Systems and methods for measuring electrolyte content in an electrochemical gas sensor

An apparatus for measuring electrolyte content in an electrochemical gas sensor, the apparatus comprising:

• a first separator material comprising a first separator material surface and a second separator material surface opposite the first separator material surface;
• a second separator material comprising a third separator material surface and a fourth separator material surface;
• a first electrode disposed on the first separator material surface;
• a second electrode disposed on the second separator material surface;
• a wick material comprising a first wick material surface and a second wick material surface opposite the first wick material surface;
• a third electrode disposed on the first wick material surface;
• electrolyte detection circuitry in communication with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein the electrolyte detection circuitry is configured to detect a presence of a selected gas in a gas sample contacting the first electrode;
• a fourth electrode disposed on the second wick material surface,
• wherein the third separator material surface is configured to be disposed on the third electrode,
• wherein the fourth separator material surface is configured to be disposed on the first wick material surface,
• wherein the second separator material comprises a first hydrophilic material, wherein the wick material comprises a second hydrophilic material, and wherein the first hydrophilic material is more hydrophilic than the second hydrophilic material, such that when the wick material and the second separator material are in contact and in an instance in which a volume of an electrolyte material decreases, the wick material dries out before the second separator material;
• and
• electrolyte content monitoring circuitry in communication with the third electrode and the fourth electrode, wherein the electrolyte content monitoring circuitry is configured to
• measure an impedance between the fourth electrode and the third electrode, and
• measure an electrical conductivity through the wick material based on the measured impedance.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for measuring electrolyte content in an electrochemical gas sensor, the method comprising:

• providing a first separator material comprising a first separator material top surface and a first separator material bottom surface opposite the first separator material top surface;
• disposing a first electrode on the first separator material top surface;
• disposing a second electrode on the first separator material bottom surface;
• providing a wick material comprising a wick material top surface and a wick material bottom surface opposite the wick material top surface;
• providing a third electrode facing the wick material top surface, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are configured to detect a presence of a selected gas in a gas sample contacting the first electrode;
• providing a second separator material comprising a second separator material top surface and a second separator material bottom surface;
• disposing the third electrode on the second separator material top surface;
• disposing the second separator material bottom surface on the wick material top surface;
• and
• disposing a fourth electrode on the wick material bottom surface,
• wherein the second separator material comprises a first hydrophilic material, wherein the wick material comprises a second hydrophilic material, and wherein the first hydrophilic material is more hydrophilic than the second hydrophilic material, such that when the wick material and the second separator material are in contact and in an instance in which a volume of an electrolyte material decreases, the wick material dries out before the second separator material.