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US 6,306,285 B1Granted
Techniques for sensing methanol concentration in aqueous environments
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsSekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Thomas I. Valdez
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Abstract
An analyte concentration sensor that is capable of fast and reliable sensing of analyte concentration in aqueous environments with high concentrations of the analyte. Preferably, the present invention is a methanol concentration sensor device coupled to a fuel metering control system for use in a liquid direct-feed fuel cell.
Claims31
A method for detecting a methanol-compound concentration in an aqueous environment, comprising:
- using a sensor element probe a liquid analyte solution including methanol to produce a sensor response, said sensor element including an anode, a solid electrolyte membrane and a cathode, wherein said sensor element includes a catalyst which is capable of chemically reacting with methanol;
- immersing both the anode and the cathode in the liquid analyte solution;
- using an electrical power supply having a positive terminal and a negative terminal to supply power to said sensor element, wherein said positive terminal is connected electrically to said anode and said negative terminal is connected electrically to said cathode;
- and
- connecting an analyte concentration sensing device to said sensor element for detecting a response of said sensor element to said analyte, said device being connected electrically to said sensor element and said power supply and detecting an amount of current consumed thereby.
2 more elements
A method for detecting an analyte concentration in an aqueous environment, comprising:
- using a sensor element to contact an analyte solution including methanol to produce a sensor response, wherein said sensor element includes a first anode, a first solid electrolyte membrane and a first cathode;
- immersing both said first anode and said first cathode in the analyte solution at a certain temperature;
- using a reference element to produce a reference response indicating a temperature, wherein said reference element is connected electrically to said first sensor element, said reference element including a second anode, a second solid electrolyte membrane and a second cathode;
- immersing both said second anode and said second cathode in a reference solution at the same temperature as said analyte solution;
- connecting a power supply to said sensor element and said reference element;
- and
- using an analyte concentration sensing device to detect a response of said sensor element to said methanol, said device being connected electrically to said sensor element, said reference element and said power supply.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.