Multi-component gas and vapor monitoring sensor

An optical spectral sensing device, for determining properties of a gas sample, said device comprising:

• a measurement chamber configured to allow the gas sample to continuously pass through said chamber;
• a light source, wherein said light source is modulated to differentiate the light source from ambient thermal radiation;
• a detector system comprising a first detector comprising a first channel, second channel, third channel, and fourth channel, wherein each channel corresponds to a different wavelength, and a second detector comprising a fifth channel, a sixth channel, a seventh channel, and an eighth channel, wherein each channel of the second detector corresponds to a different wavelength for measuring the gas sample and generating a signal, wherein the detector system is further modulated and synchronized with the modulation of the light source;
• an extractor configured to draw the gas sample continuously through said measurement chamber;
• a coupling apparatus for coupling the light source and the detector system to the measurement chamber;
• and
• electronics for providing energy for the light source and for receiving a signal generated by the detector in response to energy coupled to the detector system by the coupling apparatus, the electronics providing direct output of sample properties of the sample.

A method for identifying the component gases and vapors of a sample, comprising:

• supplying a detector system having a processor having a memory device in
• communication with the processor for storing gas sample data, wherein the detector system comprises a first detector comprising a first channel, second channel, third channel, and fourth channel, and a second detector comprising a fifth channel, a sixth channel, a seventh channel, and an eighth channel, wherein each channel corresponds to a different wavelength, wherein the first detector and the second detector are configured for measuring the sample and generating a signal;
• statistically selecting at least one specific wavelength to determine a components chemical functionality;
• supplying a light source to encode the light passing through the sample,
• wherein the light source is modulated to differentiate the light source from ambient thermal radiation;
• modulating and synchronizing the detector system with the modulation of the light source;
• detecting a first specific wavelength intensity of multi-wavelength radiation transmitted through the sample by a first wavelength specific detector;
• detecting a second specific wavelength intensity of multi-wavelength radiation transmitted through the sample by a second wavelength specific detector;
• detecting a third specific wavelength intensity of multi-wavelength radiation transmitted through the sample by a third wavelength specific detector;
• detecting a fourth specific wavelength intensity of multi-wavelength radiation transmitted through the sample by a fourth wavelength specific detector;
• comparing said detected wavelength intensities using statistical correlation algorithms stored on the memory;
• and
• determining a presence of a component gas or vapor in the sample based at least in part on the detected first, second, third and fourth intensities.