Apparatus and method to identify and measure gas concentrations
AssigneeNokomis, Inc.
InventorsJames Robert Uplinger, II, Robert M Nichol, Walter John Keller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for the analysis of gaseous compounds, especially for determining the concentration of a gas or gases in a gas mixture by microwave spectroscopy. Microwave radiation is generated at one or more frequencies the gas is most responsive to, transmitted by antenna, passed through the gas under test, received by antenna, and the absorption and/or reflection of the microwave radiation is measured by means such as digitization and analysis using the FFT spectrum versus energy response generated, the response subsequently used to calculate the gas concentration.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- in a response to a gas mixture being passed through an electromagnetic field generated by a pair of antennas being spaced apart with each other, measuring one of an absorption amplitude, an emission amplitude and a reflection amplitude of the gas mixture;
- converting the one of the absorption amplitude, the emission amplitude and the reflection amplitude to an absolute gas mixture concentration;
- comparing the absolute gas mixture concentration against a stored value;
- and
- analyzing the gas mixture based on a result of a comparison of the absolute gas mixture concentration against the stored value.
A method, comprising:
- introducing, with an intake member attached to a hollow enclosure, a gas mixture into the hollow enclosure;
- evacuating, with an evacuation member attached to the hollow enclosure, the gas mixture from the hollow enclosure;
- transmitting, with a transmit antenna coupled to a microwave generator, an electromagnetic energy emission spectrum through the gas mixture within the hollow enclosure;
- capturing, with a receive antenna spaced from the transmit antenna within the hollow enclosure so that the gas mixture flows between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna, an electromagnetic energy difference between an electromagnetic energy emission spectrum transmitted from the transmit antenna and an electromagnetic energy emission spectrum being absorbed or reflected by gaseous molecules in the gas mixture;
- converting, with a receiver coupled to the receiver and/or transmit antenna, the electromagnetic energy difference into a digital signal;
- measuring in the digital signal, with a control member, one of an absorption amplitude, an emission amplitude, a reflection amplitude, and any combinations thereof;
- converting the one of the absorption amplitude, the emission amplitude, the reflection amplitude, and the any combinations thereof to an absolute concentration;
- and
- comparing, with the control member, the absolute concentration against a stored value.
A method, comprising:
- transmitting, with a transmit antenna coupled to a microwave generator, an electromagnetic energy emission spectrum through a gas mixture;
- capturing, with a receive antenna spaced from the transmit antenna so that the gas mixture flows between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna, an electromagnetic energy difference between an electromagnetic energy emission spectrum transmitted from the transmit antenna and an electromagnetic energy emission spectrum being absorbed or reflected by gaseous molecules in the gas mixture;
- converting, with a receiver coupled to the receiver and/or transmit antenna, the electromagnetic energy difference into a digital signal;
- and
- determining, with a control member configured to process the digital signal, a concentration of gasses in the gas mixture based on an analysis of the electromagnetic energy difference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.