Device for detecting the concentration of a solution

1. A device for detecting the concentration of urea in solution with water, comprising:

a means for emitting radiation;

at least one means for receiving radiation, which is configured for detecting a value of intensity of radiation;

a light guide, which is prearranged for optically connecting said emitting means to said receiving means, wherein said light guide has at least one surface that is to come into contact with said solution so as to determine an interface of separation between said light guide and said solution,

control means configured for obtaining a value indicating the concentration of urea in said solution as a function of the signal coming from said receiving means;

said light guide having a general U-shaped development and the elbow-shaped portion of said guide defining at least part of said surface that is to come into contact with said solution;

said emitting means configured for emitting radiation in at least one first range of wavelengths and one second range of wavelengths that are different and said receiving means is configured for detecting radiation in the said first range and said second range;

said control means configured for obtaining a value indicating the concentration of urea in said solution as a function of a first signal coming from said receiving means, for said first range of wavelengths, and for verifying whether said value indicating concentration and a value of intensity of radiation derived from a second signal coming from said receiving means, for said second range of wavelengths, satisfy a given function, characteristic of said solution, for said second range of wavelengths.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said receiving means is configured for detecting a value of intensity of radiation.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control means are configured for processing a value indicating the intensity of radiation derived from the signal coming from said receiving means so as to obtain said value indicating concentration.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control means are configured for obtaining a value indicating the loss of intensity of the radiation that traverses said light guide on the basis of the signal coming from said receiving means ( 4 ).

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control means comprise a computing module designed to determine, through a mathematical function derived experimentally, said value indicating the concentration of said element, starting from a value of intensity of radiation derived from the signal received by said receiving means, and/or wherein said control unit comprises a storage module containing one or more maps derived experimentally, which represent matching between values of concentration and values of intensity of radiation, and wherein the control unit is configured for obtaining via said maps said value indicating concentration on the basis of a value of intensity of radiation derived from the signal received by said receiving means.

6. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a second means for receiving radiation, which is prearranged for detecting radiation emitted by said emitter that does not propagate in said light guide.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein said second receiving means is prearranged for detecting values of intensity of radiation, and wherein said control means are configured for determining a value indicating the intensity of the radiation emitted by said emitter that are channelled along said light guide, as a function of the signal received by said second receiving means.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein said receiving means is a first receiving means and is configured for detecting a value of intensity of radiation, and wherein said control means are configured for obtaining a value indicating the loss of intensity of the radiation that traverses said light guide on the basis of the signals coming from said first and second receiving means.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control means comprise a comparison module designed to verify whether a value indicating intensity of radiation derived from said second signal coming from said receiving means, together with said value indicating concentration, satisfy said characteristic function of said solution.

10. A method for detecting the concentration of urea within a solution of urea and water, comprising the steps of:

providing a means for emitting radiation, at least one means for receiving radiation, and a light guide, which is prearranged for optically connecting said emitting means to said receiving means, wherein said light guide has at least one surface that is to come into contact with said solution so as to determine an interface of separation between said light guide and said solution,

emitting radiation from said means for emitting radiation and obtaining a signal from said receiving means,

obtaining a value indicating the concentration of urea in said solution as a function of the signal coming from said receiving means;

wherein said light guide comprises a general U-shaped development and an elbow-shaped portion of said guide defines at least part of said surface that is to come into contact with said solution, wherein the providing said emitting means and said receiving means include, respectively, providing an emitting means configured for emitting radiation in at least one first range of wavelengths and one second range of wavelengths that are different, and providing a receiving means configured for detecting radiation in said first and second ranges;

obtaining a value indicating the concentration of urea in said solution as a function of a first signal coming from said receiving means, for said first range of wavelengths;

providing a value of intensity of radiation derived from a second signal coming from said receiving means, for said second range of wavelengths; and

verifying whether said value indicating concentration and said value of intensity of radiation satisfy a given characteristic function of said solution for said second range of wavelengths.

11. The method according to claim 10 , comprising the step of determining, through a mathematical function derived experimentally, said value indicating the concentration of urea starting from a value of intensity of radiation derived from the signal received by said receiving means, and/or providing one or more maps derived experimentally, representing matching between values of concentration and values of intensity of radiation, and obtaining, via said maps, said value indicating concentration on the basis of a value of intensity of radiation derived from the signal coming from said receiving means.

12. The method according to claim 10 , comprising the steps of:

providing an emitting means configured for emitting radiation in at least one first range of wavelengths and one second range of wavelengths that are different and a receiving means configured for detecting radiation in the same ranges;

obtaining a value indicating the concentration of urea in said solution as a function of a first signal coming from said receiving means, for said first range of wavelengths;

providing a value of intensity of radiation derived from a second signal coming from said receiving means, for said second range of wavelengths; and

verifying whether said value indicating concentration and said value of intensity of radiation satisfy a given characteristic function of said solution for said second range of wavelengths.

13. The method according to claim 11 , comprising the steps of:

providing an emitting means configured for emitting radiation in at least one first range of wavelengths and one second range of wavelengths that are different and a receiving means configured for detecting radiation in the same ranges;

obtaining a value indicating the concentration of urea in said solution as a function of a first signal coming from said receiving means, for said first range of wavelengths;

providing a value of intensity of radiation derived from a second signal coming from said receiving means, for said second range of wavelengths; and

verifying whether said value indicating concentration and said value of intensity of radiation satisfy a given characteristic function of said solution for said second range of wavelengths.