Fluid concentration sensing arrangement

• US 20060191571A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Swagelok Company
• Original Assignee: Swagelok Company
• Inventors: Proper, Scott, Kattler, David R., Browne, Ronnie A.
• Application Number:
  US11/351,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/93
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0058 Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/075 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/052 Tubular type; cavity type; multireflective
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2509 By optical or chemical property

Abstract

Fluid flow arrangements that include optical fluid concentration sensors are disclosed. One arrangement directs fluid flow toward or against a sensor window. One arrangement inhibits light from entering a region that is sensed by the sensor. One arrangement includes a plurality of sensors that monitor blended fluids.

Claims

1. A fluid concentration sensing arrangement comprising:

a) a flow member having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a cavity disposed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;

b) a fluid concentration sensor assembled with the flow member such that a sensing surface is in communication with the cavity, wherein the cavity directs fluid flow against the sensing surface such that fluid is constantly in contact with the sensing surface.

3. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 1 wherein the generally bowl shaped cavity directs the fluid flow such that a maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second.

4. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 1 wherein the generally bowl shaped cavity directs the fluid flow such that a maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second when a pressure at the inlet is less than 100 lbf/in².

5. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 1 wherein the generally bowl shaped cavity directs fluid flow in a direction that is transverse to the sensing surface.

2. A fluid concentration sensing arrangement comprising:

a) a flow member having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a generally bowl shaped cavity disposed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;

b) a fluid concentration sensor assembled with the flow member such that a sensing surface is in communication with the bowl shaped cavity, wherein the bowl shaped cavity directs fluid flow toward the sensing surface.

6. A fluid concentration sensing arrangement comprising:

a) a flow member having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a cavity disposed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;

b) a fluid concentration sensor assembled with the flow member such that a sensing surface is in communication with the cavity, wherein the cavity directs fluid flow in a direction that is transverse with respect to the sensing surface, such that a maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second.

7. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 6 wherein the generally bowl shaped cavity directs the fluid flow such that a maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second when a pressure at the inlet is less than 100 lbf/in².

8. A method of measuring a concentration of a fluid comprising:

a) directing fluid flow with a generally bowl shaped surface toward a sensing surface of a fluid concentration sensor;

b) measuring a concentration of the fluid directed toward the sensing surface by the bowl shaped surface with the fluid concentration sensor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a maximum velocity of the fluid near the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein a maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second when a pressure at an inlet is less than 100 lbf/in².

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the generally bowl shaped surface directs fluid flow in a direction that is transverse to the sensing surface.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second when a pressure at an inlet is less than 100 lbf/in².

13. A method of measuring a concentration of a fluid comprising:

a) directing fluid flow toward a sensing surface of a fluid concentration sensor in a direction that is transverse with respect to the sensing surface, wherein a maximum velocity of the fluid within five millimeters of the sensing surface is less than ten feet per second;

b) measuring a concentration of the fluid directed toward the sensing surface with a fluid concentration sensor.

15. A fluid concentration sensing arrangement comprising:

a) a flow member made from an at least partially translucent material having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a cavity disposed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;

b) a fluid concentration sensor assembled with the flow member such that a sensing surface is in communication with the cavity;

c) an opaque material positioned to inhibit light from entering the cavity.

16. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 15 wherein the opaque material is applied to the flow member.

17. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 15 wherein a conduit made from an at least partially translucent material is coupled to the inlet opening and the opaque material is applied to the conduit.

18. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 15 further comprising a bonnet that covers the fluid concentration sensor, wherein the opaque material is applied to the bonnet.

19. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 18 wherein the bonnet includes a shroud portion with opaque material that at least partially surrounds the flow member.

20. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 15 wherein the opaque material comprises an opaque conduit coupled to the inlet opening.

21. A method of measuring a concentration of a fluid comprising:

a) providing fluid flow through an at least partially translucent material to a sensing area of a fluid concentration sensor;

b) inhibiting ambient light from passing through the at least partially translucent material and entering the sensing area;

c) measuring a concentration of the fluid in the sensing area.

22. A fluid blending system comprising:

a) a manifold member defining;

i) a first fluid inlet passage;

ii) a second fluid inlet passage;

iii) a mixed fluid outlet passage;

iv) a mixing cavity in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet passage, the second fluid inlet passage; and

the mixed fluid outlet passage;

b) a first fluid control valve assembled with the manifold member for controlling flow of a first fluid to the first fluid inlet passage;

c) a first fluid concentration sensor assembled with the manifold member for measuring a concentration of the first fluid flowing through the first fluid inlet passage;

d) a second fluid control valve assembled with the manifold member for controlling flow of a second fluid to the second fluid inlet passage;

e) a second fluid concentration sensor assembled with the manifold member for measuring a concentration of the second fluid flowing through the second fluid inlet passage;

f) a mixed fluid concentration sensor assembled with the manifold member for measuring a concentration of fluid mixed in the mixing cavity.

23. The fluid blending system of claim 22 further comprising a controller in communication with the first fluid control valve, the second fluid control valve, the first fluid concentration sensor, the second fluid concentration sensor, and the mixed fluid concentration sensor, wherein the controller operates the first fluid control valve and the second fluid control valve based on concentration signals provided by the first fluid concentration sensor and the second fluid concentration sensor.

24. The fluid blending system of claim 22 further comprising a controller in communication with the first fluid control valve, the second fluid control valve, the first fluid concentration sensor, the second fluid concentration sensor, and the mixed fluid concentration sensor, wherein the controller operates the first fluid control valve and the second fluid control valve based on concentration signals provided by the first fluid concentration sensor, the second fluid concentration sensor, and the mixed fluid concentration sensor.

25. The fluid blending system of claim 22 wherein the manifold is constructed from a single block of material.

26. The fluid blending system of claim 22 wherein the manifold is constructed from a single block of material and valve ports of the first fluid control valve are defined in the block.

27. The fluid blending system of claim 22 wherein the manifold is constructed from a single block of material and the first fluid control valve is a diaphragm valve having flow passages defined in the block.

28. The fluid blending system of claim 22 wherein the first fluid is a hydrogen peroxide and ammonia solution and the second fluid is a hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric solution and the manifold is made from a material that is substantially chemically inert when exposed to the first and second fluids.

29. The fluid blending system of claim 22 wherein the first fluid concentration sensor, the second fluid concentration sensor, and the mixed fluid concentration sensor are optical fluid concentration sensors.

30. The fluid blending system of claim 22 wherein the first fluid concentration sensor, the second fluid concentration sensor, and the mixed fluid concentration sensor measure index of refraction to determine fluid concentration.

31. A method of blending fluids,

a) measuring a concentration of a first fluid;

b) measuring a concentration of a second fluid;

c) mixing the first and second fluids;

d) measuring a concentration of a mixture of the first and second fluids;

e) controlling flow of the first and second fluids to be mixed based on the concentrations of the first fluid, the second fluid and the mixture.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the first and second fluids are gasses.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the concentrations of the fluids are measured by measuring an optical property of each fluid.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the concentrations of the fluids are measured by measuring an index of refraction of each fluid.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the first fluid is SC1 and the second fluid is SC2.

36. A fluid concentration sensing arrangement comprising:

a) a flow member having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a cavity disposed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;

b) a fluid concentration sensor assembled with the flow member

c) a crystal window fixed to the fluid concentration sensor such that the crystal window is in communication with the cavity.

37. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 36 wherein the crystal window is glued to the fluid concentration sensor.

38. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 36 wherein the crystal window is fixed to the fluid concentration sensor with a ultraviolet curable sealant.

39. The fluid concentration sensing arrangement of claim 36 wherein the crystal window comprises sapphire.

40. A method of assembling a fluid concentration sensing arrangement comprising:

a) fixing a fluid concentration sensor to a sapphire window;

b) clamping the fluid concentration sensor and sapphire window to a flow member having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a generally bowl shaped cavity disposed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, such that the sapphire window is in communication with the bowl shaped cavity.

41. An immersion lithography etching arrangement comprising:

a liquid;

a substrate, immersed in said liquid;

an optical lithography etching lens immersed in said liquid and arranged to etch a pattern in the substrate;

an optical sensor, immersed in the liquid to detect characteristics of the liquid.

42. The etching arrangement of claim 41 wherein the optical sensor is a refractive index sensor.

43. The etching arrangement of claim 41 wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect impurities in the fluid.

44. A method of etching a semiconductor substrate comprising:

immersing the substrate in a liquid;

emitting radiation through the liquid to etch the surface of the substrate;

detecting an optical characteristic of the liquid, wherein the optical characteristic relates to the presence of impurities in the refracting fluid;

comparing the optical characteristic to a predetermined limit value associated with a limit amount of contamination in the liquid;

providing a signal that the limit amount of contamination has been reached when the predetermined limit value is reached.