Energy Absorbing Beam Dump for Turbidity Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical devices for energy beam management, such as energy traps and beam dumps, suffer from issues like localized heating, bubble formation, and increased reflectivity, which lead to inaccurate measurements due to stray energy scattering, and are often non-replaceable and incompatible with caustic liquids, limiting their performance and versatility.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a solid mass of energy/light transmissive material with energy absorbing surfaces, designed to capture and absorb energy beams without heating the liquid, featuring a geometric configuration that minimizes errant energy reflection and allows for easy replacement, using materials with refractive indices matching the liquid to reduce scattering and enhance measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a beam dump is used to remove energy from the beam, then the energy can be removed safely, but the device is bulky and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy removal capabilityVSAvoiddevice size and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the energy removal function from a traditional beam dump structure by using a separate absorptive material positioned within the beam path. The beam dump structure itself is minimized to only what is necessary for structural support and positioning, while the actual energy absorption is performed by the removable absorptive material that can be inserted or removed as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and properties of the absorptive material to optimize energy removal. The material is designed with specific thermal and absorptive properties that allow it to efficiently absorb beam energy while maintaining a compact form factor. The material can be replaced or adjusted to change absorption parameters based on different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the beam is blocked to remove energy, then energy can be absorbed, but the beam may be damaged or require complex cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy absorptionVSAvoidthermal management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The absorptive material is designed as a consumable or replaceable component that can be easily replaced after use. Rather than designing for long-term thermal management of a permanent beam dump structure, the system uses replaceable absorptive material that absorbs energy and then is replaced, simplifying thermal management requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The absorptive material is designed to undergo phase transitions (such as melting or vaporization) to absorb beam energy. This phase change absorption mechanism allows for efficient energy removal while the material itself handles the thermal load, reducing the complexity of external cooling systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces stray energy reflections, maintains measurement integrity, and allows for faster response times by preventing surface heating and bubble formation, enabling accurate analysis of various liquid samples across different wavelengths without degrading the energy absorbing surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

an absorptive material positioned within the beam path to absorb some or all of the energy of the beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interaction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3365657B1Device for removing energy from a beam and a method(s) of use thereof
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 TINTOMETER
  • EP3365657B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3365657B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3365657B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention include a device for removing energy from a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Typically, the device can be operatively coupled to a turbidity measuring device to remove energy generated by the turbidity measuring device. The device can include a block of material having one of a plurality of different shapes coated in an energy absorbing material. Generally, the device can include an angled or rounded energy absorbing surface where the beam of electromagnetic radiation can be directed. The angled or rounded energy absorbing surface can configured to deflect a portion of the beam of electromagnetic radiation to a second energy absorbing surface.