Abstract:
A method of absorption spectroscopy including obtaining absorption data at multiple wavelengths along more than one line-of-sight path through a quantity of gas of interest. The method further includes identifying more than one temperature and gas species concentration bin along the multiple line-of-sight paths and creating a map of temperature and gas species concentration. The map thus created will have at least two-dimensional information derived from select temperature and gas species concentration bins identified along more than one line-of-sight path. Apparatus for implementing the above method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A sensing apparatus (10) consisting of more than one diode laser (12) having select lasing frequencies, a multiplexer (16) optically coupled to the outpu ts of the diode lasers with the multiplexer being further optically coupled to a pitch side optical fiber. Multiplexed laser light is transmitted through the pitch side optical fiber to a pitch optic (20) operatively associated with a process chamber (22) which may be a combustion chamber or the boiler of a co al or gas fired power plant. The pitch optic (20) is oriented to project multiplexed laser output through the process chamber. Also operatively oriented with the process chamber is a catch optic (24) in optical communication with the pitch optic to receive the multiplexed laser output projected through the process chamber. The catch optic (24) is optically coupled to an optical fiber which transmits the multiplexed laser output to a demultiplexer (28). The demultiplexer (28) demultiplexes the laser light and optically couples the select lasing frequencies of light to a detector (25) with the detector being sensitive to one of the select lasing frequencies.
Abstract:
A method of sensing a process utilizing a sensing apparatus consisting of more than one diode laser having select lasing frequencies, a multiplexer optically coupled to the outputs of the diode lasers with the multiplexer being further optically coupled to a pitch side optical fiber. Multiplexed laser light is transmitted through the pitch side optical fiber to a pitch optic operatively associated with a process chamber which may be a combustion chamber or the boiler of a coal or gas fired power plant. The pitch optic is oriented to project multiplexed laser output through the process chamber. Also operatively oriented with the process chamber is a catch optic in optical communication with the pitch optic to receive the multiplexed laser output projected through the process chamber. The catch optic is optically coupled to an optical fiber which transmits the multiplexed laser output to a demultiplexer. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the laser light and optically couples the select lasing frequencies of light to a detector with the detector being sensitive to one of the select lasing frequencies.
Abstract:
A reconfigurable add/drop multiplexer (100, 150) for use in an optical communications network includes an input optical waveguide (118, 162) propagating a multi-channel optical signal and a receiver optical waveguide (120, 170) optically aligned with the input waveguide. A transmission filter (106, 164) is in optical communication between the input optical waveguide and the receiver optical waveguide (120, 170) with the transmission filter being tunable to drop a select channel to the receiver optical waveguide (120, 170) and to reflect the remaining channels of the multi-channel optical signal. A retransmission waveguide (118, 162) is in optical communication with the transmission filter to receive the reflected remaining channels. A second receiver waveguide (130, 174) is in optical communication with the receiver waveguide (120, 170). A selectively reflective apparatus (108, 168) is in optical communication between the receiver optical waveguide and the second receiver optical waveguide for selectively reflecting the dropped channel or transmitting the dropped channel to the second receiver waveguide. A second retransmission waveguide (130, 182) in optical communication with the selectively reflective means receives a reflected optical signal. A method of dropping a select channel of a multi-channel optical signal propagated along a main optical waveguide without loss of data includes directing the multi-channel optical signal from the main optical waveguide to an input waveguide. The receiver waveguide is optically aligned with the input waveguide. A tunable transmission filter is provided in optical communication between the input and receiver waveguides. The transmission filter is tuned to drop a select channel to the receiver optical waveguide and to reflect the remaining channels of the multi-channel optical signal to a retransmission optical waveguide in optical communication with the main optical fiber. All dropped channels are reflected for repropagation along the main optical waveguide while the tunable transmission filter is tuned between first and second select channels. The transmission filter (106, 164) may be a wedged-etalon having a cavity that varies uniformly in width between a widest operative end and a narrowest operative end along a filtering axis in optical communication between the input and receiver waveguides. An actuator (107) moves the wedged-etalon out to select positions between the widest and narrowest operative ends to drop a select channel.
Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring combustion properties within a measurement area comprises an elongate housing having a housing wall, the elongate housing having a distal end. A transmitting and receiving optic pair resides within the distal end of the housing and optically communicates with a sensing region outside the housing. A reflective surface is cantilevered from the distal end of the housing to define the sensing region therebetween. The reflective surface is configured to reflect a beam in optical communication from the transmitting optic to the receiving optic through the sensing region. Also disclosed is a method of measuring a combustion property within a select zone of a measurement area.
Abstract:
A method of monitoring combustion properties in an interior of a boiler of the type having walls comprising a plurality of parallel steam tubes separated by a metal membrane. First and second penetrations are provided in the metal membrane between adjacent tubes on opposite sides of the boiler. A beam of light is projected through a pitch optic comprising a pitch collimating lens and a pitch relay lens, both residing outside the boiler interior. The pitch relay lens projects the beam through a penetration into the boiler interior. The beam of light is received with a catch optic substantially identical to the pitch optic residing outside the boiler interior. The strength of the collimated received beam of light is determined. At least one of the pitch collimating lens and the catch collimating lens may then be aligned to maximize the strength of the collimated received beam.
Abstract:
A method for measuring combustion parameters within a combustion zone of a gas turbine engine, the combustion zone being defined between an inner and outer casing. The method comprises transmitting a beam from a transmit optic optically coupled to a bore in the outer casing off a portion of the inner casing and receiving a portion of the beam reflected off the inner casing with a receiving optic optically coupled to a bore in the outer casing. An apparatus for practicing the method comprises a laser generating a beam and a transmitting/receiving optics pair, the transmitting/receiving optics pair being configured for operative association with a port in an outer casing of a gas turbine engine, whereby the transmitting/receiving optics are in optical communication by reflecting the beam off a portion of an inner casing.