Thin-film fiber optic hydrogen and temperature sensor system

Patent · Tue Jul 21 04:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:871720

Nave, Stanley E ^[1]

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1. Evans, GA

The invention discloses a sensor probe device for monitoring of hydrogen gas concentrations and temperatures by the same sensor probe. The sensor probe is constructed using thin-film deposition methods for the placement of a multitude of layers of materials sensitive to hydrogen concentrations and temperature on the end of a light transparent lens located within the sensor probe. The end of the lens within the sensor probe contains a lens containing a layer of hydrogen permeable material which excludes other reactive gases, a layer of reflective metal material that forms a metal hydride upon absorbing hydrogen, and a layer of semi-conducting solid that is transparent above a temperature dependent minimum wavelength for temperature detection. The three layers of materials are located at the distal end of the lens located within the sensor probe. The lens focuses light generated by broad-band light generator and connected by fiber-optics to the sensor probe, onto a reflective metal material layer, which passes through the semi-conducting solid layer, onto two optical fibers located at the base of the sensor probe. The reflected light is transmitted over fiberoptic cables to a spectrometer and system controller. The absence of electrical signals and electrical wires in the sensor probe provides for an elimination of the potential for spark sources when monitoring in hydrogen rich environments, and provides a sensor free from electrical interferences.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE SAVANNAH RIVER CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5783152
• OSTI ID: 871720
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/422/436/
absence
absorbing
absorbing hydrogen
band light
base
broad-band
cables
concentrations
conducting solid
connected
constructed
containing
contains
controller
dependent
deposition
deposition method
deposition methods
detection
device
discloses
distal
electrical
electrical signal
electrical signals
electrical wire
elimination
environments
excludes
fiber
fiber optic
fiber-optics
fiberoptic
fiberoptic cable
fibers
film deposition
focuses
focuses light
forms
free
gas
gas concentration
gas concentrations
gases
generated
generator
hydride
hydrogen
hydrogen concentration
hydrogen gas
hydrogen permeable
hydrogen rich
interferences
layer
layers
lens
light
light generated
light transparent
located
material
material layer
materials
metal
metal hydride
metal material
methods
minimum
monitoring
multitude
optic
optic cable
optic cables
optic hydrogen
optical
optical fiber
optical fibers
passes
permeable
permeable material
placement
potential
probe
probe device
probe provides
provides
reactive
reactive gas
reactive gases
reflected
reflected light
reflective
reflective metal
rich
semi-conducting
sensitive
sensor
sensor probe
signals
solid
solid layer
sorbing hydrogen
sources
spark
spectrometer
temperature
temperature dependent
temperature sensor
temperatures
thin-film
thin-film deposit
transmitted
transparent
wavelength
wires