Method of absorbance correction in a spectroscopic heating value sensor

1. A method for absorbance correction in a spectroscopic heating value sensor comprising the steps of:

passing radiation from a radiation source having at least one absorbing wavelength for a radiation absorbing sample fluid through a non-radiation absorbing fluid and measuring an intensity of said radiation after passing through said nonradiation absorbing fluid, producing an initial reference radiation intensity value;

passing said radiation through said radiation absorbing sample fluid and measuring said intensity of said radiation after passing through said radiation absorbing sample fluid, producing a sample fluid radiation intensity value;

passing said radiation through said radiation absorbing sample fluid and measuring said intensity at a non-absorbing wavelength of said radiation for said radiation absorbing sample fluid after passing through said radiation absorbing sample fluid, producing a correction reference radiation intensity value;

determining a measured radiation absorbance of said radiation absorbing sample fluid using said initial reference radiation intensity value and said sample fluid radiation intensity value;

determining a radiation absorbance adjustment value using said initial reference radiation intensity value and said correction reference radiation intensity value; and

determining an absorbance difference between said measured radiation absorbance and said radiation absorbance adjustment value, producing a true radiation absorbance for said radiation absorbing sample fluid at said at least one radiation absorbing wavelength.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said radiation absorbing sample fluid comprises a fuel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reference radiation intensity value is monitored for changes by said spectroscopic heating value sensor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said radiation source is a stabilized light source selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, at least one light emitting diode, and combinations thereof.

5. An apparatus for measuring a physical property of a fluid comprising:

an optical cell having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

radiation means for directing radiation through said optical cell in optical communication with said optical cell;

detection means for detecting radiation absorbance by said fluid in said optical cell; and

a data processor comprising correction means for applying a correction factor to said radiation absorbance to produce an accurate radiation absorbance by said fluid, wherein said correction means comprises a data processing routine in which a measured absorbance of said fluid is determined using an initial reference radiation intensity value measured for a non-absorbing fluid and a measured fluid radiation intensity value, and an adjusted radiation absorbance is determined using said initial reference radiation intensity value and a corrective radiation intensity value, said corrective radiation intensity value having been determined by passing said radiation through said fluid at a non-absorbing wavelength of said fluid from which an absorbance difference between said measured absorbance and said adjusted radiation absorbance is determined, resulting in said accurate radiation absorbance by said fluid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said radiation means comprises at least one stabilized light source.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said at least one stabilized light source is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, at least one light emitting diode, and combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said radiation means comprises a radiation dispersing element disposed between said optical cell and said detection means, said radiation dispersing element adapted to disperse radiation transmitted from said optical cell to said detection means.

9. A method for absorbance correction in a spectroscopic heating value sensor comprising the steps of:

determining a reference light intensity for a non-absorbing reference fluid;

measuring a light absorbance of a sample fluid, producing a measured absorbance;

determining a corrective light intensity for said sample fluid at a non-absorbing wavelength for said sample fluid, producing a corrective light intensity factor;

determining a corrective absorbance value using said corrective light intensity factor; and

applying said corrective absorbance value to said measured absorbance, producing a true measured absorbance.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said sample fluid is a fuel mixture comprising a plurality of fuel components.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said light absorbance is monitored for changes by said spectroscopic heating value sensor.