Apparatus and method for transient thermal infrared spectrometry of flowable enclosed materials

Patent · 02 March 1993

OSTI ID:868687

McClelland, John F ^[1]; Jones, Roger W ^[1]

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1. Ames, IA

A method and apparatus for enabling analysis of a flowable material enclosed in a transport system having an infrared transparent wall portion. A temperature differential is transiently generated between a thin surface layer portion of the material and a lower or deeper portion of the material sufficient to alter the thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material from the black-body thermal infrared emission spectrum of the material, and the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is detected through the infrared transparent portion of the transport system while the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation. The detection is effected prior to the temperature differential propagating into the lower or deeper portion of the material to an extent such that the altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is no longer sufficiently free of self-absorption by the material of emitted infrared radiation. By such detection, the detected altered thermal infrared emission spectrum is indicative of characteristics relating to molecular composition of the material.

• Research Organization: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA; Iowa State University, Ames, IA (US)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. (Ames, IA) [*] Notice: portion of term of this patent subsequent to December 2, 2008 has been disclaimed.
• Patent Number(s): US 5191215
• Application Number: 07/749,186
• OSTI ID: 868687
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/250/356/
alter
altered
analysis
apparatus
black-body
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emitted
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infrared
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molecular
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prior
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sufficient
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surface
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temperature
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thermal
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transient
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transparent
transparent wall
transport
wall
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