Ammonia sensor and system for use
AssigneeRenal Solutions, Inc.
InventorStephen R. Ash
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ammonia gas sensing device includes a housing defining a fluid flow path. The fluid flow path includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an access port. A gas permeable/liquid impermeable membrane is mounted on and sealed against the housing at the access port such that the membrane is exposed to the fluid flow path but fluid is blocked from flowing outward of the access port around rather than through the membrane. An ammonia sensor is mounted on the housing at the access port in a position outward of the membrane. A system for using the ammonia sensing device includes the ammonia gas sensing device, a light source directed at the ammonia sensor, a photo detector to measure the light reflected off the ammonia sensor from the light source, and a controller for controlling the light source and optical sensor.
Claims50
An ammonia gas detecting device comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid flow path including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an access port, the fluid flow path having first and second sections intersecting at a corner and the access port being located at the corner;
- a gas permeable/liquid impermeable membrane mounted on the housing at the access port such that the membrane is exposed to the fluid flow path;
- a seal installed between the membrane and the housing to block fluid from flowing outward of the access port around rather than through the membrane;
- and
- an ammonia sensor mounted on the housing at the access port in a position outward of the membrane.
An ammonia gas detecting device comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid flow path including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an access port, the fluid flow path having first and second sections intersecting at a corner and the access port being located at the corner and comprising a cylindrical counterbore with a shoulder surface extending radially inward;
- a gas permeable/liquid impermeable membrane installed in the counterbore such that the membrane is exposed to the fluid flow path and has an outer edge extending over the shoulder surface;
- an ammonia sensor installed in the counterbore in a position outward of the membrane;
- and
- a cylindrical lens installed in the counterbore in a position outward of the ammonia sensor such that a compressive force is exerted by and between an outer edge of the lens and the shoulder surface to seal the outer edge of the membrane against the shoulder surface and thereby to block fluid from flowing outward of the access port around rather than through the membrane.
A system for monitoring the ammonia gas level in a fluid comprising:
- a) a housing including:
- i) a fluid flow path including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an access port,
- the fluid flow path having first and second sections intersecting at a corner and the access port being located at the corner;
- ii) a gas permeable/liquid impermeable membrane mounted on the housing at the access port such that the membrane is exposed to the fluid flow path;
- iii) a seal installed between the membrane and the housing to block fluid from flowing outward of the access port around rather than through the membrane;
- and
- iv) an ammonia sensor mounted on the housing at the access port in a position outward of the membrane;
- b) a light source directed at the ammonia sensor
- c) a photo detector operative to measure light reflected off the ammonia sensor from the light source;
- and
- d) a controller operative to cause the light source to emit light toward the ammonia sensor and to monitor an output from the photo detector.
A system for monitoring the ammonia gas level in a fluid comprising:
- a) an ammonia gas detecting device comprising:
- i) a housing defining a fluid flow path including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet,
- and an access port, the fluid flow path having first and second sections intersecting at a corner and the access port being located at the corner and comprising a cylindrical counterbore with a shoulder surface extending radially inward;
- ii) a gas permeable/liquid impermeable membrane installed in the
- counterbore such that the membrane is exposed to the fluid flow path and has an outer edge extending over the shoulder surface
- iii) an ammonia sensor installed in the counterbore in a position outward of the membrane;
- and
- iv) a cylindrical lens installed in the counterbore in a position outward of the ammonia sensor such that a compressive force is exerted by and between an outer edge of the lens and the shoulder surface to seal the outer edge of the membrane against the shoulder surface and thereby to block fluid from flowing outward of the access port around rather than through the membrane;
- b) a light source directed at the ammonia sensor;
- c) a photo detector operative to measure light reflected off the ammonia sensor from the light source;
- and
- d) a controller operative to cause the light source to emit light toward the ammonia sensor and to monitor an output from the photo detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.