System and method for distinguishing particles in a transient fluid
A method for detecting a presence of a particle in a fluid is disclosed. The method includes the steps of directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation into the transient fluid; providing a sensor to detect an intensity of the radiation after passing through at least a portion of the fluid; generating a data representing the intensity detected by the sensor; and analyzing the data based upon a statistical analysis to detect the presence of a particle in the fluid and determine whether the particle is water or a solid particle.
1. A method for distinguishing between a water particulate and a solid particulate in a transient fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation into the transient fluid;
providing a sensor to detect an intensity of the radiation after passing through at least a portion of the fluid;
generating a data representing the intensity detected by the sensor; and
analyzing the data based upon a statistical analysis to detect the presence of a particulate in the transient fluid and to distinguish the particulate between a water particulate and a solid particulate.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation is generated by a laser.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed in a pre-determined position relative to a source of the radiation to detect the intensity of a portion of the radiation reflected from the particulate in the fluid.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent the fluid and opposite a source of the radiation to detect a shadow generated by the particulate in the fluid.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a particle collection sensor having a sensing zone capable of simultaneously detecting a plurality of the particulates in the fluid.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data represents the sensed light intensity as a function of time.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the statistical analysis includes calculating at least one of a running mean, a standard deviation, and a variance.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the statistical analysis includes determining at least one of a rise and fall slope, a peak height, and a peak height consistency between a rise and a fall.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the statistical analysis includes determining a size of the particulate.
10. A method for distinguishing between a water particulate and a solid particulate in a transient fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation into the transient fluid;
providing a sensor to detect an intensity of the radiation after passing through at least a portion of the fluid;
generating at least one of a data and a waveform representing the intensity detect by the sensor; and
analyzing at least one of the data and the waveform based upon at least one of a statistical analysis and a waveform analysis in real time to detect the presence of a particulate in the transient fluid and to distinguish the particulate between a water particulate and a solid particulate in the transient fluid.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor is disposed in a pre-determined position relative to a source of the radiation to detect the intensity of a portion of the radiation reflected from the particulate in the fluid.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent the fluid and opposite a source of the radiation to detect a shadow generated by the particulate in the fluid.
13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a particle collection sensor having a sensing zone capable of simultaneously detecting a plurality of the particulates in the fluid.
14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the data represents the sensed intensity as a function of time.
15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the statistical analysis includes calculating at least one of a running mean, a standard deviation, and a variance.
16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the waveform analysis includes determining at least one of a rise and fall slope, a peak height, and a peak height consistency between a rise and a fall.
17. A sensing system for distinguishing between a water particulate and a solid particulate in a transient fluid, the system comprising:
a channel for directing a flow of the fluid;
a light source directing an electromagnetic radiation into the channel;
a sensor positioned to measure an intensity of the radiation after passing through at least a portion of the fluid in the channel, wherein the sensor transmits a data representing the intensity measurement; and
a processor to receive the transmitted data and analyze the data based upon a statistical analysis to detect the presence of a particulate in the transient fluid and to detect the presence of a particulate in the transient fluid and to distinguish the particulate between a water particulate and a solid particulate.
18. The sensing system according to claim 17 , wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent the channel in a position to measure a radiation reflected from the particulate in the flow of fluid.
19. The sensing system according to claim 17 , wherein the sensor is disposed adjacent the channel opposite the light source to detect a shadow of the particulate in the flow of fluid.
20. The sensing system according to claim 17 , wherein the statistical analysis includes a real-time calculation of at least one of a running mean of the data, a standard deviation of the data, a variance of the data, a rise and fall slope of the data, a peak height of the data, and a peak height consistency between a rise and a fall of the data.
21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transient fluid is jet fuel.
22. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the transient fluid is jet fuel.
23. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the transient fluid is jet fuel.