Oxygen sensor for aircraft fuel inerting systems
AssigneeSouthwest Sciences Incorporated
InventorsShin-Juh Chen, Joel A. Silver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring oxygen concentrations in fuel tank ullage comprising providing a sensor head comprising an optical cavity, exposing the optical cavity to an ambient gaseous environment of a fuel tank or air separation module, via a laser light source emitting wavelength modulated light through the cavity, and receiving the wavelength modulated light with a detector.
Claims22
An apparatus for monitoring oxygen concentrations in fuel tank ullage, said apparatus comprising a sensor head comprising:
- an optical cavity exposed to an ambient gaseous environment of a fuel tank or air separation module, wherein said optical cavity is at least partially encased in a metal foam;
- a laser light source emitting wavelength modulated light through said cavity;
- means for expediting removal of liquid droplets from surfaces of said apparatus through which said wavelength modulated light passes;
- and
- a detector receiving said wavelength modulated light.
A method for monitoring oxygen concentrations in fuel tank ullage, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sensor head comprising an optical cavity, wherein the optical cavity is at least partially encased in a metal foam;
- exposing the optical cavity to an ambient gaseous environment of a fuel tank or air separation module;
- via a laser light source, emitting wavelength modulated light through the cavity;
- providing for expeditious removal of liquid droplets from surfaces through which wavelength modulated light passes;
- and
- receiving the wavelength modulated light with a detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.