Setting method for a gas analysis device by means of a response function

Abstract

The invention relates to a setting method (100) for a gas analysis device (10), in which at least one first response factor (28) for a first substance sample component (21) is determined by means of a calibration gas mixture (15). Based thereon, a first response function (31) is determined. Furthermore, a device parameter data set (25) having at least one device parameter (26) is detected and linked to the first response function (31). Proceeding from the first response function (31) a second response function (32) for a second substance sample component (22) is determined by means of a transfer function (30). The first and the second response functions (31, 32) are specified as measurement operation parameters (45). The transfer function (30) can be set based on the device parameter data set (25). The invention further relates to a correspondingly designed computer program product (65) and to an evaluation unit (60) equipped with same. The invention also relates to a gas analysis device (10) having such an evaluation unit (60), and to a system (50) to which such a gas analysis device (10) belongs.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Setting method for a gas analysis device using a response function

[0003] The invention relates to a setting method for a gas analysis device and a computer program product designed therefor. The invention also relates to an evaluation unit designed to implement such a setting method. The invention further relates to a gas analysis device equipped with such an evaluation unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for determining a composition of a substance sample with a higher-level control unit designed to at least partially carry out the underlying setting method.

[0004] European patent EP 3 276 342 B1 discloses a method for calibrating a gas chromatograph. Calibration mixtures containing components in known concentrations are used. Relative response factors (RRFs) are determined and compared with universal relative response factors (uRRFs). The universal relative response factors are unchangeable.

[0005] The application WO 2021 / 081553 A1 discloses a method for calibrating a gas sensor, in which ambient conditions in the region of the gas sensor are determined. Furthermore, initial calibration factors are determined that describe the sensitivity of the gas sensor to an analyte to be measured.

[0006] Gas analysis devices are used in a wide variety of applications in the chemical industry, raw material extraction, and research. To achieve high measurement accuracy, the specification of precise response factors is essential. At the same time, there is a need to accelerate and simplify the calibration of gas analysis devices. There is a need for a calibration method that offers an improvement in at least one of these aspects.

[0007] The problem is solved by an adjustment method according to the invention which is suitable for calibrating a gas analysis device, adjusting its settings and / or validating it. The adjustment method is carried out on a gas analysis device which comprises a detector which is designed to output a measurement signal which is a measure of a detected substance sample component. The substance sample component belongs to a substance sample which is supplied as a calibration gas mixture or as an operating substance sample. The gas analysis device can be adjusted via a plurality of device parameters and can be operated with the corresponding setting. The device parameters can, among other things, specify a measurement behavior of the detector.The adjustment method comprises a first step in which the gas analysis device is provided and at least a first response factor for a first substance sample component is determined. For this purpose, a calibration gas mixture is used which is supplied to the gas analysis device. The first response factor can, for example, describe in a chromatogram a relationship between an area under a curve of the measurement signal at the detector and the concentration of the first substance sample component. The curve of the measurement signal is generated in response to the detection of the first substance sample component. Furthermore, in the first step, a first response function is determined based on the first response factor. The first response factor represents a point on a graph which represents the first response function.For example, the first response function can be a straight line through a coordinate zero point, which can already be completely described with the first response factor as a point on the straight line. Alternatively or additionally, the first step can also be performed multiple times. In each case, different calibration gas mixtures with different concentrations of the first sample component are used, and a value for the first response factor is determined in each case. These are combined in the first step to determine the first response function.

[0008] The setting method according to the invention further comprises a second step in which a device parameter data set z is acquired. The device parameter data set z comprises a plurality of device parameters by which the operation of the gas analysis device is predetermined, in particular during the first step. The device parameter data set z consequently comprises at least one existing device parameter. The device parameter data set z is linked to the first response function, which is determined in the first step.

[0009] The claimed setting method also includes a third step in which a second response function for a second substance sample component is determined. The second response function correspondingly defines a relationship as to how the detector reacts to a second substance sample component. The second response function is determined on the basis of the first response function and a transfer function. The transfer function at least partially represents a relationship between the first and second response functions. According to the invention, the transfer function can be set using the device parameter data set. The transfer function can, for example, be designed as a polynomial having coefficients that are predetermined by device parameters in the device parameter data set.

[0010] Furthermore, the adjustment method according to the invention comprises a fourth step in which at least the second response function is specified as a measurement operating parameter for the gas analysis device. Alternatively, the first and second response functions can also be specified as measurement operating parameters for the gas analysis device in the fourth step. The measurement operating parameters specify how the measurement signals are to be evaluated by the detector, i.e., which concentration of a substance sample component is present in a supplied operating sample for which measurement signal.

[0011] The adjustment method according to the invention makes it possible to calibrate the gas analysis device on the basis of a reduced number of comparisons between the calibration gas mixture and measurement signals from the detector. As a result, the gas analysis device can be calibrated using simpler calibration gas mixtures which have a reduced number of sample components. Accordingly, calibration gas mixtures can be used which are particularly stable in their composition and can therefore be stored for extended periods. Furthermore, additional calibration processes for further sample components are eliminated. Such calibration processes often require user intervention, which in turn leads to an increased susceptibility to errors. The adjustment method according to the invention has an increased degree of automation and is therefore particularly safe against operating errors.The adjustment of a gas analysis device is simplified, accelerated, and made more reliable overall by the adjustment method according to the invention. Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be applied to any number of identical gas analysis devices. Individual adjustment of the adjustment process, particularly for calibrating the gas analysis device, is unnecessary.

[0012] In one embodiment of the claimed setting method, the transfer function is designed as a multi-dimensional transformation whose number of dimensions corresponds to the number of device parameters in the device parameter data set. Accordingly, the device parameters can be specified independently of one another, and a precise transformation can be carried out for each conceivable set of device parameters, by means of which transformation at least the second response function can be determined. The claimed setting method can therefore be initiated in any setting of the gas analysis device. A dedicated calibration setting of the gas analyzer via a corresponding device parameter data set is unnecessary. This also simplifies and accelerates the setting of the gas analysis device. The transfer function can be parameterized by coefficients, for example for a polynomial and / or a matrix.Furthermore, the transfer function can comprise a multi-dimensional array, in particular an array whose number of dimensions corresponds to the number of device parameters in the device data parameter data set. The transfer function can be designed as at least a two-dimensional function, preferably as an at least three-dimensional function, particularly preferably as at least a four-dimensional function. The transfer function can be specified by experimental testing on an identically constructed gas analysis device for different device parameters. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer function can be specified by simulation of the gas analysis device, for example by means of a digital twin or a model.The claimed adjustment method is based, among other things, on the finding that tolerance-related deviations between identical gas analysis devices are so small that a corresponding transfer function can be transferred between different examples of the gas analysis devices. Likewise, the claimed adjustment method is based on the finding that the operating behavior of gas analysis devices, in particular their detectors, can be simulated in digital twins with such a high degree of realism that their results are suitable for adjusting real gas analysis devices.

[0013] Furthermore, in the claimed setting method, the second response function can be determined starting from the first response function at least partially using a universal relative response function, in particular a second universal relative response function. The second universal relative response function represents a relationship between the first and second response functions in a reference state. The second universal relative response function can be designed as a universal relative response factor, as described in more detail in EP 3 276 342 A1, for example. The disclosure content of EP 3 276 342 A1 is incorporated into the present application by reference. Alternatively, the second universal relative response function can also be designed as a corresponding function, for example if the first and / or second response function is a function of second or higher degree.In the reference state, there is a first reference response function for the first sample component, which is linked to a second reference response function for the second sample component via the first universal relative response function. Using the transfer function, the first reference response function can be converted into the first response function depending on the existing device parameter data set. Analogously, a second, third, etc. reference response function can also be converted into the corresponding second, third, etc. response function depending on the existing device parameter data set. The claimed setting method thus makes it possible to use known universal relative response factors or known universal relative response functions independently of the existing device parameter data set.The quality of the gas analysis device's adjustment is thus more data-based, less prone to error, and less dependent on the user's experimental skills. The use of cost-intensive reference materials, which are available only from a few sources, such as approved testing institutes, is reduced. Likewise, compared to state-of-the-art solutions, the need for complex global logistics and trained personnel for proper handling of the reference materials is reduced.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the claimed adjustment method, the calibration gas mixture used in the first step is free of the second sample component. The second response function for the second sample component is thus determined without this being physically present during the adjustment method. The second sample component can be a toxic, harmful, flammable or explosive gas. Alternatively, the second sample component can be a gas whose long-term, stable storage in a calibration gas cylinder is complex. In particular, the second sample component can be chemically reactive with the first sample component, i.e., it can, for example, spontaneously convert with the first sample component to form another substance.The claimed adjustment method therefore allows response functions to be specified as measurement operating parameters of sample components whose actual handling requires increased effort or caution, without actually requiring such complex handling from the user. The second sample component can therefore be selected independently of its hazardousness and / or a compatibility condition with the first sample component. Overall, the claimed adjustment method serves to adjust the gas analysis device independently of the calibration gas mixture. Accordingly, the claimed adjustment method allows the use of calibration bottles with harmless and stable calibration gas mixtures without impairing the functional versatility of the gas analysis device.In particular, calibration gas mixtures which are not available for seasonal reasons, have only a small content due to their dew point, or require complex thermostatting during transport, are unnecessary with the claimed adjustment method.

[0015] In addition, the first and / or second response function can be designed as a linear function, in particular as a zero-point line, as a quadratic function or as a cubic function. Further alternatively, the first and / or second response function can also be functions, in particular polynomial functions, of the fourth or higher degree. Alternatively or additionally, the first and / or second response function can also be designed as sectionally chained functions. Such response functions are described, depending on their concentration, by different functions which are chained together according to their ranges of validity. The claimed setting method makes it possible to form a coupling or the transfer function even between complex response functions.The computational handling of even higher-dimensional transformations of polynomial functions is algebraically feasible and can be implemented even with reduced computing power. The claimed adjustment method can therefore also be implemented on existing gas analysis devices with simple hardware, for example, as part of a software update.

[0016] Furthermore, in the third step of the claimed adjustment method, a third response function for a third substance sample component can be determined and specified as a measuring operation parameter in the fourth step. The third response function can be determined starting from the first response function in combination with the transfer function. In particular, a universal relative response function can be used which describes a relationship between the first and third response functions in the reference state. By means of the transfer function, the response functions between the current state, which is specified by the device parameters, and the reference state can be converted, i.e. transferred. The claimed adjustment method can therefore be easily transferred to a large number of substance sample components. The calibration gas mixture can be free of the third substance sample component.After carrying out the claimed adjustment method, the underlying gas analysis device is also suitable for determining a concentration of the third sample component in the operating sample. The functional range of the gas analysis device can thus be expanded to include a large number of different operating samples based on data. The claimed adjustment method is therefore scalable and allows the technical potential of existing gas analysis devices to be exploited in a simplified manner. In particular, the number of response functions that are specified as measurement operating parameters in the fourth step can exceed the number of components in the calibration gas mixture. The calibration gas mixture can therefore be a particularly simple gas mixture made up of non-toxic, chemically stable, non-volatile substances that only show a reduced tendency to demixing and / or have stable temperature characteristics.Accordingly, the calibration gas mixtures used in the claimed adjustment method can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner. The claimed adjustment method is suitable for adjusting the gas analysis device even for measuring operations with complex operating substance samples. In particular, the claimed adjustment method dissolves the previous relationship according to which adjusting a gas analysis device is all the more complex the more complex the operating substance sample to be measured. Because the claimed adjustment method is essentially data-based, the handling of hazardous substances is reduced. In particular, in the claimed adjustment method the number of response functions specified in the fourth step can be at least ten, preferably at least 14, particularly preferably at least 17.The claimed adjustment method is therefore suitable for replacing calibration procedures that must be performed in known solutions with multiple calibration gas mixtures. At the same time, the susceptibility to errors when adjusting the gas analysis device is reduced.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the claimed setting method, the device parameters can include a sample temperature, a sample pressure, an ambient pressure, a detector voltage, a dosing specification, an amplification factor, a detector response function, a physical property of at least one sample component, a chemical property of at least one sample component, a thermal conductivity of at least one sample component, its ionization cross section and / or structure-related information of the gas analysis device. Each of these device parameters influences an expected response function and thus also an expected measurement signal, for example a chromatogram. In particular, a change in the amount of substance to be determined can occur as a result of the sample pressure and / or an ambient pressure.Furthermore, a dosing specification determines the absolute amount of a substance sample, and thus also of a substance sample component, that reaches the detector. An increased dosing can result in a so-called peak width in a chromatogram. For example, an increase in the detector voltage can be used to increase sensitivity in order to still be able to determine weak measurement signals quantitatively. The signal response can change from linear to non-linear behavior depending on the amplification factor and signal level. The device parameters can be adjustable continuously or in steps. The device parameters can be used as input values ​​for the operation of a digital twin of the gas analysis device. The transfer function can be at least partially determined by simulating the operating behavior of the gas analysis device using the digital twin.

[0018] Furthermore, the claimed adjustment method can comprise a fifth step in which a measuring operation is carried out with the gas analysis device. The measuring operation is carried out based on the response functions that are specified as measuring operation parameters in the fourth step. During the measuring operation, an operating substance sample is fed to the gas analysis device, and the concentrations of the sample components present therein are determined. In the fifth step, corresponding measurement data are determined and stored, i.e., stored at least temporarily.

[0019] The described embodiment of the setting method also includes a sixth step in which the measurement data from the fifth step is used as input for a machine learning algorithm. The measurement data determined in the fifth step is fed to the machine learning algorithm, which is used to operate it. The machine learning algorithm is designed to further develop the transfer function, for example by determining changed coefficients for the multi-dimensional array that belongs to the transfer function. The machine learning algorithm can be designed, for example, as artificial intelligence, in particular as a neural network or as generative artificial intelligence. The measurement data can, for example, form a training data set by means of which the machine learning algorithm is further trained.Furthermore, the machine learning algorithm can be carried out on a higher-level control unit which is coupled to the gas analysis device via a communicative data connection. In the sixth step, a modified transfer function is determined using the machine learning algorithm. The modified transfer function can be made available for a renewed execution of the claimed setting method. The renewed execution can be a verification and / or adjustment of the settings of the gas analysis device. Alternatively or additionally, the claimed setting method can also be carried out again on a different gas analysis device. The modified transfer function can, for example, be transmitted to the other gas analysis device via the higher-level control unit. The two gas analysis devices can be of identical design.Machine learning algorithms are particularly effective at automatically developing, i.e., refining, parameter sets through machine learning. The claimed adjustment method is thus suitable for evaluating measurement data from a plurality of gas analysis devices and further developing the underlying transfer function. As a result, the measurement accuracy of a large number of gas analysis devices can be quickly and automatically increased during ongoing measurement operations.

[0020] Furthermore, the claimed adjustment method can comprise a seventh step in which a comparison value for at least one response factor for the second substance sample component is determined, and a comparison response function is determined based on the comparison value. For this purpose, essentially analogously to the first step, at least one response factor for the second substance sample component is determined using a calibration substance sample which contains the second substance sample component in a known concentration and is stored at least temporarily as a comparison value. A comparison response function is determined on the basis of the comparison value or values. For example, a single comparison value is sufficient to determine the comparison response function if the response function for the second substance sample is a zero-point straight line.

[0021] The claimed adjustment method further comprises an eighth step in which a deviation between the comparison response function and the second response function is determined. The deviation can, for example, be a difference in gradient factors of the second response function and the comparison response function if these are each zero-point straight lines. Analogously, the deviation can be any difference in coefficients of arbitrary polynomial functions, depending on the degree of the second response function and the comparison response function. The deviation is further compared with a limit value and a warning is issued if the deviation exceeds the limit value in terms of magnitude. The limit value can, analogously to the deviation, also be a set of limit values ​​for coefficients of polynomial functions.The seventh and eighth steps essentially act as a counter-check to determine whether the response functions specified in the fourth step are realistic, i.e. plausible. The claimed setting method is therefore suitable for self-monitoring. The warning which is issued when the limit value is exceeded can be issued to the user and / or a data interface. In particular, the warning can be issued to the higher-level control unit via the data interface. The higher-level control unit can be set up to interrupt operation of the gas analysis device and / or intervene in an associated plant process when a warning is issued. The claimed setting method therefore increases the achievable process reliability of a plant process in which an appropriately set gas analysis device is integrated.Likewise, the detection of a deviation can be used to identify an unintentional control intervention by a user and / or to detect tampering or attempted tampering with the gas analysis device. The claimed method thus offers an increased degree of safety and security.

[0022] Furthermore, in the claimed setting method, at least one of the steps from the third to the eighth step can be carried out on the higher-level control unit, which is connected to the gas analysis device via a communicative data connection. The higher-level control unit can be a master computer, an operator station and / or a computer cloud on which the claimed setting method is at least partially carried out. Computationally intensive steps, such as further training of the machine learning algorithm and / or determining the modified transfer function, can be outsourced to correspondingly powerful hardware platforms. The claimed setting method is designed to be functionally divisible, so that it can also be implemented on existing gas analysis devices that only have reduced computing capacity.The additional measurement accuracy and versatility achievable with the adjustment method can be implemented on a wide variety of existing gas analyzers. This extends the technically feasible service life of these gas analyzers and thus increases their sustainability. Likewise, the functional divisibility of the claimed adjustment method allows a plurality of gas analysis devices to be operated under centralized control. Among other things, modified transfer functions can be used more quickly on the individual gas analysis devices. For example, centralized updates make consistent operation of a plurality of gas analysis devices easier to implement. Furthermore, the functional range of the gas analysis device can be expanded, for example by coupling the gas analysis device with a predictive emissions monitor.

[0023] The underlying problem is also solved by a computer program product according to the invention which is designed to receive and process measured values ​​of response factors. The computer program product is further designed to determine response functions, for example based on the received measured values. The computer program product is designed according to the invention to carry out at least one of the setting methods described above. The features of the underlying setting method are therefore readily transferable to the claimed computer program product. The computer program product can be monolithic, i.e. for execution on a single hardware platform.Alternatively, the computer program product can be modular, i.e. it can comprise a plurality of subprograms that are executed on different hardware platforms and interact via at least one communicative data connection. Furthermore, the computer program product can be partially or entirely implemented as software. Likewise, the computer program product can be at least partially hard-wired, for example as an integrated circuit, chip or FPGA. Furthermore, the computer program product can be a combination thereof. The computer program product can be a remanent memory, i.e. for example a hard disk, a solid-state drive and / or an optical data carrier, on which corresponding code is stored as a programming language and / or machine-executable code.

[0024] The object described at the outset is also achieved by an evaluation unit according to the invention. The evaluation unit is designed to determine the composition of a substance sample, in particular a calibration gas mixture and / or an operating substance sample. The substance sample is fed to a gas analysis device. The composition of the substance sample is determined based on a plurality of response functions for the respective substance sample components that are present in the substance sample. The evaluation unit is further designed to specify the response functions that are to be used during measuring operation. For this purpose, the evaluation unit is equipped with a computer program product. The computer program product is designed according to one of the embodiments outlined above.The features of the computer program product, and consequently also of the underlying adjustment method, are thus transferable analogously to the claimed evaluation unit. The evaluation unit belongs to the gas analysis device and is coupled at least to its detector via a communicative data connection. The evaluation device can be designed, in particular, to receive and evaluate measurement signals from the detector.

[0025] The problem set out above is also solved by a gas analysis device according to the invention. The gas analysis device is designed to determine the composition of a substance sample, in particular a calibration gas mixture or an operating substance sample, which has a plurality of substance sample components. The gas analysis device has at least one detector and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The at least one detector can be designed as a thermal conductivity detector, a flame ionization detector, a nitrogen-phosphorus detector, an electron capture detector, a mass spectrometer, a photometer and / or a Raman photometer. The gas analysis device can be operated in an adjustable manner via a plurality of device parameters. According to the invention, the evaluation unit of the gas analysis device is designed according to one of the embodiments set out above.The features of the evaluation unit, and thus also of the associated computer program product and the adjustment method implemented thereby, can be transferred analogously to the gas analysis device. The gas analysis device can be designed, for example, as a gas chromatograph or as a continuous gas analyzer, also called a continuous gas analyzer (CGA for short).

[0026] Furthermore, the object outlined above is achieved by a system according to the invention for determining a composition of a substance sample, in particular a calibration gas mixture or an operating substance sample, which comprises a plurality of substance sample components. The system has a higher-level control unit which is connected via a communicative data connection to an evaluation unit which also belongs to the system according to the invention. The higher-level control unit is set up to determine at least a second response function based on a first response function. For this purpose, the higher-level control unit in the system according to the invention is designed to carry out at least the third step in a setting method according to one of the embodiments set out above.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to individual embodiments in the figures. The figures are to be read as complementary to one another in that identical reference numerals in different figures have the same technical meaning. Furthermore, the individual features of the embodiments shown in the figures can also be combined with one another and with the features outlined above. They show in detail:

[0028] FIG 1 shows a schematic structure of a claimed gas analysis device on which a first embodiment of the claimed adjustment method is carried out;

[0029] FIG 2 is a schematic representation of a stage of a second embodiment of the claimed adjustment method;

[0030] FIG 3 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the claimed adjustment method. FIG 1 schematically shows a claimed gas analysis device 10 on which a first embodiment of the claimed adjustment method 100 is carried out. The gas analysis device 10 is designed as a gas chromatograph 11 and comprises a separation device 12 in which a supplied calibration gas mixture 15 or a supplied operating substance sample 16 can be separated into its respective substance sample components 21, 22, 23 or calibration gases 18. The separation device 12 thus comprises at least one separation column. The gas analysis device 10 is designed to determine the composition 17 of the operating substance sample 16, i.e. the concentrations of the first, second and third substance sample components 21, 22, 23 contained therein, in a normal measuring operation.The gas analysis device 10 further comprises a detector 20 which is connected to the separation device 12. The detector 20 is designed to output measurement signals 29 which represent a measure of the concentration, i.e. the substance quantity fraction, of the detected first, second or third substance sample components 21, 22, 23. The measurement signals 29 can be processed by the evaluation unit 60, which is equipped for this purpose with a subprogram 66 of a corresponding computer program product 65. The gas analysis device 10 can be adjusted via a plurality of device parameters 26 which, in combination, form a device parameter data set 25. The device parameters 26 can, for example, be specified by a user and can determine, among other things, the operating behavior of the detector 20.

[0031] In a first step 110 of the setting method 100, the gas analysis device 10 is prepared and the calibration gas mixture 15 is supplied. The calibration gas mixture 15 comprises the first substance sample component 21 in a known concentration and also further calibration gases 18. The first substance sample component 21 is separated from the calibration gases 18 by the separation device 12 and reaches the detector 20, which outputs a measurement signal 29 to the evaluation unit 60 depending on its concentration in the device parameters 26. Based on this, at least a first response factor 28 for the first substance sample component 21 is determined. The response factor 28 indicates a quantitative relationship between the concentration of the first substance sample component 21 in the calibration gas mixture 15 and the associated measurement signal 29 from the detector 20.The first response factor 28 is a point on the graph of a first response function 31 for the first sample component 21. The first response function 31 forms a zero-point straight line and is thus completely characterized by the first response factor 28 alone.

[0032] The setting method 100 also includes a second step 120, in which the first response function 31 is linked to the device parameter data set 25. For this purpose, in the second step 120, the existing device parameter data set 25 is acquired and stored at least temporarily. The linking records which device parameters 26 are present when the first and second steps 110, 120 are carried out. Based on this, a third step 130 of the claimed setting method 100 is carried out.

[0033] In the third step 130, a second response function 32 is determined for a second substance sample component 22, the concentration of which is to be determined in the operating substance sample 16, but which is not present in the calibration gas mixture 15. For this purpose, in the third step 130, a reference response function 51 is recorded, which can be stored, for example, in the computer program product 65. The reference response function 51 describes a response function for the first substance sample component 21 in a reference state. Furthermore, a second universal relative response function 52 is determined. The second universal relative response function 52 is characterized by a first relative function 35. The reference response function 51 and the second universal relative response function 52 are both linear functions, in particular zero-point lines, so that the first relative function 35 is an angle difference or a straight line gradient difference.The second universal relative response function 52 represents the expected response behavior, i.e. the response behavior, of the detector 20 in reaction to the second sample component 22 when it reaches the detector 20 and the reference state is present.

[0034] Furthermore, in the third step 130, a transfer function 40 is applied which essentially allows a conversion from the reference state into the state of the gas analysis device 10 which is predetermined by the device parameters 26 in the device parameter data set 25, and / or vice versa. The transfer function 40 allows a multi-dimensional transformation. The number 42 of dimensions of the transfer function 40 corresponds to the number of device parameters 26 in the device parameter data set 25. The multi-dimensionality of the transfer function 40 is symbolized in FIG. 1 by the tesseract symbol. Furthermore, the transfer function 40 is defined, i.e. set, by the device parameters 26 in the device parameter data set 25. The transfer function 40 comprises a coefficient set 44 which is stored in a correspondingly multi-dimensional array.Accordingly, based on the first response function 31 and the transfer function 40, the second response function 32 is determined for the second sample component 22. The second response function 32 corresponds to the concentration-dependent response behavior, i.e., the response behavior of the detector 20 when the second sample component 22 reaches the detector 20 in the state specified by the device parameters 26 in the existing device parameter data set 25. The gas analysis device 10 can thus be calibrated with respect to the second sample component 22 without the second sample component 22 being present in the calibration gas mixture 15.

[0035] Furthermore, in the third step 130, a third response function 33 for a third substance sample component 23 is determined. This is done analogously to the second response function 32, starting from the reference response function 31 for the first substance sample component 21. A third universal relative response function 53 is used, which is defined by a second relative function 36. The third assumed relative response function 53 is a second-degree polynomial function, so that the second relative function 36 describes a variable difference compared to the reference response function 51. The third universal relative response function 53 describes an expected response behavior of the detector 20 in the reference state when the third substance sample component 23 reaches the detector 20.Analogously, the transfer function 40 is also used to describe the difference between the reference state on which the application of the third universal relative response function 53 is based and the state specified by the device parameters 26 in the present device parameter data set 25. The third response function 33, which is determined on the basis of this in the third step 130, describes the expected response behavior of the detector 20 in the present state of the gas analysis device 10 as a result of the device parameter data set 25 when the third substance sample component 33 reaches the detector 20. Correspondingly, the gas analysis device 10 can be calibrated with regard to the third substance sample component 23 without the calibration gas mixture 15 containing it.

[0036] The setting method 100 further comprises a fourth step 140 in which the first, second and third response functions 31, 32, 33 are provided as measurement operating parameters 45 and specified to the evaluation unit 60. By specifying the measurement operating parameters 45, a measurement operation is set in which the operating substance sample 16 is fed to the gas analysis device 10 and its composition 17 is determined by the gas analysis device 10. The determined composition 17 can be output via a display unit 62 and / or a data interface 64.

[0037] The second and third steps 120, 130 of the adjustment method 100 are carried out in the embodiment shown in FIG 1 on a higher-level control unit 70 which is connected to the evaluation unit 60 via a communicative data connection 48. The higher-level control unit 70 is provided with a subprogram 66 of the computer program product 65, which also includes the subprogram 66 on the evaluation unit 60. The subprograms 66 interact via the communicative data connection 48 and are designed to carry out the adjustment method 100. The gas analysis device 10 and the higher-level control unit 70 belong to a system 50 for determining a composition 17 of a substance sample 15, 16 which is fed to the gas analysis device 10.

[0038] A second embodiment of the claimed adjustment method 100 is shown schematically in one stage in FIG 2. In the first step 110 of the adjustment method 100, the gas analysis device 10 (not shown in detail) is provided and a first response factor 28 is determined which belongs to a first response function 31. The first response function 31 is designed as a zero-point straight line so that it can already be completely described by the first response factor 28. The gas analysis device 10 can be calibrated with regard to the first substance sample component 21 by the first response function 31. The first substance sample component 21 is contained in a calibration gas mixture 15 (not shown in detail). Furthermore, in a second step 120, a device parameter data set 25 with a plurality of device parameters 26 is acquired. The operation of the gas analysis device 10 can be adjusted using the device parameters 26.The device parameters 26 in the device parameter data set 25 describe in which setting the gas analysis device 10 is operated during the setting procedure 100.

[0039] A reference response function 51 is available for the first sample component 21, which, in a reference state of the gas analysis device 10, calibrates it with respect to the first sample component 21. In the reference state, a reference device parameter data set 27 is available, which can be understood as an idealized state. This is symbolized in FIG. 2 by the identical values ​​for the device parameters 26. A plurality of universal relative response functions 52, 53, 54 for a second, third, fourth, etc. sample component 22, 23, 24 are coupled to the reference response function 51. For each of the universal relative response functions 52, 53, 54, there is a relative function 35, 36, 37 that defines a reference to the reference response function 51. The second universal relative response function 52, like the reference response function 51, is a zero-point line.The first relative function 35 defines that there is an angular difference between the reference response function 51 and the second universal relative response function 52, i.e., their graphs. This also applies analogously to the relationship between the reference response function 51 and the third universal relative response function 54. The third universal relative response function 53 is designed as a second-order function, so that the second relative function 36 is a function that varies across the possible concentration spectrum. Accordingly, the second relative function 36 represents a computational relationship between the graphs of the third universal relative response function 53 and the reference response function 51. The universal relative response functions 52, 53, 54 for the second, third, fourth, etc. sample components 32, 33, 34 can be presented as a table of values.

[0040] The device parameter data set 25 acquired in the second step 120 is further used to set a transfer function 40. For this purpose, the device parameter data set 25, i.e. its device parameter 26, is used as input. By means of the transfer function 40, the universal relative response functions 52, 53, 54, which are related to the reference state, and thus to the reference device parameter data set 27, can be transferred to the current state of the gas analysis device 10, which is defined by the device parameter data set 25. The transfer function 40 has a number 42 of dimensions, which corresponds to the number of device parameters 26 in the device parameter data set 25. The multidimensionality of the device parameter data set 25 is symbolized in FIG. 2 by the tesseract symbol. The transfer function 40 includes a set of coefficients 44 by which the transfer function 40 is parameterized.By applying the transfer function 40, the second response function 32 for the second sample component 22 is determined from the second universal response function 52. The second response function 32 is related to the state of the gas analysis device 10, which is described by the device parameters 26 in the device parameter data set 25, by applying the transfer function 40. Analogously, starting from the third, fourth, etc. universal relative response function 53, 54, the third, fourth, etc. response functions 33, 34 for the third, fourth, etc. sample component 23, 24 are determined. The unspecified calibration gas mixture 15 is free of the second, third and fourth sample components 32, 33, 34. The number of response functions 32, 33, 34 determined in the third step 130 is higher than the number of sample components in the calibration gas mixture 15. The second, third, fourth, etc.Substance sample components 22, 23, 24 can therefore be selected independently of the composition of the calibration gas mixture 15. The response functions 32, 33, 34 are specified as measurement operating parameters 45 for the gas analysis device 10 in a fourth step 140 (not shown in detail).

[0041] A third embodiment of the claimed adjustment method 100, which is carried out on a gas analysis device 10, is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The gas analysis device 10 is designed as a gas chromatograph 11 and comprises a separation device 12 connected to a detector 20, which in turn is coupled to an evaluation unit 60. The detector 20 is designed to output measurement signals 29 to the evaluation unit 60, which can be processed by a subprogram 66 of a computer program product 65 stored thereon. The embodiment of the adjustment method 100 shown in FIG. 3 assumes that the first, second, third and fourth steps 110, 120, 130, 140 have already been effectively carried out, as outlined, for example, in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. There are thus a first, second and third response function 31, 32, 33, which are specified in the evaluation unit 60 as measurement operating parameters 45.

[0042] A fifth step 150 is carried out in which a measuring operation 47 is carried out in which an operating substance sample 16 is examined continuously or one after the other with a plurality of operating substance samples 16 having a changing composition 17. The measuring operation 47, in which the at least one operating substance sample 16 is examined for its composition 17, is carried out essentially cyclically. The first, second and third response functions 31, 32, 33 are used here, which are specified in the fourth step 140 as measuring operation parameters 45. Measurement data 49 for the concentrations of the first, second and third substance sample components 21, 22, 23, i.e. the composition 17 of the corresponding operating substance sample 16, are at least temporarily stored and fed to a machine learning algorithm 68 in a sixth step 160.For this purpose, the higher-level control unit 70 is connected to the evaluation unit 60 via a communicative data connection 48. The determined measurement data 49 can be output via the display unit 62 and / or the data interface 64 of the evaluation unit 60. The machine learning algorithm 68 is designed as a neural network and runs on a higher-level control unit 70. A subprogram 66 of the computer program product 65, with which the setting method 100 is implemented, also runs on the higher-level control unit 70. The machine learning algorithm 68 is at least functionally coupled to the computer program product 65 or belongs to it. During the sixth step 160, the measurement data 49, which are generated and stored in the fifth step 150, are used as a training data set for the machine learning algorithm 68. In addition, measurement data 49 from other gas analysis devices 10 which are of identical design can also be used.The training data set can thus be created from the measurement data 49 from the fifth step 150 and external measurement data. The machine learning algorithm 68 is designed to create a modified transfer function 40 by training with the measurement data 49. In particular, the coefficient set 44 belonging to the transfer function 40 can be updated as a result. The transfer function 40 has a number 42 of dimensions which correspond to the number of device parameters 26 in a device parameter data set 25, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1. The modified transfer function 40 is output to the evaluation unit 60 in the sixth step 160. Based on the modified transfer function 40, at least the third and fourth steps 130, 140 of the underlying setting method 100 can be carried out again, so that the first, second and third response functions 31, 32, 33 can be determined more precisely.The fifth and sixth steps 150, 160 allow the transfer function 40 to be automatically further developed. Particularly when operating a plurality of gas analysis devices 10, their calibration accuracy can thus be increased through machine learning.

[0043] Likewise, in the embodiment according to FIG 3, a seventh step 170 is carried out in which a calibration gas mixture 15 is supplied to the gas analysis device 10. The calibration gas mixture 15 used in the seventh step 170 comprises the second substance sample component 22 in a known concentration. In addition to the second substance sample component 22, the calibration gas mixture 15 comprises further calibration gases 18 which do not belong to the substance sample components 21, 23 to be measured. In the seventh step 170, essentially analogously to the first step 110, as shown in FIG 1, a comparison value 56 for a response factor is determined. The comparison value 56 lies on a zero point straight line which represents a comparison response function 57. The second response function 32 for the second sample component 22 is also designed as a zero-point straight line.With correct calibration in the first to fourth steps 110, 120, 130, 140 of the claimed setting method 100, there is a minimal deviation 59 between the second response function 32 and the comparison response function 57, preferably a deviation 59 from zero. The setting method 100 further has an eighth step 180, in which the deviation 59 between the second response function 32 and the comparison response function 57 is determined. Since the second response function 32 and the comparison response function 57 are designed as zero-point lines, the deviation 59 can be represented as an angle between them or as a gradient factor difference. The deviation 59 has a different value for the comparison response functions 57 and 57. second response functions 32 have correspondingly different forms, for example if these are polynomial functions of second, third or higher order.Furthermore, in the eighth step 180, the deviation 59 is compared with a limit value (not shown in more detail). A warning 61 is issued if the amount of the deviation 59 exceeds the limit value. The warning 61 can be issued via the display unit 62 and / or the data interface 64. The limit value can be specified by a user or the computer program product 65. The seventh and eighth steps 170, 180 essentially represent an experimental verification of the second response function 32 specified in the fourth step 140. The underlying setting method 100 is thus suitable for self-monitoring.

[0044] The calibration gas mixture 15 used in the seventh and eighth steps 170, 180 can also be the calibration gas mixture 15 from the first step 110 if it contains the first and second sample components 21, 22 in a known concentration. Calibration gas mixtures 15 with two sample components 21, 22 can be produced easily with increased precision in many cases. The seventh and eighth steps 170, 180 can also be carried out analogously for a third sample component 23, thus providing another verification option. The more sample components 21, 22, 23 the calibration gas mixture 15 has in a known concentration, the more mutual checks of the response functions 31, 32, 33 can be carried out, which leads to increased reliability.This ensures increased reliability when calibrating the gas analysis device 10 with complex calibration gas mixtures 15 in the claimed adjustment method 100. At the same time, the gas analysis device 10 can be calibrated for a variety of sample components 21, 22, 23 using the claimed adjustment method 100. The gas analysis device 10 and the higher-level control unit 70 belong to a system 50 for determining a composition 17 of a sample 15, 16 that is supplied to the gas analysis device 10.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Setting method (100) for a gas analysis device (10) which comprises a detector (20) and which can be operated in an adjustable manner via a plurality of device parameters (26), comprising the steps of: a) providing the gas analysis device (10) and determining at least a first response factor (28) for a first substance sample component (21) by means of a calibration gas mixture (15) and determining a first response function (31) based on at least the first response factor (28); b) acquiring a device parameter data set (25) which comprises at least one of the existing device parameters (26) and linking the device parameter data set (25) with the first response function (31); c) determining a second response function (32) for a second sample component (22) starting from the first response function (31) by means of a transfer function (30);d) specifying at least the second response function (31, 32) as a measurement operating parameter (45) for the gas analysis device (10); wherein the transfer function (30) is adjustable based on the device parameter data set (25); 2. Setting method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer function (30) is a multi-dimensional transformation, the number of dimensions (42) of which corresponds to the number of device parameters (26) in the device parameter data set z (25).

3. Adjustment method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in step c) the second response function (32) is also based on a universal relative Response function (52) is determined compared to the first response function (31).

4. Adjustment method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the calibration gas mixture (15) is formed free of the second substance sample component (22).

5. Adjustment method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first and / or second response function (31, 32) are designed as a linear function, as a quadratic function, as a cubic function and / or as a sectionally concatenated function.

6. Adjustment method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in step c) a third response function (33) for a third substance sample component (21, 22, 23) is also determined and in step d) is specified as a measuring operation parameter (45).

7. Adjustment method (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the number of response functions (31, 32, 33) specified in step d) exceeds the number of components in the calibration gas mixture (15).

8. Setting method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device parameters (26) comprise a dosage indication, a substance sample temperature, a substance sample pressure, an ambient pressure, a detector voltage, a dosage indication, an amplification factor, a detector response function, a physical property of at least one substance sample component, a chemical property of at least one substance sample component, a thermal conductivity of at least one substance sample component, its ionization cross section and / or structure-related information of the gas analysis device.

9. Adjustment method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the adjustment method (100) further comprises the steps of: e) carrying out a measuring operation (47) with the gas analysis device (10) based on the determined response functions (31, 32, 33) and storing measurement data (49); f) using the measurement data (49) as input for a machine learning algorithm (68) and determining a modified transfer function (30).

10. Adjustment method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the adjustment method (100) further comprises the steps of: g) determining a comparison value (56) for at least one response factor and determining a comparison response function (57) for the second fabric sample component (22); h) determining a deviation (59) between the comparison response function (57) and the second response function (32) and outputting a warning (61) if the deviation (59) exceeds a limit value.

11. Adjustment method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the steps c) to h) is carried out on a higher-level control unit (70) which is connected to the gas analysis device (10) via a communicative data connection (48).

12. Computer program product (65) which is designed to receive and process measured values ​​of a response factor (28) and to determine response functions (31, 32, 33), characterized in that the computer program product (65) is designed to carry out at least one setting method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Evaluation unit (60) for determining a composition (17) of a substance sample (15, 16) which is fed to a gas analysis device (10) by means of a plurality of response functions (31, 32, 33), and the evaluation unit (60) for specifying the response functions (31, 32, 33) is equipped with a computer program product (65), characterized in that the computer program product (65) is designed according to claim 12.

14. Gas analysis device (10) for determining a composition of a substance sample (15, 16) with a plurality of Substance sample components (21, 22, 23) comprising a detector (20) and an evaluation unit (60), wherein the gas analysis device (10) is operable in an adjustable manner via a plurality of device parameters (26), characterized in that the evaluation unit (60) is designed according to claim 13.

15. System (50) for determining a composition of a material sample (15, 16) with a plurality of material sample components (21, 22, 23), comprising a higher-level control unit (70) which is connected to an evaluation unit (60) via a communicative data connection (48), wherein the higher-level control unit (70) is designed to determine at least a second response function (32) based on a first response function (31), characterized in that the higher-level control unit (70) is set up to carry out at least step c) according to a setting method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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