Gas analyzer
AssigneeLI-COR, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Furtaw, Robert D. Eckles, Georgiy G. Burba, Dayle K. McDermitt, Jonathan M. Welles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gas analyzer systems and methods for measuring concentrations of gasses and in particular dry mole fraction of components of a gas. The systems and method allow for rapid measurement of the gas density and/or dry mole fraction of gases for a number of environmental monitoring applications, including high speed flux measurements. A novel coupling design allows for tool-free removal of a cell enclosing a flow path to enable in field cleaning of optical components.
Claims21
A method of measuring dry mole fraction of components of a gas in a flow cell of a gas analyzer, the method comprising:
- flowing a gas through the flow cell;
- measuring an absorbance of light of a component of the gas in the flow cell;
- measuring a temperature, T1, proximate the flow cell;
- measuring a pressure, P, of the gas proximate the flow cell;
- determining a temperature T of the gas in the flow cell based on the temperature T1;
- and
- determining a dry mole fraction of the component of the gas based on the measured absorbance, P, and T.
A gas analysis system that measures dry mole fraction of components of a gas, the system comprising:
- a flow cell within which a gas is flowed from an inlet port to an outlet port;
- a light source configured to transmit light through the flow cell;
- a detector subsystem configured to output an absorbance signal representing an absorbance of light by the components of the gas in the flow cell;
- a temperature sensor located proximal to the flow cell and adapted to measure a temperature T1 proximal to the flow cell;
- a pressure sensor adapted to measure pressure proximal to the flow cell;
- and
- an intelligence module coupled with the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor and the detector subsystem, the intelligence module adapted to determine a temperature T of the gas in the flow cell based on the temperature T1, and to determine a dry mole fraction of the components based on the absorbance signal and the measurements of the pressure of the gas and of the temperature T of the gas in the flow.
A method of measuring dry mole fraction of components of a gas in a flow cell of a gas analyzer, the method comprising:
- flowing a gas through the flow cell;
- measuring an absorbance of light of a component of the gas in the flow cell;
- substantially simultaneously measuring a temperature, T1, proximal to the flow cell;
- substantially simultaneously measuring a pressure, P, of the gas proximal to the flow cell, wherein the measurements of the pressure, P, and the temperature, T1, are taken at a rate of about 1.0 Hz or faster;
- determining a temperature T of the gas in the flow cell based on the temperature T1;
- and
- determining a dry mole fraction of the component of the gas based on the measured absorbance, P, and T.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.