Online fiber optic spectrophotometry

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6710161

Van Hare, D R; O'Rourke, P E; Prather, W S

A fiber optic diode array process analyzer has been developed and installed in a radiochemical separations facility at the Savannah River Plant. The analyzer monitors the uranium and nitrate concentration of seven aqueous process streams in a uranium purification process. The analyzer remotely controls the sampling of each process stream and monitors the relative flow rate through each sampler. Spectrophotometric data from the analyzer is processed by multivariate data analysis to give both uranium and nitrate concentrations as well as an indication of the quality of the data. The analyzer system consists of a DuPont Instruments diode array process analyzer, xenon arc lamp, fiber-optic multiplexer, and IBM industrial AT computer. Fused silica optical fibers (600 micrometer core diameter) connect the analyzer to monitor up to ten locations in series. In addition to the seven process locations, the analyzer also monitors a reference optical fiber and an inline uranyl nitrate standard. Process stream samplers are controlled by Opto 22 hardware and electric solenoid valves interfaced to the analyzer computer through an RS-422 communication link. Absorption data from each location is fed into a Partial Least Squares (PLS) model of the uranyl nitrate system for conversion into uranium and nitrate concentrations. The model also outputs a residual variance which is a very sensitive indicator of interferences in the system and is used to verify the quality of the calculated results. Results from the analyzer computer are sent by another Opto 22 interface to a distributed control system which is used to run the uranium purification process. 8 refs., 22 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 6710161
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-88-186; CONF-881143-1; ON: DE89002220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
ELEMENTS
FIBER OPTICS
IBM COMPUTERS
METALS
MICROCOMPUTERS
MONITORING
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
SPECTROSCOPY
URANIUM