Determining composition of a sample
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsEzzat Hegazi, Vincent Cunningham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single-wavelength light source is configured to generate an excitation light source. A sample holder that defines an inner cavity is capable of holding a sample and includes a surface transparent to the excitation light source. One or more mounts are attached to at least one of the light source or the sample holder. The mounts are configured to change an incident angle of the excitation light source on the surface. One or more optical components are positioned in a path of a fluorescence emission emitted from the surface and guide the fluorescence emission to a detector. A detector detects an intensity of the fluorescence emission.
Claims20
A fluorescence-measurement apparatus, comprising:
- a single-wavelength light source configured to generate an excitation light source;
- a sample holder defining an inner cavity configured to hold a sample and including a surface transparent to the excitation light source;
- one or more mounts attached to at least one of the light source or the sample holder and configured to change an incident angle of the excitation light source on the surface;
- one or more optical components positioned in a path of fluorescence emission emitted from the surface and configured to guide the fluorescence emission to a detector;
- and
- a detector configured to detect an intensity of the fluorescence emission.
A method comprising:
- receiving a liquid sample by a sample holder defining an inner cavity configured to hold a sample and including a surface transparent to an excitation light source;
- inducing fluorescence in the liquid sample by a light produced by a single-wavelength light source;
- changing an angle of incidence between the surface of the sample holder and the light;
- and
- detecting a change in fluorescence intensity by a detector as the angle of incidence is changed.
A liquid identification system comprising:
- a sample holder filled with an unknown fluid, the sample holder being transparent to a specified wavelength of light;
- a laser configured to direct a laser beam towards a face of the sample holder;
- a detector directed towards the face of the sample holder, the detector configured to detect florescent emissions from the unknown fluid within the sample holder;
- a microprocessor;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the instructions comprising;
- emitting a laser beam from a laser at the face of the sample holder;
- inducing fluorescence in the fluid by the laser beam produced by a laser at a specified wavelength;
- changing an angle of incidence between the face of the sample holder and the laser beam;
- detecting a change in fluorescence intensity as the angle of incidence is changed;
- plotting a plot of fluorescence intensity vs the angle of incidence;
- comparing the plot to a library of plots;
- and
- determining a composition of the fluid in response to comparing the plot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.