Laboratory and industrial applications

Neoptix has developed a large expertise in measurement of temperature for various laboratory, semi industrial and OEM applications.  Fiber optic temperature sensors are used in various sectors where immunity to electromagnetic interferences and intrinsic safety are required. Examples of applications are :

General laboratory uses :

The combination of our Nomad, OmniFlex or Reflex™ signal conditioner and the T1™ temperature sensor is the perfect solution for general temperature measurement under high voltage, radio-frequency or microwaves. The T1™ sensor has a temperature range of -80 to 250 Degrees Celsius, which covers most application needs. The RS-232 communication port coupled with Neoptix OptiLink software allows datalogging through PC. Data can then be saved in Microsoft© Excel© file for easy integration in your research report.

These sensors have also been used for temperature measurement near plasma fields. We have also seen fiber optic sensors in characterization of temperature profile on military high power antenna.

MW assisted chemistry :

Being unaffected by radio-frequency, these fiber optic temperature probes are commonly used in microwave digestion process to monitor temperature during sample digestion. The Teflon™ protection sheath of our T1™ temperature sensor is well resistant to chemicals present inside the digestion vessel.

Food product research and development :

Optical sensors are the most accurate and reliable mean for temperature measurement for microwave and RF food related research and development. Applications are, for example, consumer microwave oven and associated cookware research and development. Temperature sensors are also a key instrument for food packaging research and development.

Development and testing of consumer microwaveable food products along with commercial and industrial RF/MW cooking is also a very well know area of research.

Moreover, fiber optic temperature sensors have been used for temperature monitoring during RF/MW pasteurization or sterilization and for food safety research.

Exemple of food testing:
2011-04_Temperature Measurements in Food Research Microwave Cooking

 

Energy testing and research :

Our optical sensors are standard equipment in research and development activities in the energy laboratories. Optical sensors offers great advantages over conventional means of measurement, such as shielded thermocouples, in tests like temperature measurement on high voltage transmission and distribution lines or other apparatus like stator, reactors, bus bars, breaker switch, rotating machinery, etc…

Fiber optic sensors are also commonly used for temperature measurement during tests on dry or oil filled power transformers.

Moreover, these sensors can be modified to reach cryogenic temperatures required for measurement in supra-conductivity research and development. T1™ sensors can be calibrated to measure down to 4 Kelvin.

Various processes involving RF and MW :

Many other applications are requiring optical sensors for either immunity to EMI/RFI or intrinsic safety. Among many, examples of these applications are curing and bonding of plastic materials, ceramic or composite material, RF wood clay or mud waste drying process, Oriented Strand Board manufacturing.

Fiber optic temperature sensors are also active monitoring devices during semiconductor manufacturing process and plasma etching. Sensors are also seen in treatment of outgases with RF/UV and fuel cell temperature measurement.

 

Moreover, probes do not require complex gage factor or calibration to enter into the signal conditioner: install into your application and connets to signal conditioner; no more steps before reading a powerful and accurate temperature.

Our most popular signal conditioners for laboratory and general research are:

All of these signal conditioners are taking advantages of our T1™ probe which is a robust and liquid-tight fiber optic temperature sensor. No complex gage factor to enter into your signal conditioner and no calibartion is required. Just plug-and-play sensors!