NO20120512A1 - Monitoring of foreign particles, foreign fluids and substances in a fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiments described herein apply to a system (100) for analyzing a fluid (103), wherein the system (100) comprises: a light source (110) configured to emit light for transmission through a first optical transmission device (107a) to at least one measuring device ( 105), wherein the at least one measuring device (105) comprises at least a portion of the fluid (103) and is designed to be illuminated by the emitted light; a second optical transmission device (107b) designed to transmit light which is shaded or deflected by the fluid (103) when the measuring device (105) is illuminated to one or more imaging units (113); wherein at least one of the light sources (110) and one or more imaging units (113) are arranged remote from the measuring device (105).

Description

MONITORING OF FOREIGN PARTICLES, FOREIGN FLUIDS AND SUBSTANCES IN A FLUID

TECHNICAL AREA

The embodiments described here apply to fluid analyses, and more specifically fluid analyzes using a light source.

BACKGROUND

It has always been a challenge to monitor the condition of a large machine installation, consisting of several machines with different hydraulic systems, gearboxes and lubrication systems.

Particle counting has been used to provide an early warning based on various signs of wear from particles, leaks (water), chemical or biological contamination in the hydraulic or lubricating fluid. Due to poor sampling procedures and apparatus, inadequate systems for particle counting and a lack of competence in interpretation by the personnel involved, particle counting has had limited use. Instead, vibration analysis has been used to follow the development of machine wear, although stalling and wear would have been seen much earlier through particle analysis. One of the limitations of the instruments used is that the instruments only count particles. Necessary information is, among other things, the shape and origin of the particles. Particles from hard alloys, steel and sand will make a huge difference in secondary wear and damage than water droplets, air bubbles or biofilm, but they will be counted and reported in the same way.

The weakness of the above technology has been seen by the US Navy, and a research program was formed in the late nineties at the Naval Research Laboratories, culminating in the Laser Net analyzer. The method looks at visible contamination in the oil using image analysis and photo/video technology. By pulsing laser light through an optical flow cell, the instrument captures a high frequency of images per minute of particles passing through the flow cell, stores the images in a database that compares the images with known wear particles from machines and reports the type and amount of particles in the oil. This method, using a reliable fluid sampling system, provides reliable and repeatable measurements for online monitoring. However, this method also has limitations. On a ship, on an oil platform or in a processing plant, there will always be variations in oil reservoirs, gearboxes, oil qualities etc. Therefore, it is not easy to use the same instrument to monitor several machines. Setting up a condition monitoring system with an analysis box on each machine will also be expensive, and follow-up and maintenance will be demanding. The cost of instrumentation can be repulsive, and follow-up and maintenance can be demanding. In a highly flammable environment, all electronics can potentially cause explosions. It is therefore important not to expose electronic circuits and power supplies to highly flammable liquids or potentially explosive environments.

SUMMARY

It is a purpose of the embodiments herein to solve the multiplication of laser-based "particle analysis" apparatus in liquid by centralizing the emission and analysis of the measurement signals thanks to the multiplexing of the signal sent in fiber optic cables.

Another purpose of the embodiments herein is to allow the installation of an analysis unit far from the measurement cell, thereby allowing the measurement of fluids in an environment that is not compatible with the analysis unit.

Another purpose of the embodiments herein is to enable special packaging for the assay unit to allow its use in harsh environments.

Another purpose of the embodiments herein is to allow particle analysis and monitoring of machines in flammable or explosive environments more safely and inexpensively.

It is a purpose of the embodiments herein to use particle analysis of lubricating and/or cooling fluids as the most important source for condition monitoring of heavy machinery.

Yet another purpose of the embodiments herein is to allow detection of undersea leaks. By using fiber optic cables in combination with optical multiplexers, it is possible to move and integrate the measuring device to the machinery in a completely different way, the installation will be much more robust and a single instrument can be used to perform analyzes regardless of which machine the analysis is performed on , the type of oil or surrounding environment. Problems with explosive gases near the instruments will disappear thanks to fiber optic cables sending laser light to the measuring device and using optics and fiber cables to send images back to image analysis in the instrument located in a safe area.

According to a first aspect, the purpose is achieved by a system for analyzing a fluid. The system comprises a light source designed to emit light to be sent through a first optical transmission device to at least one measuring device. The at least one measuring device comprises the fluid and is designed to be illuminated by the transmitted light. The system comprises a second optical transmission device designed to send shadowed or deflected light from the fluid when the measuring device is illuminated to at least one imaging unit. At least one of the light source and the imaging unit is arranged remotely from the measuring device.

In some embodiments, the imaging unit is designed to take an image of the fluid in the measuring device based on the transmitted information about the fluid.

In some embodiments, the system comprises an analysis unit designed to analyze the captured image to thereby obtain information about the fluid.

In some embodiments, the at least one measuring device is a flow cell associated with at least one machine that includes the fluid, and where the fluid included in the machine is bypassed through the at least one measuring device.

In some embodiments, the at least one measuring device comprises a first part to which the first optical transmission device is connected and through which the light is sent when the at least one measuring device is illuminated.

In some embodiments, the first part is a first transparent plate.

In some embodiments, the at least one part of the first optical transmission device and the at least one part of the second optical transmission device comprise at least one optical fiber cable

In some embodiments, the emitted light passes through the fluid when it illuminates at least one measuring device, and the information about the fluid is based on a property of the emitted light as it passes through the fluid.

In some embodiments, the fluid comprises particles in which information about the fluid comprises information about a number of particles and/or impurities in the fluid and/or the type of particles in the fluid.

In some embodiments, the fluid is a liquid or a gas.

In some embodiments, the one or more imaging units comprise an image sensor associated with each optical fiber cable adapted to capture the shadowed or deflected light transmitted through the associated optical fiber cable and to assign the captured shadowed or deflected light to the measurement device from which the shadowed or deflected light is transmitted.

In some embodiments, the one or more imaging units comprise a high-definition image sensor divided into a number of spatial areas respectively associated with an optical fiber cable arranged so that the associated spatial area only captures the shadowed or deflected light sent through the optical fiber cable and to assign the captured shadowed or deflected light to the measuring device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent.

In some embodiments, the at least one optical fiber cable is provided with an optical switch synchronized with the frame rate of the one or more imaging units, wherein the optical switch is turned on only when the one or more imaging units capture a particular image in a series of captured images during a imaging cycle, and the captured image data in the particular image consists only of the image data of the shadowed or deflected light sent through the optical fiber cable, which is assigned to the measurement device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent.

In some embodiments, the measuring device comprises a flow cell formed with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet through which at least part of the fluid flows in and out, a flow limiting device whereby the flow limiting device is designed to generate an increased pressure loss between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and in which the measuring device is connected to the first optical transmission device configured to transmit light emitted from a light source to pass through at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the flow cell, and connected to the second optical transmission device, at least one optical receiving element configured to receive the light which has passed through the fluid in the flow cell and designed to transmit the received light so that the fluid can be analyzed.

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by a method for analyzing a fluid, the method comprising: emitting light from a light source;

sending emitted light through a first optical transmission device to at least one measuring device, where the measuring device comprises at least a part of the fluid;

to illuminate the smallest measuring device with transmitted lights, and

transmitting shadowed or deflected light from the fluid when the measuring device is illuminated to one or more imaging units using a second optical transmission device;

where at least one of the light sources and one or more imaging units are arranged remotely from the measuring device cell.

In some embodiments, the imaging unit is designed to take an image of the fluid in the measuring device based on the transmitted shadowed or deflected light from the fluid.

In some embodiments, the sent image is analyzed with an analysis unit to thereby obtain information about the fluid.

In some embodiments, at least one measuring device is connected to at least one machine that includes the fluid, and where the fluid included in the machine is bypassed through the at least one analysis unit.

In some embodiments, it comprises in the at least one measuring device a first part to which the first optical transmission device is connected and through which the light is transmitted further when the at least one measuring device is illuminated.

In some embodiments, the first part is a first transparent plate.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first optical transmission device and at least a portion of the second optical transmission device comprise at least one optical fiber cable.

In some embodiments, the one or more imaging units comprise an image sensor associated with each optical fiber cable adapted to capture shadowed or deflected light transmitted through the associated optical fiber cable and to assign the captured shadowed or deflected light to the measuring device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent.

In some embodiments, the one or more imaging units comprise a high-definition image sensor divided into a number of spatial areas respectively associated with an optical fiber cable arranged so that the associated spatial area only captures the shadowed or deflected light sent through the optical fiber cable and to assign the captured shadowed or deflected light to the measuring device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the following steps:

synchronizing an optical switch with which at least one optical fiber cable is provided with a frame rate corresponding to the one or more imaging units;

turning on the optical switch only when the one or more imaging devices captures a particular image in a series of captured images during an imaging cycle from the one or more imaging devices, and

assigning the measurement device from which the shadowed or deflected light is transmitted to the captured image data in the particular image.

In some embodiments, the emitted light passes through the fluid when it illuminates at least one flow cell, and wherein the information about the fluid is based on a property of the emitted light as it passes through the fluid.

In some embodiments, the fluid includes particles, and where information about the fluid includes information about a number of particles in the fluid and/or type of particles in the fluid.

According to a second aspect, the purpose is achieved by a computer program which is stored on a computer-readable memory and which comprises instructions for carrying out the above-mentioned method.

Embodiments herein have many advantages, of which a non-exhaustive list of examples follows: Embodiments herein, which allow centralization of the light emission and analysis unit offer several advantages: Capital Costs: Only one apparatus to purchase and/or replace for an entire plant. Affordable spare appliances: only one additional appliance may need to be purchased. Operational costs: only one (+ spare) device to calibrate and maintain. If the device has to be retrieved from a wellhead, the cost consequences are important.

Robustness: the device can be installed in a protected room, far from vibrations, dust,

fat, heat, frost...

Safety: no power contact is required for equipment to be monitored.

Easy to equip later: while the sampling and measurement cell must be designed locally, it is not necessary to design the analysis unit room locally.

The embodiments herein are not limited to the features and advantages mentioned above. A person skilled in the art will find additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein shall be described in more detail in the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate embodiments and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing embodiments of a system.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation illustrating embodiments of

the entire monitoring system used for machine condition monitoring.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of spatial multiplexing. Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a sampling and

measuring cell.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of an underwater package

for a unit of analysis.

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment used for detection and estimation of underwater gas leaks, for example above a wellhead.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates embodiments of a system 100 for the analysis of a fluid 103. The system 100 comprises a machine 101 which comprises the fluid 103. The fluid 103 can be a liquid or a gas. A measuring device 105 is connected to the machine 101. The measuring device 105 can, for example, be connected to the outside of the machine 101, for example by a bypass. When the machine 101 is bypassed, operation of the machine 101 continues as normal while the measuring device 105 is in operation, and a pipe or channel is used to create an alternative path for the fluid 103 into the measuring device 105. The fluid 103 continues to flow through the machine 101 at the same time as part of the fluid 103 is passed through the measuring device 105. In this example, the system 100 comprises a measuring device 105 and a machine 101, but it can be a measuring device 105 connected to a plurality of machines 101, a plurality of measuring devices 105 connected to a machine 101, or a plurality of measuring devices 105 each connected to a respective machine 101 of a plurality of machines 101.

A first optical transmission device 107a is connected to the measuring device 105 for transporting light emitted from a light source 110 to the measuring device 105, and thus to illuminate the measuring device 105 and the fluid 103 included in the measuring device 105. The light source 110 can be, for example, a laser designed to emit a laser beam. A second optical transmission device 107b is connected to the measuring device 105 to convey information about the fluid when the measuring device 105 is illuminated to an image capturing unit 113 which takes an image of the fluid 103. At least a part of the first optical transmission device 107a and at least a part of the second optical the transmission device 107b comprises an optical fiber cable. In some embodiments, the first optical transmission device 107a and the second optical transmission device 107b are a cable arranged to carry the light in two directions, i.e. to the measurement device 105 and from the measurement device 105. In some embodiments, the first optical transmission device 107a and the second optical transmission device are 107b separate cables. The first optical transmission device 107a and the second optical transmission device 107b have such a length that at least one of the light source 110 and the image taking unit 113 can be located far from the measuring device 105, i.e. they are not in situ. The first optical transmission device 107a and the second optical transmission device 107b can be connected to the same side of the measuring device 105, or on opposite sides of the measuring device 105.

The imaging unit 113 can transfer the captured image to an analysis unit 115 which is designed to analyze the captured image to obtain information about a number of particles, a type of particle in the fluid 103. The imaging unit 113 can be a camera. The analysis unit 115 can also be arranged remotely from the measuring device 105.

The measuring device 105 can have any size and shape suitable for conveying bypassed fluid 103 and suitable for connection to the machine 101. For example, it can have a square shape or a circular shape. The measuring device 105 can be completely or partially closed. The measuring device 105 can be made of a transparent material, so that when the emitted light illuminates the measuring device 105, the light passes through the walls of the measuring device 105 and passes through the fluid 103. If the fluid 103 includes, for example, particles, a foreign liquid or other substances, the light be reflected. Based on the information of the reflected light, the number of particles, the type of particles, etc. can be obtained.

In some embodiments, the measuring device 105 comprises a first part 108a, e.g. a first transparent plate made for example of glass or of a plastic material and arranged inside the measuring device 105. The first optical transmission device 107a can be connected to the first part 108a. When the measuring device 105 is illuminated, the light flows through the first part 108a due to its optically transparent properties. The light can hit the particles in the fluid 103 and is reflected back to the first part 108a. The second optical transmission device 107b, which may also be connected to the first part 108a, transmits the reflected light or the information about the reflected light to

the imaging unit 113.

In some embodiments, the measuring device 105 comprises the first part 108a and a second part 108b, where both parts can be transparent plates made of, for example, glass or of a plastic material and arranged inside the measuring device 105. As exemplified in Figure 1, the first part can 108a and the second part 108b are arranged vertically and have a distance between them where the fluid 103 can flow. When the light can hit the particles in the fluid, some light rays can be reflected back to the first part 108a and only some of the light rays will reach the second part 108a. If the second optical transmission device 107b is connected to the second part 108a, it sends the light rays that reached the second part 108a or at least information about it to the image taking unit 113.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the system 100. A laser beam 3 is emitted from a monitoring center into a downlink optical multi-cable 5 which comprises a number of downlink optical fibres. The downlink optical multi-cable 5 is wired to a machine consisting of a number of components whose fluids must be monitored. One or more of the downlink optical fibers are connected to each of the components, more specifically to e.g. a measuring device that is connected to the component. Possible characteristics of the measuring device or other optical flow monitoring equipment are described below. In the case of a measuring device as illustrated in Figure 2, the ends of the one or more downlink optical fibers are attached to the first of the two plates of glass comprising the measuring device, and are adapted to direct the laser beam through the fluid flowing through the measuring device, and hits the other of the two glass plates. When it passes through the liquid, the light is reflected by any particles on the way, and is also attenuated depending on the content and properties of the liquid in the measuring device at the time the light passes through.

One or more uplink optical fibers are attached to the other (transmitted light) of the two glass plates, preferably aligned with the one or more downlink optical fibers attached to the first of the two glass plates aligned to capture the light emitted from the one or several downlink optical fibers after passing through the liquid. The one or more uplink optical fibers can be terminated on the measuring device side at respective lenses to better direct captured light into the fibers. Uplink optical fibers from several measuring devices are collected in an uplink optical cable, which transmits light from the respective measuring device. The uplink optical cable is connected, and terminates at the monitoring center. At the monitoring centre, one or more image sensors are arranged, adjusted to capture the light transmitted by the uplink optical cable.

Several techniques for distinguishing between the light originating from respective measuring devices in monitoring centers can be used for further analysis. In one embodiment, there is an image sensor or a camera for each of the groups of one or more uplink optical fibers corresponding to a respective measuring device. The ends of the one or more uplink optical fibers terminating at the monitoring center corresponding to a respective measuring device are directed perpendicularly to the dedicated image sensor so that the dedicated image sensor only captures the light transmitted from the respective measuring device. The image taken by the image sensor is addressed to the respective measuring device and can be analyzed independently of the light captured in the other measuring devices.

In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the ends of all uplink optical fibers in the uplink optical multicable terminated at the monitoring center are positioned to be directed to one area of an image sensor, so that the respective light transmitted by the respective uplinks is captured fiber cables are placed in separate areas. This requires a spatial multiplexing of the light captured by the image sensor in order to address the light from different measuring devices. As an example, for a High Definition (HD) image sensor, each group of one or more uplink optical fibers corresponding to the respective measuring device is arranged to be directed to known spatial areas of the High Definition (HD) image sensor. The overall image taken by the HD image sensor will then be a mosaic composed of images from different measuring devices. Since the spatial areas associated with the various measuring devices are known, they can be easily separated and analyzed separately.

Wavelength multiplexing techniques may also be conceivable. IN

wavelength multiplexing, each light carrier has a dedicated wavelength. When used in the present embodiments, laser light is emitted in the different downlink fibers with different wavelengths. This can be achieved with a laser source for each optical fiber, or one or more laser sources and one or more light beam splitters that split the light into light beams of different wavelengths that are directed into the different downlink optical fibers. On the receiving side will be

only one or only a limited number of the image sensors needed. Light from more than one measuring device will then hit an image sensor at the same time, but since they are of different wavelengths it is possible to separate the images from the different measuring devices by trivial digital post-processing. In addition, each pixel in an image sensor comprises a red, blue and green sensor. If light rays emitted from the light beam source are limited to these wavelengths, no post-processing of the captured image will be necessary since an image sensor actually captures three images of red, green and blue colors simultaneously.

Time division multiplexing can also be used in the embodiments described here. In this case, the fact that video images contain a series of consecutive images is used in conjunction with em form of rapid switching of the light from the different uplink fibers so that light from only one optical fiber hits the image sensor at a time. Each optical fiber has a dedicated time frame of the sequential time frames captured by the image sensor, for example every sixth time frame. These images will then be extracted from the total image series by digital processing, and assembled into a video image. Assuming that the image sensor is capable of a total frame rate of 60 frames per second, a video image from a measuring unit will have a frame rate of 10 frames per second, which would be an acceptable frame rate for this purpose. The switching of the light can be done mechanically by changing the direction of the ends of the optical fibers whose emitted light hits the image sensor sequentially with a frequency corresponding to the image sensor's frame rate. Optical switches can also be used for the same purpose, sequentially turning off the light emitted from all but one of the optical fibers.

The light emitted from one side and captured on the opposite side of a measuring device as described above exposes only the shapes of particles and some of the properties of transparent liquid. In order to provide information about the essential characteristics of the particles in the liquid, scattered backscatter must be taken into account. This requires that the one or more uplink optical fibers are attached to the first of the two glass plates, i.e. the same glass to which the one or more downlink optical fibers are attached. The uplink optical fibers will then be able to capture the light reflected from the particles in the measuring device. The wavelength of the light captured by the one or more uplink optical fibers will then be used as an indication to determine the type of material in the particles that reflect the light. Furthermore, by arranging one or more uplink optical fibers so that they have slightly different angles with respect to the first of the two

the glass plates, a 3D image of scattered backscatter can be provided.

The instrument, which in an example embodiment is a particle analyzer, produces a laser beam 3 into an optical fiber cable 5 connected to an inlet optical multiplexer 2. A controller 8 will control the inlet optical multiplexer 2 to pass the laser light through the fiber optic multiplexer to the fiber optic multi-cable 5 and to the machine that requires monitoring. The machine 1 is equipped with a fluid sampler 7 provided with an integrated measuring device 6. When monitoring takes place, laser light is sent through the measuring device. The measuring device consists of a frame with two glass plates separated by 100 to 1000 millimeters. One or more liquid tubes containing the lubricating oil are placed between the two glass plates and the sample with lubricant flows through the measuring device. The necessary oil flow to perform the analysis is created by the pressure drop across the internal check valve in the fluid sampler 7. The fluid sampler is connected to the oil circulation system for each individual machine, and the multiplexer 2 will select where the laser light will be sent for the analysis.

On the other side of the measuring device, a lens system will receive the image of the particles. The particle images will then be sent through an optical fiber cable and back to the analysis unit where the images are analyzed and counted. The same process takes place for each monitored machine and all images can be analyzed by just one instrument.

The controller 8 and associated computer 4, based on instructions from the operator, a programmed preventive maintenance sequence, or events such as a high vibration detection, will control the entire system. For example, during a programmed monitoring of a machine, the controller 8 will start heating the laser 3, and then switch laser light to the optical fiber connected to the flow cell 6 of the machine 1 thanks to the inlet fiber optic multiplexer, switch the return signal from the flow cell to the analysis unit thanks to the inlet fiber optic multiplexer, then index, analyze, store and transmit the analysis results.

Fiber optic multiplexers are well known in the industry and can be purchased off the shelf. An option to return the images back to the instrument using fiber cable, each sampling point can have an individual video camera chip connected to the measuring device and transmit the results wirelessly to the analysis unit thanks to a wireless interface system available and known in the telecommunications industry. This embodiment does not apply to underwater applications.

Another embodiment is the monitoring of machines or underwater installations with hydraulic fluid. The new oil and gas fields are being developed in more difficult areas, many of which are offshore and getting deeper. Subsea oil and gas installations are evolving and multiplying in response to depth, and they include machinery that can sometimes be very heavy. Maintenance, repair and/or replacement of underwater equipment is expensive and demanding. Being able to plan measures in advance has a big advantage: it allows the planning of several measures when hiring an ROV (underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle). Monitoring and early detection of problems with machines allows such planning.

While the principles of the embodiments herein are similar to the previous case on a platform, there are some issues related to conditioning the equipment for high pressure depth. Typically, the analysis unit needs to be packaged in a pressure-compensated container, easy to retrieve and replace with an ROV. An example is shown in Figure 5.

Another embodiment relates to the detection and analysis of gas leaks for offshore underwater oil and gas installations, as exemplified in Figure 6. Mounted in the vicinity of a Christmas tree blowout preventer, pipe connection, etc., above the locations identified as most risky in terms of leaks, the leak detector will respond to the detection of the bubbles, or even the replacement of the liquid that is trapped under the umbrella of gas. The dashed line shown in Figure 6 indicates a through channel to feed the internal flow cell. The leak detector may actually have two cells, one for blowouts and one for routine monitoring.

In cases related to gas leaks/blowouts, the analysis unit will also here be packed with a pressure-compensated container, be easy to retrieve/be installed by an ROV.

Transformed light does not have to be raw, but can be pre-processed at each individual cell where transformation takes place or downstream between transformation and analysis apparatus. One can, for example, stack several recorded signals, or create a pre-processing between the cell and the analysis instrument.

The liquid being monitored can preferably be lubricating or cooling liquid for heavy equipment such as pumps, generators, compressors, turbines, transformers, etc. It can also be a closed loop of a heat exchanger. The fluid being monitored may be the fairly static seawater on the seabed at a wellhead or another selected location where monitoring of gas bubbles is considered of interest. A gas can also be monitored for particles and droplets, such as exhaust gases, heat exchange gasifiers.

While the embodiments here can find their full potential for a facility (platform, ship, process industry...) with many equipment units to monitor, it can solve some problems related to the installation conditions of a sophisticated analyzer, such as when the monitoring environment is rough (dust , vibrations, heat ...) or unsafe (danger of explosion, radioactivity...), even if only one machine is to be monitored.

While the embodiments here can find their full potential for a

subsea hydrocarbon field with many wellheads or critical equipment or locations to monitor, it can solve some problems related to the installation conditions of a sophisticated analyzer, when for example monitoring is not optimal for the installation of the analyzer, for example when it is too rough or not well adapted for ROV substitution of analysis equipment.

The results of the analysis can then be sent to a maintenance centre, which is remote from the plant. For example, the facility can be an offshore oil and gas platform, and the analysis results can be sent via radio signal to the maintenance center on land. The results may trigger alarms at facilities and in the maintenance center... all known process controls may be relevant and implemented in connection with the embodiments herein. An advantage of some of the embodiments, analyzing particles in lubricating fluids or bubbles in seabed water, is that the measurements can be preventive: the source of possible problems can be identified before the problems arise: excessive wear can be detected before it generates vibrations, for example, and excessive bubbling can be detected before any blowout.

The power supply to the analysis unit can be saved, assuming an independent local power supply such as a local propeller. Such a propeller, in addition to the power supply, provides the pressure loss required to channel the fluid to the sampling and analysis apparatus.

This monitoring system applies to all types of analysis and/or monitoring, including a light source - for example a laser - and the analysis of such a light source after its transformation, whether it is transmission, reflection, diffraction, etc... which transformation is associated with the material to be analyzed.

Another embodiment can be flow measurement such as those based on light.

The embodiments herein are not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents can be used. Therefore, the above-mentioned embodiments should not be understood as limiting the scope of the embodiments, which are defined by the appended patent claims.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprising/comprehensive" when used in this specification is taken to indicate the presence of specified features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups of these. It should also be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude a plurality of such elements.

It should also be emphasized that the procedural steps defined in the attached claims can, without deviating from the embodiments herein, be carried out in a different order than the order in which they appear in the claims.

Claims (29)

1. A system (100) for analyzing a fluid (103), wherein the system (100) comprises: a light source (110) configured to emit light to be sent through a first optical transmission device (107a) to at least one measuring device ( 105), where the smallest one measuring device (105) comprises at least part of the fluid (103) and is designed to be illuminated by the emitted light; a second optical transmission device (107b) which is designed to transmit shadowed or deflected light from the fluid (103) when the measuring device (105) is illuminated to one or more imaging units (113); in which at least one of the light sources (110) and the one or more imaging units (113) are arranged remote from the measuring device (105). 2. The system (100) according to claim 1, in which the one or more imaging units (113) are designed to take an image of the fluid (103) in the measuring device (105) based on the sent information about the fluid (103). 3. The system (100) according to claim 2, further comprehensive an analysis unit (115) designed to analyze the captured image to thereby obtain information about the fluid (103). 4. The system (100) according to one of claims 1-3, where the at least one measuring device (105) is a flow cell connected to at least one machine (101) which includes the fluid (103), and in which the fluid (103) in the machine ( 101) is bypassed through the at least one flow cell (105). 5. The system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one flow cell (105) comprises a first part (108a) to which the first optical transmission device (107a) is connected, and through which the emitted light is sent when the at least one flow cell (105) is illustrated. 6. The system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the first part (108a) is a first transparent plate. 7. The system (100) according to one of claims 1-6, in which at least a part of the first optical transmission device (107b) and at least a part of the second optical transmission device (107b) comprise at least one optical fiber cable for each measuring device (105). 8. The system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the one or more imaging units (113) comprise an image sensor associated with each optical fiber cable adapted to capture shadowed or deflected light transmitted through the associated optical fiber cable and to assign the captured shadowed or deflected light to the measuring device (105) from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent. 9. The system (100) according to claim 7, in which the one or more imaging units (113) comprise a high-definition image sensor divided into a number of spatial areas respectively connected to an optical fiber cable arranged so that the associated spatial area only captures shadowed or deflected light sent through the optical fiber cable and to assign the intercepted shadowed or deflected light to the measurement unit from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent. 10. The system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one optical fiber cable is provided with an optical switch which is synchronized with the frame rate of the one or more image capturing units, the optical switch being turned on only when the one or more image capturing units capture a certain image in a series of captured images during an imaging cycle, and the captured image data in the particular image consists only of the image data of the shadowed or deflected light sent through the optical fiber cable, which is assigned to the measurement device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent. 11. The system (100) according to one of claims 4-10, in which the emitted light passes through the fluid (103) when it illuminates at least one flow cell (105), and in which the information about the fluid (103) is based on a property of the emitted light as it passes through the fluid (103). 12. The system (100) according to one of claims 1-11, where the fluid (103) comprises particles and/or impurities, and in which the information about the fluid comprises information about a number of particles and/or impurities in the fluid (103) and/or type particles and/or impurities in the fluid (103). 13. The system (100) according to one of claims 1-12, where the fluid (103) is a liquid or a gas. 14. The system (100) according to one of claims 1-13, in which the measuring device (105) comprises a flow cell formed with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet through which at least part of the fluid flows in and out, a flow limiting device whereby the flow limiting device is designed to generate an increased pressure drop between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and wherein the measuring device (105) is connected to the first optical transmission device (107a) which is designed to transmit light emitted from a light source to passing through at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the flow cell, and coupled to the second optical transmission device (107b), at least one optical receiving element designed to receive the light that has passed through the fluid in the flow cell and designed to transmit the received light so that the fluid can be analyzed. 15. A method for analyzing a fluid (103), the method comprising: emitting light from a light source (110); sending the emitted light through a first optical transmission device (107a) to at least one measuring device (105), where the least one measuring device (105) comprises at least a part of the fluid (103); to illuminate the at least one measuring device (105) with the transmitted light, and to send shadowed or deflected light from the fluid (103) when the measuring device (105) is illuminated to one or more imaging units (113) by using a second optical transmission device (107b ); where at least one of the light sources (110) and the one or more image-taking units (113) are arranged remotely from the cell (105) of the measuring device. 16. The method according to claim 15, in which the one or more imaging units (113) are designed to capture an image of the fluid (103) in the measuring device (105) based on the transmitted shadowed or deflected light from the fluid (103). 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprehensive analyzing the captured image with an analysis unit (115) to thereby obtain information about the fluid (103). 18. The method according to one of claims 15-17, where the at least one measuring device (105) is a flow cell connected to at least one machine (101) which comprises the fluid (103), and in which the fluid (103) which is part of the machine (101) is bypassed through the at least one flow cell (105). 19. The method according to claim 18, in which the at least one flow cell (105) comprises a first part (108a) to which the first optical transmission device (107a) is connected and through which the emitted light is further sent when the at least one flow cell (105) is illuminated. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first part (108a) is a first transparent plate. 21. The method according to one of claims 15 - 20, in which at least part of the first optical transmission device (107b) and at least part of the second optical transmission device (107b) comprise at least one optical fiber cable for each measuring device. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the one or more imaging units (113) comprise an image sensor associated with each optical fiber cable adapted to capture shadowed or deflected light transmitted through the associated optical fiber cable and to assign the captured shadowed or deflected light to the measurement device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent. 23. The method according to claim 21, in which the one or more imaging units (113) comprise a high-definition image sensor divided into a number of spatial areas respectively connected to an optical fiber cable arranged so that the associated spatial area only captures shadowed or deflected light sent through the optical the fiber cable and assigning the intercepted shadowed or deflected light to the measuring device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent. 24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: synchronizing an optical switch with which at least one optical fiber cable is provided with a frame rate of the one or more imaging units; turning on the optical switch only when the one or more imaging devices capture a particular image in a series of captured images during an imaging cycle from the one or more imaging devices, and assigning the measurement device from which the shadowed or deflected light is sent to the captured image data in that particular image. 25. The method according to one of claims 15-24, in which the emitted light passes through the fluid (103) when it illuminates at least one flow cell (105), and in which the information about the fluid (103) is based on a property of the emitted light when it passes through the fluid (103). 26. The method according to one of claims 15-25, in which the fluid (103) comprises particles and/or impurities, and in which the information about the fluid comprises information about a number of particles and/or impurities in the fluid (103) and/or type of particles and/or or impurities in the fluid (103). 27. The method according to one of claims 15-26, in which the fluid (103) is a liquid or a gas. 28. The method according to one of claims 15-27, in which the measuring device (105) comprises a flow cell which is designed with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet through which at least part of the fluid flows in and out, a flow limiting device whereby the flow limiting device is designed to generate an increased pressure drop between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and wherein the measuring device (105) is connected to the first optical transmission device (107a) which is designed to transmit light emitted from a light source to passing through at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the flow cell, and coupled to the second optical transmission device (107b), at least one optical receiving element designed to receive the light that has passed through the fluid in the flow cell and designed to transmit the received light, so that the fluid can be analyzed. 29. A computer program which is stored on a computer-readable memory and which comprises instructions for carrying out the method according to claims 15-28.