Raman fiber optic probe assembly for use in hostile environments

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873228

Schmucker, John E ^[1]; Falk, Jon C ^[2]; Archer, William B ^[3]; Blasi, Raymond J ^[4]

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1. Hurt, VA
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Bethel Park, PA
4. Harrison City, PA

This invention provides a device for Raman spectroscopic measurement of composition and concentrations in a hostile environment by the use of a first fiber optic as a means of directing high intensity monochromatic light from a laser to the hostile environment and a second fiber optic to receive the lower intensity scattered light for transmittal to a monochromator for analysis. To avoid damage to the fiber optics, they are protected from the hostile environment. A preferred embodiment of the Raman fiber optic probe is able to obtain Raman spectra of corrosive gases and solutions at temperatures up to 600.degree. F. and pressures up to 2000 psi. The incident exciting fiber optic cable makes an angle of substantially 90.degree. with the collecting fiber optic cable. This 90.degree. geometry minimizes the Rayleigh scattering signal picked up by the collecting fiber, because the intensity of Rayleigh scattering is lowest in the direction perpendicular to the beam path of the exciting light and therefore a 90.degree. scattering geometry optimizes the signal to noise ratio.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC11-89PN38014
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 6115528
• OSTI ID: 873228
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/385/356/
2000
600
90
analysis
angle
assembly
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beam
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cable
chromatic light
collecting
composition
concentrations
corrosive
corrosive gas
corrosive gases
damage
degree
device
directing
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environment
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exciting
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fiber
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gases
geometry
hostile
hostile environment
hostile environments
incident
intensity
laser
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makes
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minimizes
monochromatic
monochromatic light
monochromator
noise
noise ratio
obtain
optic
optic cable
optic probe
optics
optimizes
path
perpendicular
picked
preferred
preferred embodiment
pressures
probe
probe assembly
protected
provides
psi
raman
raman spectra
ratio
rayleigh
receive
scattered
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scattering
signal
solutions
spectra
spectroscopic
spectroscopic measurement
substantially
temperatures
transmittal