Method and apparatus for increased purge efficacy in optical absorption spectroscopic measurements of gases in sealed containers

A system for detection of gas in a sealed container, the system comprising:

• a light source housed inside a light source housing and configured to emit a light beam for absorption in a substance to be measured;
• a detector housed in a detector housing and configured to detect the emitted light beam;
• a zone that accepts one or more of the sealed containers, each container being substantially optically transparent and containing the substance to be measured, the zone located between the detector and the light source, the light source configured to transmit the light beam through the zone;
• a lens housed completely inside the detector housing and configured to focus the light beam onto the detector, the lens located between the zone and the detector;
• and
• a detector purging system comprising a detector purge gas channel surrounding the lens and positioned between the lens and the detector housing, the detector purge gas channel configured to expel purge gas from a purge gas source into the zone.

A system for nondestructive detection of gas in a sealed container, the system comprising:

• a light source housed inside a light source housing and configured to emit a light beam for absorption in a substance to be measured;
• a detector housed in a detector housing and configured to detect the emitted light beam;
• a zone that accepts one or more of the sealed containers, each container being substantially optically transparent and containing the substance to be measured, the zone located between the detector and the light source, the light source configured to transmit the light beam through the zone;
• lens housed in the detector housing and configured to focus the light beam onto the detector, the lens located between the zone and the detector;
• and
• a purging system comprising:
• a light source purge gas channel surrounding the light source and positioned between the light source and the light source housing, the light source purge gas channel configured to expel purge gas from a purge gas source into the zone;
• and
• a detector purge gas channel surrounding the lens and positioned between the lens and the detector housing, the detector purge gas channel configured to expel the purge gas from the purge gas source into the zone.