Chemical species analyzer
OwnerRoxane F. Morrison, Wayne B. Woodinventors
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Abstract
A chemical sensing system senses a concentration of a chemical of interest in a fluid. A portion of the chemical of interest diffuses across a barrier into an electrolyte. The barrier can be one or more polymeric hollow fibers. Electrodes or other sensing devices are disposed within the electrolyte. The electrolyte is selected such that it undergoes regenerative chemical reaction as it is exposed to the chemical of interest and the electrodes. The concentration of the chemical of interest can be determined by measuring a property of the electrolyte, such as current flowing through the electrolyte.
Claims17
A chemical sensor for measuring a chemical of interest, the sensor comprising:
- a body having an inlet and an outlet, the body defining a chamber therein, the chamber being at least partially filled with an electrolyte;
- at least one fiber defining a flow passageway in fluidic communication with the inlet and the outlet, the at least one fiber being adapted to pass a portion of the chemical of interest into the electrolyte;
- and
- a plurality of electrodes disposed in the electrolyte.
An instrument for measuring a chemical of interest, the instrument comprising:
- an electrochemical sensor having a regenerative electrolyte disposed therein;
- at least one hollow fiber adapted to carry sample fluid through the electrochemical sensor;
- and
- a transmitter coupled to the electrochemical sensor, the transmitter adapted to calculate a concentration of the chemical of interest sensed by the electrochemical sensor.
A method of measuring a concentration of a chemical of interest, the method comprising:
- passing a quantity of a sample fluid through a hollow fiber having a porous wall;
- diffusing a portion of the sample fluid across the porous wall into an electrolyte;
- and
- measuring an electrical parameter of the electrolyte with a plurality of electrodes disposed within the electrolyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.