Single piece silver/palladium cell for adjusting or measuring a level of hydrogen and methods therefor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorR. Christopher Witt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a silver/palladium (AgPd) cell for adjusting or measuring a level of hydrogen in a high pressure environment, a high temperature environment, and/or an environment incompatible with stainless steel. The inventive cell includes a hollow diffusion tube of a AgPd alloy operably associated with a hollow connecting member and a connected tube, also operably associated with the hollow connecting member. The cell is operable in environments having a pressure of up to 3,600 p.s.i.
Claims14
A AgPd cell for adjusting or measuring a level of hydrogen in an environment outside said cell, said cell comprising:
- a) a hollow diffusion tube made of a AgPd alloy, said diffusion tube having a closed end and an open end;
- b) a hollow connecting member having first and second ends, said first end being operably associated with said open end of said hollow diffusion tube;
- and
- c) a hollow connecting tube operably associated with said second end of said hollow connecting member, wherein said cell is operable at pressures up to and including about 3,600 p.s.i.
A method of measuring a level of hydrogen in an environment outside a AgPd cell, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing the AgPd cell comprising
- i) a hollow diffusion tube made of AgPd alloy, said diffusion tube having a closed end and an open end,
- ii) a hollow connecting member having first and second ends, the first end being operably associated with the open end of the hollow diffusion tube, and
- iii) a hollow connecting tube operably associated with the second end of the hollow connecting member,
- iv) a pressure sensor for measuring a level of hydrogen, the pressure sensor operably associated with the hollow connecting tube;
- and
- b) measuring a level of hydrogen in an environment outside the AgPd cell by allowing hydrogen to diffuse into or out of the AgPd cell, wherein the environment has a pressure up to and including 3,600 p.s.i.
A method of adjusting a level of hydrogen in an environment outside a AgPd cell, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing the AgPd cell comprising
- i) a hollow diffusion tube made of AgPd alloy, said diffusion tube having a closed end and an open end,
- ii) a hollow connecting member having first and second ends, the first end being operably associated with the open end of the hollow diffusion tube, and
- iii) a hollow connecting tube operably associated with the second end of the hollow connecting member,
- iv) a pressure sensor for measuring a level of hydrogen, the pressure sensor operably associated with the hollow connecting tube;
- and
- b) measuring a level of hydrogen in an environment outside the AgPd cell by allowing hydrogen to diffuse into or out of the AgPd cell, wherein the environment has a pressure up to and including 3,600 p.s.i.
- c) increasing or decreasing the level of hydrogen in an environment outside the AgPd cell by increasing or decreasing the level of hydrogen from a regulated hydrogen source to the AgPd cell, wherein the environment is at pressures up to and including about 3,600 p.s.i.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.