Immersion sensor for determining chemical composition of molten metal

An immersion sensor for determining the content of a chemical element in molten metal, the immersion sensor comprising:

• a sensor head located on the distal end of a carrier tube;
• a sampling chamber having an internal volume formed in a refractory structure;
• an inlet channel extending between the internal volume of the sampling chamber and a volume external to the immersion sensor;
• and
• an auxiliary electrochemical cell extending from an interior surface of the sampling chamber into the internal volume of the sampling chamber;
• wherein the immersion sensor is configured for the flow of molten metal from the external volume, through the inlet channel, into the internal volume of the sampling chamber, and into contact with the auxiliary electrochemical cell, wherein the inlet channel extends from a lateral interior surface of the sampling chamber to a lateral exterior surface of the sensor head, an aperture in the carrier tube being aligned with the inlet channel to provide the fluid communication between the internal volume of the sampling chamber and the volume external to the immersion sensor, and wherein the sampling chamber is disposed in an interior lumen of the carrier tube;
• wherein the sensor head comprises a refractory material of construction and the sampling chamber is integrally-formed in the sensor head and located proximal to a distal end of the sensor head.