Immersion Refractometer Using Cylindrical Waveguide for Hazardous Liquid Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refractometers require direct contact with a small quantity of liquid, posing safety and convenience issues with hazardous liquids and are susceptible to corrosive fluids, especially in continuous flow processes.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical waveguide refractometer with a solid core and normal angle of incidence uses the surrounding liquid as the cladding for refractive index measurement by immersion, employing optical waveguide propagation principles and a double pass arrangement with conventional optical fibers to measure refractive index directly within a container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handheld refractometers use a small quantity of liquid between prism and cover plate, then measurement is possible, but safety and convenience are compromised when measuring hazardous liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical waveguide as an intermediary between the light source and the liquid sample. The waveguide transmits light through its core to the liquid interface, allowing measurement without direct contact between the instrument and hazardous liquid, thus improving safety while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is segmented into distinct functional components: the optical waveguide for light transmission, the measurement interface for liquid contact, and the detection system. This segmentation allows the measurement interface to be isolated from the main instrument body, enabling safe measurement of hazardous liquids
2Productivity
If process control refractometers use conventional fiber optics with liquid as cladding, then continuous flow monitoring is enabled, but susceptibility to corrosive liquids increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an optical waveguide with a protective cladding layer as an intermediary that transmits optical signals through corrosive liquids without being degraded by them. The waveguide structure separates the light transmission function from direct liquid contact, enabling continuous monitoring while resisting corrosion
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguide employs composite material construction with a core and cladding made of materials resistant to corrosive liquids. This composite structure maintains optical transmission properties while providing chemical resistance for continuous flow process monitoring
3Measurement precision
If refractometers require direct contact with liquid sample, then measurement is achieved, but measurement time and safety are reduced for hazardous liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide enables continuous light transmission through the liquid sample without interruption for sample handling. The system maintains continuous measurement capability by keeping the waveguide interface in constant contact with the liquid flow, eliminating time losses associated with sample transfer
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
This solution allows for safe, rapid, and accurate measurement of refractive indices in hazardous liquids without the need for direct liquid entry, overcoming limitations of existing devices such as susceptibility to corrosive fluids and particulate matter, and enhancing sensitivity through adjustable core and cladding indices.
Implementation Method 1
The device is essentially a cylindrical non-conducting waveguide consisting of a transparent tube that transmits light along its axis by the process of total internal reflection similar to the mechanism at work in conventional multi-mode fiber optics
Implementation Method 2
The surrounding liquid provides an external loss mechanism depending on its refractive index. The decrease in transmission of the device as a function of surrounding liquid index is the basic principle of operation of this device
Data Source
AI summary
A device for measuring the absolute value of the refractive index of a liquid by immersion uses the optical properties of a cylindrical waveguide with a solid core and normal angle of incidence of the light source. The device consists of a transparent tube forming the enclosure of the waveguide, impervious to the surrounding liquid and partially filled with a transparent solid or liquid material of appropriate index of refraction, a fiber optic means of inputting light via a LED or laser and fiber optic means of coupling emerging light to a photodetector. The emerging light intensity is a function of the index of refraction of the surrounding liquid.