Apparatus for identifying a gas
AssigneeIndustrial Sceintific Corporation
InventorP. Richard Warburton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for identifying an unknown reactive gas in a carrier gas, utilizing a sensor with a diffusion limited inlet. The apparatus includes a manifold of predetermined volume having an inlet and outlet, an inlet valve in the manifold inlet, an outlet valve in the manifold outlet, a gas detector in communication with the manifold, a diffusion barrier disposed between the manifold and the gas detector for limiting diffusion of gas from the manifold into the gas detector, means for opening and closing the inlet and outlet valves, means for detecting an output signal from the gas detector, means for determining a coefficient of diffusion for the reactive gas from the output signal, and means for identifying and quantifying the reactive gas from the determined coefficient of diffusion.
Claims13
Apparatus for identifying and quantifying a reactive gas in a carrier gas, comprising:
- a manifold of predetermined volume having an inlet and outlet;
- an inlet valve in the manifold inlet;
- an outlet valve in the manifold outlet;
- a gas detector in communication with the manifold;
- a diffusion barrier disposed between the manifold and the gas detector for limiting diffusion of gas from the manifold into the gas detector;
- means for opening and closing the inlet and outlet valves;
- means for detecting an output signal from the gas detector;
- means for determining a coefficient of diffusion for the reactive gas from the output signal;
- and
- means for identifying and quantifying the reactive gas from the determined coefficient of diffusion.
Apparatus for determining a coefficient of diffusion for an unknown reactive gas in a carrier gas, to enable identifying and quantifying the unknown reactive gas, comprising:
- a manifold of predetermined volume having an inlet and outlet;
- an inlet valve in the manifold inlet;
- an outlet valve in the manifold outlet;
- a gas detector in communication with the manifold;
- a diffusion barrier disposed between the manifold and the gas detector for limiting diffusion of gas from the manifold into the gas detector;
- computer means for opening and closing the inlet and outlet valves;
- means for detecting an output signal from the gas detector;
- and
- means for determining a coefficient of diffusion for the reactive gas from the output signal, said means comprising computer means for memorizing steady state values for the output signal, computer means for generating and integrating an output signal vs. time curve for a time during which the inlet and outlet valves are closed and computer means for obtaining a diffusion constant for the reactive gas from a steady state output value for the reactive gas and the integrated output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.