Fluid particle monitor and methods related thereto

An apparatus for in situ sampling and monitoring a fluid flowing in a flow path comprising:

• an inlet and an outlet connected to a chamber, the chamber being adapted for receiving fluid from the flow path through the inlet and returning the fluid to the flow path through the outlet,
• a first valve for connecting the inlet to the flow path,
• a second valve for connecting the outlet to the flow path,
• an access valve provided for leading fluid from the chamber into a fluid monitoring system,
• a pressure reducer connected to the chamber and adapted to reduce pressure of the fluid in the chamber to a pressure suitable for the fluid monitoring system.

A fluid analysis system for monitoring particles in a fluid, the system comprising:

• a chamber in fluid communication with fluid flowing under pressure in a flow path, the chamber having an inlet for receiving at least a portion of the fluid from the flow path,
• means for reducing a pressure of the received fluid in the chamber to a reduced pressure,
• an optical imaging device comprising an optical source and an optical detector arranged to image particles present in fluid flowing through the optical imaging device,
• and means for directing fluid from the chamber at the reduced pressure to the optical imaging device for imaging.

A method for sampling and optically imaging a fluid flowing in a flow path, the method comprising:

• directing at least a portion of the fluid flowing in the flow path into a storage chamber,
• reducing the pressure of the fluid in the storage chamber,
• directing at least a portion of the fluid from the storage chamber into a fluid analyzer, and
• the fluid analyzer optically imaging the fluid directed from the storage chamber.