EP0304230A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Optical measurement method
Assignee: BP PLC
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Filing: 1988-08-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A process for spectroscopically measuring the content of a component in a liquid mixture involves passing a single optical beam through the mixture without the use of a reference beam and measuring the intensitites of transmitted light in two different wavelength bands by means of two adjacent detectors responsive to light in the two wavelength bands respectively. The component being measured absorbs light within one of the wavelength bands. The ratio of the detector outputs can then be related to the component concentration. The principal use of the invention is for in-situ measurement of methanol in gasoline for motor vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 Lorelli Alison Hilliard
- 👤 Evangelos Theocharous
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/314; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/10; G01J1/16; G01J2001/161; G01J1/42; G01J1/44; G01J2001/4413; G01J2001/4433; G01N2021/3166; G01N21/84; G01N21/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A process for measuring the content of a first component which absorbs light in the infra-red within a first wavelength band in a liquid mixture which also contains a second component which does not significantly absorb light within the first wavelength band, which comprises passing light comprising light within said first wavelength band through the liquid mixture in a cell, generating in a first detector which is responsive to light within said first wavelength band a signal which is related to the intensity of light within first wavelength band transmitted through the liquid mixture is characterised in that: (1) the light passed through the liquid mixture also comprises light in the infra-red within a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the first component, and a signal related to the intensity of light in the second wavelength band transmitted through the liquid mixture is generated by a second detector responsive to the light within the second wavelength band and which is stacked with the first detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process for measuring the content of a first component which absorbs light in the infra-red within a first wavelength band in a liquid mixture which also contains a second component which does not significantly absorb light within the first wavelength band, which comprises passing light comprising light within said first wavelength band through the liquid mixture in a cell, generating in a first detector which is responsive to light within said first wavelength band a signal which is related to the intensity of light within first wavelength band transmitted through the liquid mixture is characterised in that: (1) the light passed through the liquid mixture also comprises light in the infra-red within a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the first component, and a signal related to the intensity of light in the second wavelength band transmitted through the liquid mixture is generated by a second detector responsive to the light within the second wavelength band and which is stacked with the first detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the first component is an alcohol and the second component is a liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as defined in claim 2 wherein the alcohol is methanol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim1 wherein the first detector is a germanium photodetector and the second detector is a silicon photodetector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wavelength bands fall within the region 700 to 1,700 nm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light issues from a light source which covers both first and second wavelength bands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 such that a lens is interposed between the light source and the detectors so as to concentrate the beam of light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein an interference filter is interposed between the light source and the detectors as so to pass light as certain multiples of a specified wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A motor vehicle comprising a fuel line which is adapted for measuring the content of a component in a liquid mixture according to the process as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cell comprises an integral part of the fuel line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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