Determining the partial pressure of a gas, calibrating a pressure sensor
AssigneeFathom Systems Limited
InventorGareth Kerr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a method and system for determining the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in a pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to a level which is above local atmospheric pressure. The method comprises the steps of positioning a gas analysis sensor (14) within a pressure vessel (10); exposing the sensor to the mixture of gasses at the pressure level found in the pressure vessel; operating the sensor to measure the actual partial pressure of the at least one gas in the mixture contained in the vessel; and periodically calibrating the sensor by directing a calibrating gas mixture (20, 22) to the sensor in the chamber, the calibrating gas mixture being breathable by a human being.
Claims32
A method of determining the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in a pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to a level which is above local atmospheric pressure, in which the method comprises the steps of:
- positioning a gas analysis sensor within the pressure vessel;
- exposing the sensor to the mixture of gasses at the pressure level found in the pressure vessel;
- operating the sensor to measure the actual partial pressure of the at least one gas in the mixture contained in the vessel;
- and
- periodically calibrating the sensor by directing a calibrating gas mixture to the sensor in the chamber, the calibrating gas mixture being breathable by a human being.
A method of calibrating a gas analysis sensor used to measure the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in a pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to a level which is above local atmospheric pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the sensor within the pressure vessel;
- coupling the sensor to a calibrating assembly comprising a source of a calibrating gas mixture which is breathable by a human being, the source being located outside the vessel;
- and
- selectively operating the calibrating assembly to supply the calibrating gas mixture from the source to the sensor in the vessel, to calibrate the sensor.
A pressure vessel comprising a gas analysis system for determining the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in the pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to above local atmospheric pressure, in which the system comprises:
- a gas analysis sensor positioned within the pressure vessel and exposed to the mixture of gasses at the pressure level found in the pressure vessel, the sensor being operable to measure the actual partial pressure of the at least one gas in the mixture contained in the vessel;
- and
- a calibrating assembly for calibrating the sensor, the calibrating assembly comprising a source of a calibrating gas mixture which is breathable by a human being, the source being located outside the vessel, in which the calibrating assembly is operable to selectively supply the calibrating gas mixture to the sensor in the vessel to calibrate the sensor.
A gas analysis system for determining the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in a pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to above local atmospheric pressure, in which the system comprises:
- a gas analysis sensor adapted to be positioned within the pressure vessel and exposed to the mixture of gasses at the pressure level found in the pressure vessel, the sensor being operable to measure the actual partial pressure of the at least one gas in the mixture contained in the vessel;
- and
- a calibrating assembly for calibrating the sensor, the calibrating assembly comprising a source of a calibrating gas mixture which is breathable by a human being, the source adapted to be located outside the vessel, in which the calibrating assembly is operable to selectively supply the calibrating gas mixture to the sensor in the vessel to calibrate the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.