Patent ID: 7380984

Claim:
A system for monitoring a processing fluid temperature within a high-pressure processing system, the system comprising: a. a recirculation loop comprising a high pressure processing chamber and a high pressure recirculation system coupled to the high pressure processing chamber, wherein the processing fluid flows through the recirculation loop; b. a high-pressure fluid supply system coupled to the recirculation loop and comprising means for supplying fluid to the recirculation loop; c. a process chemistry supply system coupled to the recirculation loop and comprising means for supplying process chemistry to the recirculation loop; d. a sensor assembly coupled to the recirculation loop for monitoring the temperature of the processing fluid flowing through the recirculation loop, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to operate at high pressure, wherein the sensor assembly comprises: i. a sensor subassembly including a sensor, a body coupled to the sensor, and an electrical connection means coupled to the body; ii. a protective sheath having a tip portion, a transition portion, and an annular ring portion, wherein the sensor subassembly is at least partially coupled internally to the protective sheath and the sensor is mounted within the tip portion of the protective sheath; and iii. a gland assembly comprising: (1) a gasket positioned around the protective sheath, wherein the gasket comprises a first side and a second side; (2) a first sealing gland positioned around the protective sheath, wherein the first sealing gland is removably coupled to the first side of the gasket; (3) a second sealing gland positioned around the protective sheath, wherein the second sealing gland is removably coupled to the second side of the gasket; (4) a first nut with threading, the first nut removably coupled to the first sealing gland; and (5) a second nut with threading, the second nut removably coupled to the second gland, wherein the second nut and the first nut are screwed together, thereby forcing the first gland and the second gland to compress upon the gasket, thereby sealing the gland assembly; e. a controller coupled to the high pressure processing chamber, the recirculation system, the high-pressure fluid supply system, the process chemistry supply system, and the sensor assembly.