Patent US5383024A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5383024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical wet steam monitor
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems Inc
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Filing: 1994-07-06
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Granted: 1995-01-17
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Expires: 2014-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A wet steam monitor determines steam particle size by using laser doppler velocimeter (LDV) device to produce backscatter light. The backscatter light signal is processed with a spectrum analyzer to produce a visibility waveform in the frequency domain. The visibility waveform includes a primary peak and a plurality of sidebands. The bandwidth of at least the primary frequency peak is correlated to particle size by either visually comparing the bandwidth to those of known particle sizes, or by digitizing the waveform and comparing the waveforms electronically.
Inventors
- 👤 Lonnie C. Maxey
- 👤 Marc L. Simpson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/44; G01J3/4412; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/02; G01N15/0205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An optical wet steam monitor comprising: a laser source having a laser output; a beam splitter receiving the laser output and generating therefrom two equal power, coherent beams, each beam having at least one spectral line; means for focusing the two beams at a point of intersection within a steam environment, optical path length differences in the two beams at the point of intersection forming a fringe pattern, and a single particle of steam passing through the fringe pattern producing backscattered light; means for converting the backscattered light into an electrical signal; signal processing means, receiving the electrical signal from the converting means, for producing a frequency domain waveform having a primary frequency peak and a plurality of sidebands associated with the primary frequency peak; and means for correlating a bandwidth of the primary peak and the plurality of sidebands to a specific particle size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An optical wet steam monitor comprising: a laser source having a laser output; a beam splitter receiving the laser output and generating therefrom two equal power, coherent beams, each beam having at least one spectral line; means for focusing the two beams at a point of intersection within a steam environment, optical path length differences in the two beams at the point of intersection forming a fringe pattern, and a single particle of steam passing through the fringe pattern producing backscattered light; means for converting the backscattered light into an electrical signal; signal processing means, receiving the electrical signal from the converting means, for producing a frequency domain waveform having a primary frequency peak and a plurality of sidebands associated with the primary frequency peak; and means for correlating a bandwidth of the primary peak and the plurality of sidebands to a specific particle size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 1, wherein the laser source is an argon-ion laser, and the two spectral lines are at 488 nm and 514.5 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 1, wherein the focusing means comprises a positive lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 3, wherein the converting means comprises color separator means for isolating the two spectral components of the backscattered light and focusing each component onto a corresponding photomultiplier tube, backscatter light collector means, disposed in the optical path of the backscattered light, for focusing the backscattered light into the color separator means, each photomultiplier tube producing a corresponding electrical signal for each spectral line which is fed to the signal processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 4, further comprising a beam expander disposed between the positive lens and the backscatter light collector means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means comprises a spectrum analyzer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 1, wherein the bandwidth of the primary peak varies in accordance with particle size.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
An optical wet steam monitoring system comprising: a single optical port disposed in a wall of a structure which contains a steam environment; a laser source having a laser output; a beam splitter receiving the laser output and generating therefrom two equal power, coherent beams, each beam having at least one spectral line; means for focusing the two beams at a point of intersection within a steam environment through the single optical port, optical path length differences in the two beams at the point of intersection forming a fringe pattern, and a single particle of steam passing through the fringe pattern producing backscattered light; means for converting the backscattered light into an electrical signal; signal processing means, receiving the electrical signal from the converting means, for producing a frequency domain waveform having a primary frequency peak and a plurality of sidebands associated with the primary frequency peak; and means for correlating a bandwidth of the primary peak and the plurality of sidebands to a specific particle size.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
An optical wet steam monitoring system comprising: a single optical port disposed in a wall of a structure which contains a steam environment; a laser source having a laser output; a beam splitter receiving the laser output and generating therefrom two equal power, coherent beams, each beam having at least one spectral line; means for focusing the two beams at a point of intersection within a steam environment through the single optical port, optical path length differences in the two beams at the point of intersection forming a fringe pattern, and a single particle of steam passing through the fringe pattern producing backscattered light; means for converting the backscattered light into an electrical signal; signal processing means, receiving the electrical signal from the converting means, for producing a frequency domain waveform having a primary frequency peak and a plurality of sidebands associated with the primary frequency peak; and means for correlating a bandwidth of the primary peak and the plurality of sidebands to a specific particle size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical wet steam monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the laser source is an argon-ion laser, and the two spectral lines are at 488 nm and 514.5 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical wet steam monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the focusing means comprises a forward lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An optical wet steam monitor according to claim 10, wherein the converting means comprises color separator means for isolating the two spectral components of the backscattered light and focusing each component onto a corresponding photomultiplier tube, backscatter light collector means, disposed in the optical path of the backscattered light, for focusing the backscattered light onto the color separator means, each photomultiplier tube producing a corresponding electrical signal for each spectral line which is fed to the signal processing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical wet steam monitoring system according to claim 11, further comprising a beam expander disposed between the forward lens and the backscatter light collector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical wet steam monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the signal processing means comprises a spectrum analyzer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for measuring particle size of micron and sub-micron sized particles flowing in an enclosure comprising: producing a laser beam having at least one spectral line; splitting the laser beam into two beams; focusing the two beams at a point of intersection within the enclosure through a single optical port, optical path length differences in the two beams at the point of intersection forming a fringe pattern, and a single particle of steam passing through the fringe pattern producing backscattered light; converting the backscattered light into an electrical signal; producing a frequency domain waveform having a primary frequency peak and a plurality of sidebands associated with the primary frequency peak; and correlating a bandwidth of the primary peak and the plurality of sidebands to a specific particle size.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for measuring particle size of micron and sub-micron sized particles flowing in an enclosure comprising: producing a laser beam having at least one spectral line; splitting the laser beam into two beams; focusing the two beams at a point of intersection within the enclosure through a single optical port, optical path length differences in the two beams at the point of intersection forming a fringe pattern, and a single particle of steam passing through the fringe pattern producing backscattered light; converting the backscattered light into an electrical signal; producing a frequency domain waveform having a primary frequency peak and a plurality of sidebands associated with the primary frequency peak; and correlating a bandwidth of the primary peak and the plurality of sidebands to a specific particle size.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-16 | 1998-07-18 | 1999-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-16 | 2002-07-18 | 2003-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-16 | 2006-07-18 | 2007-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |