Non-Contact Optical Sensors for Hydrocarbons, HABs & Organics (CDOM)

Hawk sensors offer broad multispectral capability for detecting a wide range of liquid hydrocarbons and contaminants. This includes oils, fuels, and other petroleum products, produced water, blue-green (cyanobacteria) and green algae, select other microalgae, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM).

Hawk sensors primarily utilize ultraviolet A (UVA) excitation, a standard approach for non-contact hydrocarbon detection. UVA is well suited for general hydrocarbon monitoring applications and provides strong sensitivity across a wide range of crude and refined oils, from heavier fuel oils and lubricants to many midweight and lighter refined products.

In certain applications, particularly those involving very light or highly refined hydrocarbons present at trace levels, conventional UVA-only sensors may experience reduced sensitivity or may not reliably detect these products. For such specialized use cases, Hawk sensors are available with ultraviolet B (UVB) excitation, which maximizes sensitivity to lighter and very light hydrocarbons such as gasoline and naphtha. UVB configurations are typically used in targeted applications where detection of light refined products is a primary focus.

UVA excitation is also used to detect colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), a naturally occurring organic material and key precursor to disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Real-time CDOM monitoring supports early detection of organic surges and can inform DBP management strategies through source or treatment adjustments.

Hawk sensors additionally leverage multiple selected wavelengths in the visible spectrum to optimize sensitivity and accuracy for targeted algal pigments and corresponding blooms.

In some cases, Hawk sensors may be capable of detecting additional substances that exhibit suitable fluorescent properties, such as certain condensates, solvents, coolants, or fluids containing UV tracers or dyes. Feasibility depends on the specific product composition and application context.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are large accumulations of algae that can produce toxins, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and cause problems for drinking water supplies, industrial operations, and recreational waterbodies.

BlueHawk Algae Sensors continuously monitor and quantify relative levels of targeted blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)—including both freshwater and marine species—green algae, and select other microalgae such as golden algae in waters by analyzing the levels of specific photosynthetic pigments within these organisms.

Each sensor is configured for the target algae and corresponding pigments. Chlorophyll, found in all algae, serves as a baseline measurement for overall algal activity. Additional pigments can be used for more specific identification: Phycocyanin indicates the presence and concentration of freshwater or marine cyanobacteria, while phycoerythrin is used to detect and quantify marine blue-green algae specifically.

By using a combination of chlorophyll and the additional pigments, BlueHawk Algae Sensors provide a more comprehensive picture of algal activity and type in the waterbody than common chlorophyll-only monitoring.

Additionally, a BlueHawk CDOM Sensor can be deployed to monitor colored dissolved organic matter in surface waters by measuring the level of its fluorescent components.

Hawk sensors’ non-contact detection method eliminates the need for physical contact with the water, resulting in low-maintenance operation by eliminating biofouling and drift.

BlueHawk sensors’ unique and patented LED-based coaxial optical design offers significant advantages over conventional sensors. It allows for reliable monitoring of water and terrestrial surfaces such as concrete, metal, soil, and ice—including direct detection on equipment surfaces—with varied shapes and orientations. This makes BlueHawk well suited for monitoring flat and uneven surfaces, equipment with intricate geometries, and industrial, municipal, and natural water systems. They are also effective for detecting hydrocarbons in process waters, cooling waters, produced waters, stormwaters, and wastewaters.

CFRS sensors’ large lenses and apertures offer efficient light delivery and improved signal-to-noise ratio, boosting sensitivity to detect trace-level signals under appropriate conditions, while minimizing false alarms.

Continuous built-in self-diagnostics, light source status monitoring, and LED power compensation functions help maintain consistent performance across operating conditions.

High pulse rates enable BlueHawk sensors to operate at significantly higher sampling rates than many traditional sensors, making them ideal for monitoring choppy, turbulent, and fast-moving waters.

The result: BlueHawk sensors support reliable monitoring in applications where traditional methods may be limited.

Leveraging the advancements in optics and electronics, Hawk sensors achieve remarkable compactness, lightweight design, and minimal power consumption. This makes them ideal for deployment in space-restricted and power-limited environments, such as cramped sumps, remote monitoring stations, buoys, mobile platforms, and other battery- or solar-powered applications.

Hawk sensors feature IP68-rated standard enclosures, providing robust protection in demanding environments and resistance to temporary submersion.

Optionally, HazLoc (Class I/II/III, ATEX) enclosures are available for deployment in hazardous locations with flammable gases, vapors, liquids, or combustible dust. This supports deployment in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical, and mining.

Built for demanding environments, Hawk sensors support reliable, low-maintenance monitoring over extended operating periods.

With a detection range of over 33 ft (10 m), BlueHawk sensors are designed to minimize installation and operational disruption. The sensors can be mounted on nearby or distant platforms like water intake towers, embankments, dams, piers, bridges, deep sumps, loading/unloading racks, storage tanks, and other structures within industrial facilities. They can also be deployed on vessels, vehicles, and aerial drones for mobile monitoring.

Hawk CFRS sensors are highly adaptable to varying surface distances, supporting reliable water monitoring in industrial settings and waterbodies with fluctuating water levels, such as tidal zones, reservoirs, canals, and intake structures.

A wide detection angle (±45°) expands deployment options in environments where perpendicular installation is difficult or impossible. This also allows pairing the sensor with a pan-tilt mount for continuous scanning of large areas and surfaces up to 1,600 sq ft (150 m²) from a single point.

Additionally, the broad detection angle enhances monitoring coverage on complex surfaces of intricate equipment and improves accuracy in dynamic environments such as turbulent or fast-flowing waters with constantly changing surface topography.

Hawk sensors are engineered for the demands of modern industrial and environmental monitoring. With robust real-time monitoring capabilities, Hawk sensors continuously collect up-to-the-moment data on hydrocarbon presence, algae blooms, and contamination events, and can transmit data or alerts as needed. This empowers users to track changes as they occur and support timely response to anomalies, while supporting regulatory compliance efforts.

Built-in edge computing enables each sensor to process and analyze data locally, right at the source. As a result, actionable insights—such as alarm threshold breaches—can be generated locally, even before data is sent to the cloud or control center. Edge intelligence not only reduces bandwidth requirements by transmitting only essential information and alerts, but also ensures immediate on-site notifications and can trigger external safety or other devices locally where configured, supporting rapid response to emerging issues. This approach delivers continuous, real-time data for accurate, up-to-date operational and environmental insights, while enabling immediate local actions and enhancing reliability and compliance with automated, traceable data collection.

Sensors can be configured remotely from your desk or control room. Versatile connectivity options—including direct wired connections, or wireless transmission via integrated cellular, satellite, or low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) modules—enable secure, reliable delivery of both continuous real-time monitoring data and actionable alerts. This edge-enabled sensor platform supports efficient data management, timely insights, and global accessibility.

Hawk sensors feature a comprehensive range of industry-standard interfaces—including RS-485 (Modbus RTU) / USB, 4-20 mA analog output, and SPDT relay contacts—for integration with SCADA, PLCs, and other industrial or environmental monitoring systems. Designed for flexibility, Hawk sensors can operate independently or as part of scalable, multi-sensor networks, ensuring compatibility with both modern digital and legacy analog infrastructures.

To further enhance functionality, Hawk sensors offer optional features tailored to specific needs. For example, the BlueHawk can be equipped with surface distance measurement to improve detection accuracy across its entire sensing range, especially in applications with widely fluctuating surface distances or water levels. Additionally, Hawk sensors can be fitted with a data logger for recording digital output, enabling historical data analysis even when offline from the main network.