A METHOD FOR TAKE A GAS SAMPLE USING A GAS SAMPLING PROBE AND FOR PERFORMING A LEAKAGE TEST OF A GAS DUCT OF THE GAS SAMPLING PROBE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for taking a gas sample from a gas in a gas container using a gas sampling probe and for carrying out a leak test of a gas channel of the gas sampling probe.

[0002] Gas sampling probes are used to extract a gas sample from a gas, particularly one that may be present in a gas container. The extracted gas sample can then be analyzed. For example, the analysis can be used to qualitatively and / or quantitatively determine certain substances in the gas. These substances may include, for example, substances that are hazardous to the environment or health.

[0003] Gas sampling probes can have a gas line containing a gas channel through which gas can flow. The gas line can have a gas inlet through which gas can be introduced into the gas channel. To take a gas sample from a gas using such a gas sampling probe, the gas line of the probe is inserted into the gas in such a way that gas can flow through the gas inlet into the gas channel. The gas flowing into the gas channel serves as the gas sample, which can then be analyzed as described above.

[0004] It is known to arrange adsorption material in the gas channel of such a gas sampling probe. Substances to be analyzed can be adsorbed from the gas by this adsorption material. For this purpose, the adsorption material is positioned in the gas channel near the gas inlet. The gas introduced into the gas channel through the gas inlet then flows through the adsorption material, whereby substances from the gas are adsorbed by the adsorption material.

[0005] Examples of systems with gas sampling probes are disclosed in documents US2012 / 261569A1, EP1324034A1, US5142143A, US2011 / 016950A1.

[0006] To analyze the substances adsorbed by the adsorption material, the gas line of the gas sampling probe is withdrawn from the gas, and the adsorption material is removed from the gas channel near the gas inlet. The removed adsorption material can then be analyzed for any adsorbed substances.

[0007] With this technology, it is crucial that all gas introduced into the gas channel through the gas inlet actually flows through the adsorption material. This is particularly important if the gas inlet is the only possible entry point into the gas channel. To verify this, a leak test is regularly performed on gas sampling probes of the type used. During this test, the gas line of the gas sampling probe is removed from the gas being tested, and the gas inlet is sealed with a plug. The gas channel is then pressurized using a gas pump. By measuring the resulting vacuum in the gas channel, it can be determined whether the gas inlet is indeed the only possible entry point for gas into the gas channel.

[0008] In principle, gas sampling probes designed in this way have proven effective for taking gas samples. However, a disadvantage is that the gas line must always be removed from the gas being analyzed in order to extract the adsorption material and analyze any adsorbed substances. Furthermore, it is also a disadvantage that the gas line must always be removed from the gas being analyzed to perform leak tests.

[0009] The invention is based on the objective of providing a gas sampling probe in which the gas line does not need to be removed from the gas being analyzed in order to extract adsorption material arranged in the gas channel of the gas line for analysis. A further objective of the invention is to provide a gas sampling probe in which the gas line does not need to be removed from the gas being analyzed in order to perform a leak test of the gas channel of the gas line.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a gas container with such a gas extraction probe attached to it.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for taking a gas sample using such a gas sampling probe.

[0012] To solve this problem, the invention discloses a method for taking a gas sample from a gas in a gas container using a gas sampling probe and for performing a leak test of a gas channel of the gas sampling probe, comprising the following steps: providing a gas container comprising a gas-confining wall; providing a gas sampling probe comprising: 1.1 a gas line comprising a gas channel formed in the gas line through which a gas can flow; 1.2 a gas inlet through which a gas can be introduced into the gas channel; 1.3 an adsorption material arranged downstream of the gas inlet in the gas channel; 1.4 a valve by which the gas channel can be shut off between the gas inlet and the adsorption material; 1.5 a gas pump by which the gas channel can be pressurized, wherein the gas channel is connected to the gas pump downstream of the adsorption material; 1.6. A pressure measuring device by which the gas pressure in the gas channel can be measured; attachment of the gas sampling probe to the wall of the gas container such that the section of the gas line on which the gas inlet is located is in the gas; guiding the gas through the gas inlet into the gas channel and through the adsorption material located in the gas channel; sealing off the gas channel between the gas inlet and the adsorption material by means of the valve; applying a vacuum to the section of the gas channel downstream of the valve by means of the gas pump; determining the vacuum in the section of the gas channel downstream of the valve by means of the pressure measuring device.

[0013] A fundamental aspect of the invention is to arrange the adsorption material downstream of the gas inlet in the gas channel and simultaneously provide a valve through which the gas channel between the gas inlet and the adsorption material can be shut off. This makes it possible, firstly, to remove the adsorption material from the gas channel without having to remove the gas line from the gas being analyzed beforehand. Secondly, it allows for a leak test of the gas channel without having to remove the gas line from the gas being analyzed beforehand. Instead, to remove the adsorption material from the gas channel, the section of the gas line located in the gas being analyzed can remain in that gas, while the adsorption material, located downstream of the gas inlet in the gas channel, can be removed from the gas channel.In particular, it may be provided that the valve blocks the gas channel between the gas inlet and the adsorption material while the adsorption material is being removed from the gas channel.

[0014] Furthermore, the leak test can be carried out very simply by closing the gas channel between the gas inlet and the adsorption material with the valve and then determining the vacuum in the gas channel downstream of the valve. For this purpose, with the valve closed, the section of the gas channel downstream of the valve is pressurized by a gas pump and the vacuum in this section of the gas line is measured simultaneously.

[0015] The gas pipeline can, in principle, be in the form of any gas pipeline known from the prior art, i.e., a pipeline in which a gas channel is formed through which a gas can flow or be conveyed. In this respect, the gas pipeline can, for example, consist of one or more pipes or hoses for conveying a gas. Preferably, the gas pipeline is designed such that an exhaust gas, in particular a combustion gas, can be conveyed through it. In this respect, the gas pipeline is preferably designed such that a hot gas and / or a corrosive gas can be conveyed through it. In this respect, it is preferably provided that the gas pipeline consists of a heat-resistant and / or non-corrosive material, in particular metal (preferably steel or a steel alloy), glass, or ceramic. The gas pipeline is particularly preferably made of metal and / or glass.

[0016] The gas channel formed in the gas pipeline can, in principle, have any cross-section. Preferably, the gas channel has a circular cross-section. This has the advantage that gas can flow very uniformly, and in particular laminarly, through the gas channel.

[0017] The gas pipeline has a gas inlet designed to allow gas to be introduced or flow into the gas channel. Preferably, the gas inlet is designed as an opening at the end of the gas pipeline.

[0018] Gas introduced into the gas channel through the gas inlet can subsequently flow through the gas channel. "Downstream" in the context of the present invention therefore means in the direction of flow of a gas introduced into the gas channel through the gas inlet and flowing through the gas channel. In this respect, for example, the expression "downstream of the gas inlet" refers to the direction of gas flow downstream of the gas inlet.

[0019] The gas inlet is formed in a section of the gas line designed for placement within a gas. This gas is a gas from which a sample can be taken using the gas sampling probe according to the invention. By forming the gas inlet in such a section of the gas line designed for placement within a gas, this section of the gas line can be placed within a gas, and gas from this gas can flow into the gas channel of the gas line via the gas inlet. This section of the gas line is preferably designed such that it can be placed within an exhaust gas, particularly a combustion gas. In this respect, this section of the gas line can preferably be designed such that it can be placed within a hot gas and / or a corrosive gas.In this respect, this section of the gas pipeline may preferably consist of a heat-resistant and / or non-corrosive material, in particular a metal (especially a steel or a steel alloy).

[0020] Downstream of the gas inlet, i.e., in the direction of gas flow through the gas inlet into the gas duct, an adsorption material is arranged within the gas duct. This adsorption material is designed to adsorb at least one substance from a gas, in particular to absorb any environmentally or health-hazardous substances in the gas flowing through the gas duct. These substances may include, for example, one or more of the following: at least one heavy metal (especially mercury), dioxins, or furans. Specifically, the adsorption material may be designed to adsorb mercury.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the adsorption material is designed as a bulk material, i.e., as a free-flowing or pourable material, particularly in the form of a mixture of grains. In this respect, the adsorption material can, for example, be in the form of granules, particularly in the form of grits. In particular, the adsorption material can be designed as a bulk material through which a gas can flow. In this case, the adsorption material designed as a bulk material has a grain size such that it is permeable to gas.

[0022] In principle, any substance can be used as the adsorption material, provided that one or more substances, with respect to which the gas sample taken via the gas sampling probe is to be analyzed, can be adsorbed. In this respect, a suitable adsorbate can be used for each substance to be analyzed. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the adsorption material is carbon. The particular advantage of carbon as an adsorption material lies in the fact that a very large number of substances can be adsorbed by carbon, including, for example, mercury. In particular, the adsorption material can be carbon, which, as described above, can be in the form of a bulk material.

[0023] Preferably, the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged in the gas channel of the gas line is completely filled with the adsorption material. In other words, the gas channel, or rather the flow cross-section of the gas channel, in the section of the gas line where the adsorption material is arranged is completely filled with the adsorption material. This has the particular advantage that it ensures that all the gas flowing through the gas channel passes through the adsorption material, or, in the case of a bulk form, through the adsorption material, so that the substances in the gas that can be adsorbed by the adsorption material can be very effectively adsorbed by the adsorption material.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the adsorption material is arranged in a section of the gas line that is removable from the gas line. This section of the gas line is therefore detachable from the gas line or separable from the sections of the gas line adjacent to it, and thus removable from the gas line. This has the particular advantage that the adsorption material can be easily removed from the gas probe for subsequent analysis of the adsorbed substances. According to a preferred further development of this invention, this removable section can also be reinserted into the gas line.This has the particular advantage that new adsorption material, which has not yet adsorbed any substances to be analyzed, can be very easily reintroduced into the gas line, and the gas sampling probe is therefore quickly ready for use again after the adsorption material to be analyzed has been removed from it, in order to take another gas sample.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the adsorption material is arranged in a section of the gas line made of glass. This has the particular advantage that any undesirable reaction between the adsorption material and the glass is excluded, since glass reacts with practically no other material and is therefore practically inert. Consequently, practically no substances from the glass can be adsorbed by the adsorption material and thus distort any analysis of the adsorption material. For example, soda-lime glass can be used for this section, but laboratory glass, especially borosilicate glass, is preferred.

[0026] The glass section of the gas line containing the adsorption material can, for example, be designed as a tube, i.e., a glass tube. This tube can be connected to the subsequent sections of the gas line via connecting elements. In this respect, connecting elements known from the prior art for joining tubes or tube sections can be used. For example, the glass section of the gas line containing the adsorption material can be connected to the subsequent sections of the gas line via connecting elements in the form of push-fit or screw connections. To ensure gas tightness in the area of ​​these connecting elements, suitable seals can be provided, such as sealing rings, in particular O-rings.

[0027] The valve through which the gas channel between the gas inlet and the adsorption material can be shut off can, in principle, be any valve according to the prior art by which a gas line or a gas channel within a gas line can be shut off. For example, the valve could be a needle valve or a ball valve. Preferably, the valve is a solenoid valve, i.e., an electromagnetically actuated valve. This has the advantage that the valve is particularly simple, especially electrically actuated.

[0028] The gas sampling probe includes a mounting device for attaching the gas sampling probe to a wall of a gas cylinder. This makes attaching the gas sampling probe to a gas cylinder wall particularly easy.

[0029] A gas container within the meaning of the invention can, in principle, be any device through which a gas can be stored or conducted, in particular an exhaust gas, especially a combustion gas. The wall of the gas container, to which the gas extraction probe can be attached via the fastening means, defines a corresponding gas, i.e., an interior space for receiving the gas that can be stored or conducted by the gas container. In particular, the gas container can be in the form of an exhaust gas line, especially a combustion gas line. In this respect, the gas extraction probe can, in particular, comprise a fastening means for attaching the gas extraction probe to a wall of an exhaust gas line, especially a combustion gas line.

[0030] According to the invention, the fastening means is designed such that the gas sampling probe can be attached to the wall via the fastening means in such a way that the section of the gas line on which the gas inlet is located is situated inside the gas container. This has the particular advantage that the gas sampling probe can be attached to the wall of the gas container particularly easily via the fastening means in such a way that the gas inlet is located inside the gas container and thus gas in the gas container, from which a sample is to be taken by the gas sampling probe, can readily flow through the gas inlet into the gas channel of the gas line of the gas sampling probe and thus a sample can be taken from the gas by the gas sampling probe.According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the fastening means is designed such that the gas sampling probe can be attached to the wall of the gas container via the fastening means in such a way that the section of the gas line where the gas inlet is located is arranged inside the gas container, and the section of the gas line where the adsorption material is arranged is arranged outside the gas container. This has the particular advantage that the adsorption material can be removed from the gas line very easily, especially without having to remove the gas line from the gas container beforehand. Removal of the adsorption material is particularly easy if the gas sampling probe, as described above, is designed such that the adsorption material is arranged in a section of the gas line that is removable from the gas line.Following further development of this design, it is intended that the gas sampling probe can be attached to the wall using the mounting hardware in such a way that the valve is located outside the gas cylinder. This has the particular advantage that the valve is not affected by any hot or aggressive gases in the gas cylinder, and the gas sampling probe can therefore be operated with very little maintenance. A further advantage is that the valve is particularly easy to operate.

[0031] The gas extraction probe comprises a gas pump through which the gas channel can be pressurized, the gas channel preferably being connected to the gas pump downstream of the adsorption material. In other words, the gas channel leads downstream of the adsorption material to a gas pump through which the gas channel can be pressurized.

[0032] A gas pump can be any type of pump capable of pumping gas and thus creating a vacuum in the gas channel. For example, a bellows pump could be used as the gas pump.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the gas sampling probe can include a heating element by which the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged can be heated. In this respect, for example, heating elements can be arranged in the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged, by which this section of the gas line can be heated. These heating elements can, for example, be resistance heating elements.

[0034] Such heating agents have the particular advantage that the formation of condensate in the section of the gas line where the adsorption material is located can be prevented by heating this section. This has the advantage that, by avoiding condensate in the area of ​​the adsorption material, impaired adsorption by the adsorption material due to condensate can be prevented.

[0035] In one embodiment, the gas sampling probe comprises a casing by which the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged can be at least partially enclosed. For example, this casing can be cylindrical, such as a metal casing. This casing can, for example, have a substantially circular cylindrical shape that surrounds the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged. In a further development, the interior of this casing can be heated, in particular by heating elements designed as described above. By heating the interior of the casing and simultaneously arranging the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is located within the interior of the casing, this section can be heated very effectively.

[0036] According to one embodiment, at least a section of the gas line is guided within the wall of such an enclosure. For example, an enclosure, particularly a cylindrical enclosure, can have an end cap in which a section of the gas line is formed. For example, such a section of the gas line formed in a cap of the enclosure can be configured for connection to the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged, in particular a removable section as described above.In one embodiment, the lid of the casing is designed such that it can be attached to the casing in such a way that, in its attached position, it holds a section of the gas line, in which the adsorption material is arranged and which is removable from the gas line, in a secure position within the gas line, and allows the removal of this section from the gas line when the lid is released. For example, a section of the gas line can be arranged in the lid of the casing that can be connected to the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged.

[0037] According to the invention, the gas sampling probe further comprises a pressure measuring device by which the gas pressure in the gas channel can be measured. Such a pressure measuring device can, in principle, be any device known from the prior art by which a gas pressure in a gas line can be measured. Preferably, the pressure measuring device measures the gas pressure in the gas line downstream of the valve.

[0038] In one embodiment, the gas sampling probe can include a flow meter by which the gas flow in the gas channel can be measured. This flow meter can be any flow meter from the prior art by which a gas flow in a gas line can be measured.

[0039] Preferably, the gas flow in the gas line downstream of the valve can be measured using the flow measuring device.

[0040] The particular advantage of such a pressure measuring device and such a flow measuring device lies in the fact that the gas pressure and gas flow rate in the gas channel can be measured while gas is flowing through it. This makes it possible to determine the total quantity of gas that has flowed through the gas channel. Based on this determination of the quantity of gas flowing through the gas channel, as well as the analysis, in particular the quantitative analysis, of a substance adsorbed by the adsorption material, the concentration of this substance in the gas being analyzed can be determined.

[0041] A gas pump that can create a vacuum in the gas channel offers two main advantages. First, the vacuum created by the gas pump draws gas into the gas channel through the gas inlet, allowing the gas to be analyzed to flow through the adsorption material. Second, the gas pump is used to perform a leak test of the gas sampling probe. For this purpose, the valve is closed, and the gas channel downstream of the valve is vacuum-charged using the gas pump. By simultaneously measuring the vacuum in this section of the gas channel using a pressure gauge, which is also part of the gas sampling probe, the leak tightness of the gas channel can be verified.

[0042] The invention also relates to a gas container comprising a wall that confines a gas, wherein a gas sampling probe according to the invention is attached to the wall.

[0043] This gas container could be a gas container as described above, for example, a combustion gas line.

[0044] Particularly preferably, the gas sampling probe can be attached to the wall of the gas container by means of fastening means, as described above, such that the section of the gas line on which the gas inlet is located is arranged inside the gas container. According to a further preferred embodiment, as described above, the section of the gas line in which the adsorption material is arranged can be located outside the gas container, and even more preferably, as described above, the valve can also be located outside the gas container. The invention further relates to a method for taking a gas sample from a gas in a gas container, which comprises the following steps: Providing a gas container comprising a gas-limiting wall; providing a gas extraction probe according to the invention; attaching the gas extraction probe to the wall of the gas container such that the section of the gas line on which the gas inlet is arranged is located in the gas; directing the gas through the gas inlet into the gas channel and through the adsorption material arranged in the gas channel.

[0045] A gas pump is used to direct the gas through the gas channel. As previously explained, this pump can be part of the gas sampling probe. In this respect, the gas is directed through the gas inlet into the gas channel and through the adsorption material located within the gas channel by applying a vacuum to the gas channel using such a gas pump. Furthermore, as previously explained, the gas pressure and / or the gas flow rate in the gas channel can be measured simultaneously in order to subsequently determine the concentration of a substance adsorbed by the adsorption material in the gas to be analyzed. The gas container can be, in particular, a gas container designed as described above, such as, for example, a combustion gas line.

[0046] The gas sampling probe can be attached to the wall of the gas container, as previously described.

[0047] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the accompanying figures, and the associated figure descriptions. All features of the invention can be combined individually or in combination in any way desired.

[0048] Two embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description of the figures.

[0049] This shows Figure 1 shows a schematic first embodiment of a gas sampling probe in a side sectional view; Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a gas sampling probe in a perspective view from above; Figure 3 shows the gas sampling probe according to Figure 2 in a perspective side view; Figure 4 the gas sampling probe according to Figure 2 in a perspective view from an oblique angle above; Figure 5 the gas sampling probe according to Figure 2 in a sectional view according to section line AA in Figure 3Figure 6 shows a section of the sectional view according to Figure 5 in an enlarged representation; Figure 7 shows a further section from the sectional view according to Figure 5 in an enlarged view; and Figure 8 a detail of the illustration according to Figure 3 , on which partially internal components, not recognizable in the perspective view, are depicted.

[0050] The in Figure 1 The gas sampling probe shown is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 1. The gas sampling probe 1 comprises a gas line 10, an adsorption material 20, and a valve 30.

[0051] Gas pipeline 10 comprises sections 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3, which are fluidically connected. Section 10.1 of gas pipeline 10 is designed as a cylindrical pipe made of temperature- and corrosion-resistant steel. Furthermore, this section 10.1 of gas pipeline 10 is designed for installation in a gas flow.

[0052] Section 10.1 of the gas line is connected to section 10.2, which is designed as a glass tube made of laboratory glassware. Section 10.2 is inserted into section 10.1 of the gas line 10, with a gas-tight connection being ensured by a rubber O-ring 11. An adsorption material 20 in the form of carbon granules is arranged in section 10.2. To prevent the adsorption material 20 from trickling out of the glass tube 10.2, the lateral openings 12, 13 of the glass tube 10.2 are constricted. Section 10.3 of the gas line 10 is connected to section 10.2 and consists of an angled metal tube. The glass tube 10.2 is inserted into section 10.3 in the same way as the connection with section 10.1, and this connection is again sealed by a rubber O-ring 14.

[0053] Due to these plug connections, section 10.2 is removable and arranged within the gas line 10. Furthermore, this section 10.2 can be easily reinserted into the gas line using the plug connection. Sections 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 of the gas line 10 form a gas channel 15 through which gas can flow. Section 10.1 of the gas line 10 includes a gas inlet 16 in the form of an end opening at the end opposite the end where section 10.2 is inserted into section 10.1 of the gas line 10. Gas can be introduced into the gas channel 15 through the gas inlet 16. The valve 30 is arranged on section 10.1 of the gas channel 10 and is designed such that the gas channel 15 can be shut off by the valve 30 between the gas inlet 16 and the adsorption material 20. Valve 30 is designed as a needle valve that is electromagnetically actuated.

[0054] The gas channel 15 is connected downstream of the adsorption material 20 via section 10.3 of the gas line 10 to a gas pump 40.

[0055] Furthermore, the gas sampling probe 1 has a pressure measuring device 50 by which the gas pressure in the gas channel 15 can be measured. The gas pressure in section 10.3 of the gas line 10, located downstream of the adsorption material 20, can be measured by the pressure measuring device 15.

[0056] Furthermore, the gas sampling probe 1 includes a flow measuring device 60, through which the gas flow in the gas channel 15 can be measured. The gas flow in section 10.3 of the gas line 10, located downstream of the adsorption material 20, can be measured by the flow measuring device 15.

[0057] The gas sampling probe 1 is arranged on a wall 70 of a gas container in the form of a combustion gas line (not shown). The wall 70 delimits a gas G.

[0058] Due to its construction from a temperature- and corrosion-resistant steel, section 10.1 of the gas line 10 is designed for installation in the gas G. The gas sampling probe 10 is attached to the wall 70 in such a way that section 10.1 of the gas line 10, on which the gas inlet 60 is located, passes through the wall 70 and is partially immersed in the gas G. Simultaneously, the gas sampling probe 1 is attached to the wall 70 in such a way that the remaining components of the gas sampling probe 1 are located outside the gas G and / or outside the gas container.

[0059] To extract a gas sample from gas G using the gas sampling probe 1, the gas channel 15 is pressurized by the gas pump 14. This draws a portion of the gas through the gas inlet 16 into the gas channel 15 in the gas line 10. This gas sample initially flows through the gas channel 15 in section 10.1, then through one open end of section 10.2 into section 10.2, and within this section 10.2 through the adsorption material 20 located therein. The gas then flows out of section 10.2 through the opposite end 13 into the section of the gas channel 15 formed in section 10.3 of the gas line 10. After passing through the gas pump 40, the gas flowing through the gas channel 15 is released into the environment.While the gas is passed through the gas channel 15, the gas pressure and gas flow rate in the gas channel 15 are continuously measured by means of the pressure measuring device 50 and the flow measuring device 60.

[0060] As the gas 15 flows through the adsorption material 20 in the form of coal grit, the adsorption material 20 adsorbs substances from the gas. For example, the adsorption material 20 adsorbs any mercury present in the gas.

[0061] After gas has been passed through the gas channel for a certain period of time, pump 40 is switched off, gas channel 15 is closed by means of valve 30, and then section 10.2 of gas line 10, in the form of the glass tube, is removed from gas line 10. The proportion of mercury adsorbed by the adsorption material 20 is then quantitatively determined. Furthermore, the amount of gas flowing through gas channel 15 is determined by measuring the gas pressure and gas flow rate. Using these measurements, the concentration of mercury in the gas G can be determined.

[0062] To perform a leak test of the gas sampling probe 1, the gas channel 15 is closed by means of the valve 30, and then the gas channel 15 downstream of the valve 30 is pressurized by the pump 40. Simultaneously, the gas pressure in the gas channel 15 downstream of the valve 30 is measured. This allows it to be determined whether the gas line 10 is gas-tight in this section and thus ensures that the entire quantity of gas passing through the gas channel 15 flows through the adsorption material 20.

[0063] An alternative embodiment of a gas sampling probe according to the invention is described in the Figures 2 to 8 depicted.

[0064] Specifically, in the Figures 2 to 8An embodiment of a device 100 is shown, comprising two gas sampling probes 110, 210. The two gas sampling probes 110, 210 are essentially identical in construction and arranged parallel to each other in the device 100. This redundant arrangement of two gas sampling probes 110, 210 serves to compare the measurement results obtained by the respective gas sampling probes 110, 210 and thereby to assess their significance.

[0065] The following section will primarily describe the gas sampling probe 110 in more detail, whereby the redundant gas sampling probe 210 built in the device 100 is essentially identical in construction.

[0066] The gas sampling probe 101 comprises a gas line 110, which includes three sections 110.1, 110.2, and 110.3. Section 110.1 is designed as a cylindrical tube made of a temperature- and corrosion-resistant steel.

[0067] Section 110.2 is designed as a glass tube made of laboratory glass.

[0068] Section 110.3 is designed as a multiply angled metal tube, which runs partially inside the lid 301 of a casing 300 which is explained in more detail below.

[0069] An adsorption material 120 in the form of coal grit is arranged in the glass tube 110.2.

[0070] A needle valve 130 is arranged between section 110.1 and section 110.2 of gas line 110. Section 110.1 is inserted into a connecting element 116, which is fluidically coupled to the needle valve 130. Section 110.1 is sealed against the connecting element 116 by rubber O-rings. Similarly, section 110.2 is inserted into a connecting element 117, which is also fluidly coupled to the needle valve 130. Section 110.2 is sealed against the connecting element 117 by O-rings 111. The glass tube 110.2 is largely enclosed by a casing 300. The casing 300 is designed as a substantially tubular metal body and can be closed on one longitudinal side by a cover 301. On the side opposite the lid 301, the covering 300 is attached to a retaining plate 400, which in turn is attached to a metal plate 500.Three resistance heating elements 600 are arranged on the casing 300, by which the interior space I enclosed by the casing 300 can be heated. This allows the section 110.2 of the gas line 110, which is largely enclosed by the casing 300 and in which the adsorption material 120 is arranged, to be heated by the resistance heating elements 600.

[0071] The end of section 110.2 opposite the end of section 110.2 that is inserted into the connecting element 117 is coupled to section 110.3 of the gas line 110. The connection to this section 110.3 of the gas line is formed in the cover 301 of the casing 300, in which the connecting piece to this section 110.3 of the gas line 110 is arranged. The cover 301 is screwed to the casing 300 by wing nuts 302. When the cover 301 is screwed in place, section 110.2 is fluidically connected to section 110.3 of the gas line 110 via the connection formed in the cover 301.

[0072] The gas sampling probe 110 further comprises a fastening element 700 for attaching the gas sampling probe 101 to a wall of a gas container. This fastening element 700 is designed in the form of a flange plate which is screwed onto an angled section 501 of the sheet 500. Section 110.1 of the gas line 110 is guided through this flange plate 700.

[0073] At the end of section 110.1 opposite the end where section 110.1 is inserted into the connecting element 116, section 110.1 has a gas inlet 116. The gas inlet 116 opens into the gas channel 115, which is formed in the gas line 110. Sections 110.1, 110.2, and 110.3 of the gas line 110 are fluidically connected to each other in such a way that they together form the gas channel 115.

[0074] The gas canal 110l between the gas inlet 116 and the adsorption material 120, which is located in section 110.2 of the gas line 110, can be shut off by the valve 130.

[0075] The gas sampling probe 201 is constructed accordingly and comprises a gas line 210 with three sections 210.1, 210.2, and 210.3. Section 210.1 is connected to the valve 230 via a connecting element 216, and section 210.2 is also connected to the valve 230 via a connecting element 217. The casing 300 also encloses section 210.2 of the gas line 210, which is designed as a glass tube and contains the adsorption material 220. Section 210.1 is guided through the flange plate 701 and has a gas inlet 216 at its free end leading into the gas channel 215 formed in the gas line 210.

[0076] To attach the two gas extraction probes 101, 201 to a wall of a gas container, the flange plate 700 can be connected to a flange plate 701, which is located on the wall of a gas container, to form a flange connection between the flange plates 700, 701. With such an attachment to the wall of a gas container, the sections 110.1, 210.1 of the gas lines 110, 210 of the gas extraction probes 101, 201, on which the respective gas inlet 116, 216 is located, are situated in the gas enclosed by the wall of the gas container. Simultaneously, the remaining components of the gas extraction probes 101, 201 are located outside the gas container.

[0077] Furthermore, as explained above, gas pumps can be connected to sections 110.3 and 210.3 of the gas lines 110 and 210 to allow gas to be conveyed through the gas inlets 116 and 216 into the gas lines 110 and 210 and through the respective gas channels 115 and 215. For this purpose, sections 110.3 and 210.3 have screw connections 118 and 218 to which a suction line with a gas pump can be connected.

[0078] Furthermore, the sections 110.2, 210.2 of the gas lines 110, 210, designed as glass tubes, are removable from the respective gas lines 110, 210. To remove these sections 110.2, 210.2, the cover 301 is detached from the casing 300 by loosening the wing nuts 302. The glass tubes 110.2, 210.2 can then be pulled out of the connecting elements 117, 217. The adsorption material 120, 220 arranged in the glass tubes 110.2, 210.2 can then be analyzed.

Claims

1. A method for taking a gas sample from a gas in a gas container by means of a gas sampling probe and for testing a tightness of a gas conduit of the gas sampling probe, including the following steps: 1.1 providing a gas container, including a gas-confining wall (70); 1.2 providing a gas sampling probe (1) comprising: 1.2.1 a gas line (10), comprising a gas conduit (15) which is configured in the gas line (10) and through which a gas can flow; 1.2.2 a gas inlet (16) through which a gas can be introduced into the gas conduit (15); 1.2.3 an adsorption material (20) arranged in the gas conduit (15) downstream of the gas inlet (16); 1.2.4 a valve (30) by means of which the gas conduit (15) can be closed off between the gas inlet (16) and the adsorption material (30); 1.2.5 a gas pump (40) by means of which negative pressure can be applied to the gas conduit (15), wherein the gas conduit (15) is connected to the gas pump (40) downstream of the adsorption material (20); 1.2.6 a pressure-measuring device (50) by means of which the gas pressure in the gas conduit (15) can be measured; 1.3 fastening the gas sampling probe to the wall (70) of the gas container in such a manner that the section (10.1) of the gas line (10) in which the gas inlet (16) is arranged is arranged in the gas; 1.4 conducting the gas through the gas inlet (16) into the gas conduit (15) and through the adsorption material (20) arranged in the gas conduit (15); 1.5 closing off the gas conduit (15) between the gas inlet (16) and the adsorption material (20) by means of the valve (30); 1.6 applying negative pressure to the section of the gas conduit (15) that lies downstream of the valve (30) by means of the gas pump (40); 1.7 determining the negative pressure in the section of the gas conduit (15) that lies downstream of the valve (30) by means of the pressure-measuring device (50).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption material (20) takes the form of bulk material.

3. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the adsorption material (20) is arranged in a section (10.2) of the gas line (10) that is arranged in the gas line (10) in a removable manner.

4. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the adsorption material (20) is arranged in a section (10.2) of the gas line (10) that is made of glass.

5. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas inlet (16) is arranged in a section (10.1) of the gas line (10) that is configured to be arranged in a gas.

6. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas sampling probe further comprises a fastening means for fastening the gas sampling probe (1) to a wall (70) of a gas container.

7. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means is configured in such a manner that the gas sampling probe (1) can be fastened to the wall (70) by the fastening means in such a manner that the section (10.1) of the gas line (10) in which the gas inlet (16) is arranged is arranged inside the gas container.

8. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas sampling probe further comprises heating means by means of which the section (10.2) of the gas line (10) in which the adsorption material (20) is arranged can be heated.

9. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas sampling probe further comprises a casing by means of which the section (10.2) of the gas line (10) in which the adsorption material (20) is arranged can be encased at least in sections.

10. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas sampling probe further comprises a flowmeter (60) by means of which the gas flow in the gas conduit (15) can be measured.