Process high-pressure optical sensor

The regenerated extraction gas leaves the second regeneration column at its head and is cooled down in (WT3) to a temperature of approximately 20°C. Depending on the type of extraction solvent the buffer vessel (KP) contains liquid phase in equilibrium state with gas or merely gas of high density. In the last case a pressure controlled pneumatic pump feeds fresh solvent into the circular process. If a gas/liquid equilibrium is achieved in the buffer vessel the gas pressure remains constant until a minimal amount of liquid remains there. For this purpose two optical sensors are introduced into the buffer vessel registrating the minimum and maximum extraction liquid level If the level falls below minimum, fresh liquid extraction solvent is refilled. 

More recently, fiber-optic sensors have been developed to measure pressure in high-temperature environments (Krohn, 2000). Multivariable transmitters are available that measure several process variables (see Fig. 9.4). 

Fiber-optic sensors are attractive options (but more expensive) for acquiring measurements in harsh environments such as high temperature or pressure. The transducing technique used by these sensors is optical and does not involve electrical signals, so they are immune to electromagnetic interference. Raman spectroscopy uses fiber-optics and involves pulsed light scattering by molecules. It has a wide variety of applications in process control (Dakin and Culshaw, 1997). 

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