Fiber optic fluid detector

Patent · Tue May 30 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5650178

Angel, S M

Particular gases or liquids are detected with a fiber optic element having a cladding or coating of a material which absorbs the fluid or fluids and which exhibits a change of an optical property, such as index of refraction, light transmissiveness or fluorescence emission, for example, in response to absorption of the fluid. The fluid is sensed by directing light into the fiber optic element and detecting changes in the light, such as exit angle changes for example, that result from the changed optical property of the coating material. The fluid detector may be used for such purposes as sensing toxic or explosive gases in the atmosphere, measuring ground water contamination or monitoring fluid flows in industrial processes, among other uses.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4834497
• OSTI ID: 5650178
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
42 ENGINEERING
420800 -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENT
FIBER OPTICS
FLUIDS
FLUORESCENCE
GASES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
LIQUIDS
LUMINESCENCE
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
TOXIC MATERIALS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION MONITORS