair of spaced-apart conduit gripping arms adapted to receive therebetween the light-transmitting conduit section, wherein said conduit adapter is at least partly made of a light-transmitting material.

12. A conduit-mounted light-transmitting device in combination with a light-transmitting conduit section mounted in a process line for allowing optical analysis of a substance in the process line, the conduit-mounted light-transmitting device comprising a clip detachably securable about the conduit section, said clip defining an optical path intersecting the conduit section when said clip is secured thereabout, wherein said clip has a substantially hollow body having a conduit engaging section by which said body is releasably mounted directly on the light-transmitting conduit section, said optical path extending through said conduit engaging section for receiving and conducting a beam of light through the light-transmitting conduit section, and at least one optical element housed within said body for collecting the light transmitted through the conduit section.

13. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said conduit engaging section includes an open ended slot defined in one face of the body, and a conduit adapter removably installed in said open ended slot, said conduit adapter having a base wall from which extends a pair of spaced-apart conduit gripping arms for receiving therebetween the light-transmitting conduit section, wherein said conduit adapter is at least partly made of a light-transmitting material.

14. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said body has a first connector adapted to be connected to a fiber optic cable to direct a beam of light through said conduit engaging section and through the light-transmitting conduit section on which the clip is mounted.

15. A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said body has a second connector adapted to be connected to a light-receiving sensor for receiving the light emanating from the substance through the light-transmitting conduit section and the conduit-engaging section of the clip.

16. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said light-transmitting material is selected from a group consisting of:

near infrared transmitting material and infrared transmitting material.

17. A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said clip includes a body having a conduit-engaging section, said conduit engaging section being made of a light-transmitting material.

18. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said body has a first connector adapted to be connected to a fiber optic cable to direct a beam of light through said conduit engaging section and through the light-transmitting conduit section on which the clip is mounted.

19. A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said body has a second connector adapted to be connected to a light-receiving sensor for receiving the light emanating from the substance through the light-transmitting conduit section and the conduit-engaging section of the clip.

20. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said light-transmitting material is selected from a group consisting of:

near infrared transmitting material and infrared transmitting material.