High Temperature Carbon Monoxide Sensor for In-situ Combustion Monitoring

A high temperature carbon monoxide sensor comprising:

• (i) a housing having a first end and a second end and a middle section disposed between said first end of said housing and said second end of said housing, said housing having an external wall and an internal wall;
• (ii) a chamber having an internal wall and an external wall, and wherein said chamber having a first open end and a second open end and wherein the second open end of said chamber is opposite to said first open end of said chamber, and wherein said external wall of said chamber is surrounded at least in part by said internal wall of said housing;
• (iii) a first alumina tube having an external wall and an internal wall, said first alumina tube has a first open end and a second open end, and a middle section disposed between said first open end and said second open end of said first alumina tube, wherein at least a portion of said first alumina tube is located within said chamber;
• (iv) a thermocouple wherein at least a portion of said thermocouple is located within said chamber;
• (v) a sensor probe wherein said sensor probe is located within and is in sealed engagement with said second open end of said first alumina tube wherein said sensor probe comprises a first sensing electrode and a reference electrode, and a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface, and optionally a second sensing electrode, wherein said yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is disposed between (a) said first sensing electrode and (b) said reference electrode, or optionally wherein said yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is disposed between (a) said first sensing electrode and said second sensing electrode and (b) said reference electrode;
• (v) a porous ceramic element, wherein said porous ceramic element is located within said second open end of said chamber;
• and (vi) wherein said first sensing electrode is in communication with a first sensing electrode wire, wherein said second sensing electrode is in communication with a second sensing electrode wire, wherein said reference electrode is in communication with a reference electrode wire, and wherein a thermocouple wire is in communication with said thermocouple, and wherein at least a portion of each of said first sensing electrode wire, said second sensing electrode wire, said thermocouple wire, and said reference electrode wire are located in an interior of said middle section of said first alumina tube.

A high temperature carbon monoxide sensor system comprising:

• a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor comprising (i) a housing having a first end and a second end and a middle section disposed between said first end of said housing and said second end of said housing, said housing having an external wall and an internal wall;
• (ii) a chamber having an internal wall and an external wall, and wherein said chamber having a first open end and a second open end and wherein the second open end of said chamber is opposite to said first open end of said chamber, and wherein said external wall of said chamber is surrounded at least in part by said internal wall of said housing;
• (iii) a first alumina tube having an external wall and an internal wall, said first alumina tube has a first open end and a second open end, and a middle section disposed between said first open end and said second open end of said first alumina tube, wherein at least a portion of said first alumina tube is located within said chamber;
• (iv) a thermocouple wherein at least a portion of said thermocouple is located within said chamber;
• (v) a sensor probe wherein said sensor probe is located within and is in sealed engagement with said second open end of said first alumina tube wherein said sensor probe comprises a first sensing electrode and a reference electrode, and a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface, and optionally a second sensing electrode, wherein said yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is disposed between (a) said first sensing electrode and (b) said reference electrode, or optionally wherein said yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is disposed between (a) said first sensing electrode and said second sensing electrode and (b) said reference electrode;
• (v) a porous ceramic element, wherein said porous ceramic element is located within said second open end of said chamber;
• and (vi) wherein said first sensing electrode is in communication with a first sensing electrode wire, wherein said second sensing electrode is in communication with a second sensing electrode wire, wherein said reference electrode is in communication with a reference electrode wire, and wherein a thermocouple wire is in communication with said thermocouple, and wherein at least a portion of each of said first sensing electrode wire, said second sensing electrode wire, said thermocouple wire, and said reference electrode wire are located in an interior of said middle section of said first alumina tube;
• and (B) a data collector system comprising a first voltmeter, a second voltmeter, and a thermometer, and wherein said first sensing electrode is in communication with said first voltmeter via a first sensing electrode wire, wherein said second sensing electrode is in communication with said second voltmeter via said second sensing electrode wire, wherein said reference electrode is in communication with said first voltmeter and said second voltmeter via a reference electrode wire, and wherein a thermocouple wire is in communication with said thermocouple and said thermometer, and wherein a portion of each of said first sensing electrode wire, said second sensing electrode wire, and said thermocouple wire are located in an interior of said middle section of said first alumina tube.

A method of measuring carbon monoxide in a combustion process environment comprising using a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor system comprising (A) a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor comprising (i) a housing having a first end and a second end and a middle section disposed between said first end of said housing and said second end of said housing, said housing having an external wall and an internal wall;

• (ii) a chamber having an internal wall and an external wall, and wherein said chamber having a first open end and a second open end and wherein the second open end of said chamber is opposite to said first open end of said chamber, and wherein said external wall of said chamber is surrounded at least in part by said internal wall of said housing;
• (iii) a first alumina tube having an external wall and an internal wall, said first alumina tube has a first open end and a second open end, and a middle section disposed between said first open end and said second open end of said first alumina tube, wherein at least a portion of said first alumina tube is located within said chamber;
• (iv) a thermocouple wherein at least a portion of said thermocouple is located within said chamber;
• (v) a sensor probe wherein said sensor probe is located within and is in sealed engagement with said second open end of said first alumina tube wherein said sensor probe comprises a first sensing electrode and a reference electrode, and a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface, and optionally a second sensing electrode, wherein said yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is disposed between (a) said first sensing electrode and (b) said reference electrode, or optionally wherein said yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is disposed between (a) said first sensing electrode and said second sensing electrode and (b) said reference electrode;
• (v) a porous ceramic element, wherein said porous ceramic element is located within said second open end of said chamber;
• and (vi) wherein said first sensing electrode is in communication with a first sensing electrode wire, wherein said second sensing electrode is in communication with a second sensing electrode wire, wherein said reference electrode is in communication with a reference electrode wire, and wherein a thermocouple wire is in communication with said thermocouple, and wherein at least a portion of each of said first sensing electrode wire, said second sensing electrode wire, said thermocouple wire, and said reference electrode wire are located in an interior of said middle section of said first alumina tube;
• and (B) a data collector system comprising a first voltmeter, a second voltmeter, and a thermometer, and wherein said first sensing electrode is in communication with said first voltmeter via a first sensing electrode wire, wherein said second sensing electrode is in communication with said second voltmeter via said second sensing electrode wire, wherein said reference electrode is in communication with said first voltmeter and said second voltmeter via a reference electrode wire, and wherein a thermocouple wire is in communication with said thermocouple and said thermometer, and wherein a portion of each of said first sensing electrode wire, said second sensing electrode wire, and said thermocouple wire are located in an interior of said middle section of said first alumina tube.