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US 7,132,661 B2Granted
System and method for detecting water vapor within natural gas
AssigneeSpectraSensors, Inc.
InventorRandy Dean May
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for the detection of water vapor in a natural gas background. The system includes a light source operating in a wavelength range such as, 1.877–1.901 μm, 2.711–2.786 μm, or 920–960 nm, passes through the natural gas to be detected by a detector. In one embodiment, the light source is a tunable diode laser and the moisture level is determined by harmonic spectroscopy. In other embodiments, a VCSEL laser is utilized.
Claims21
A system comprising:
- at least one chemical sensor to detect a level of water vapor in natural gas;
- at least one optical sensor to detect a level of water vapor in natural gas, the optical sensor comprising:
- a light source emitting light at substantially a single wavelength having a width sufficiently narrow to conduct single line spectroscopy and corresponding to a single absorption line at which water molecules absorb light at a substantially greater level than natural gas molecules;
- a detector configured to detect the intensity of light emitted from said light source;
- and
- electronics coupled to said detector for determining the level of water vapor in the natural gas using single line harmonic spectroscopy;
- and
- a supply line delivering natural gas to the at least one chemical sensor and the at least one optical sensor for parallel measurements.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- Means for chemically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas;
- Means for optically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas, the means for optically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas comprising:
- Means for emitting light at substantially a single wavelength having a width sufficiently narrow to conduct single line spectroscopy and corresponding to a single absorption line at which water molecules absorb light at a substantially greater level than natural gas molecules;
- Means for detecting an intensity of light emitted from said means for emitting light;
- and
- Calculation means for determining the level of water vapor in the natural gas using single line spectroscopy;
- and
- A supply line delivering natural gas to the means for chemically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas and the means for optically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas for parallel measurements.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- A chemical sensor to detect a level of water vapor in natural gas;
- means for optically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas mounted in parallel to the chemical sensor, the means for optically detecting a level of water vapor in natural gas comprising:
- Means for emitting light at substantially a single wavelength having a width sufficiently narrow to conduct single line spectroscopy and corresponding to a single absorption line at which water molecules absorb light at a substantial greater level than natural gas molecules;
- Means for detecting an intensity of light emitted from said means for emitting light;
- and
- Calculation means for determining the level of water vapor in the natural gas using single line spectroscopy.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.