Abstract: A flow cell for use in highly corrosive environments is constructed from an extended metal body containing a smooth longitudinal circular center bore of uniform cross-section. The metal body contains a circular opening at each end extending perpendicularly into the center bore, adapted to receive a sample into the center bore and discharge the sample from the center bore. A circular connector having a larger diameter than the center bore is contained in each of the opposing ends of the center bore, abutting the solid body to form a right angle shoulder between the inside of the connector and the solid body.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a fibe optic cable, or a fiber optic cable covered with a cladding, coated with a membrane that is sensitive to a particular substance to be detected. Contact with the material to be detected causes the membrane's index of refraction (normally less than that of the fiber core) to increase, decreasing the intensity of the light transmitted by the core. The fiber-optic sensor can be used to monitor one or more storage tanks for leakage by placing the fiber cable beneath the surface surrounding the tank(s).

Abstract: A flow cell for use in highly corrosive environments is constructed from a cross union and contains opposing probes each with an external sapphire window which is sealed into a metal tube contained in each probe with melted glass and an optional plastic seal over the melted glass. Each portion of the cross union containing a probe has a right angle shoulder which abuts the end of the tube containing the sapphire window. An O-ring gasket is positioned between the right angle shoulder and tube end to form a tight cover over the glass seal when the probes are assembled in the flow cell, thereby protecting the glass seal and plastic seal from the corrosive environment.

Abstract: A coupling interface between a two components of a spectrometer system having a monochromator, a spectrometer and a fiber cable therebetween includes a focusing lens and two crossed cylindrical lenses. The focusing lens is used to assure that the convergence angle of light entering the fiber is within the acceptance angle of the fiber. A dual lens system is used to collimate the light from the monochromator, first in one direction of divergence, then in a second direction of divergence. In a second embodiment, the focusing lens is used to collimate the light from the fiber optic cable. The dual lens system is used to converge the collimated light in two directions.