Combined Oxygen Nitrogen Hydrogen Determination Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen in metal and alloy materials are limited, as traditional hydrogen analyzers using impulse heating inert gas fusion thermal conductivity (TC) or infrared (IR) absorption methods are not suitable for full-range determination, especially when trying to jointly determine these elements, with TC methods being more sensitive but IR absorption methods prone to interference and measurement errors at high or low hydrogen content ranges.
Innovation Solution
A combined oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen joint determination device and method utilizing both thermal conductivity and infrared techniques, where a melting and extraction system, analytical gas transmission system, and signal detection system are integrated to allow switching between different gas paths, enabling the use of both IR absorption and TC methods on a single device for various determination modes, using high-purity He or N2 as carrier gases to selectively determine oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen based on their concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the TC method is used for hydrogen determination, then measurement sensitivity is improved, but the ability to jointly determine oxygen and nitrogen is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the TC cell and IR cell into a single integrated device with a shared impulse furnace and gas transmission system. The TC cell measures hydrogen with high sensitivity while the IR cell simultaneously measures oxygen and nitrogen, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and versatility by merging two separate determination systems into one unified instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions: the TC cell provides full-range hydrogen determination with ultra-low detection limits, the IR cell provides joint determination of oxygen and nitrogen, and both can operate simultaneously or independently. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single device adaptable to various determination needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the IR absorption method is used for hydrogen determination, then joint determination of oxygen and nitrogen is enabled, but measurement precision deteriorates at ultra-low and high hydrogen content ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both methods by integrating the TC cell (for high-precision hydrogen measurement) and IR cell (for joint determination) into one device. The system automatically selects or combines measurement modes based on the sample characteristics, resolving the contradiction between versatility and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes measurement parameters dynamically: for ultra-low hydrogen content (≤3 μg/g), it uses the TC method with high sensitivity; for medium and low content (3-1000 μg/g), it can use the IR method for joint determination; for high content (≥1000 μg/g), it switches to the TC method to avoid condensation errors. This parameter-based approach resolves the contradiction by optimizing measurement precision for different concentration ranges while maintaining joint determination capability.
3Measurement precision
If separate devices are used for TC and IR methods, then measurement precision for each method is optimized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate TC and IR determination devices into one integrated instrument, sharing common components such as the impulse furnace, gas transmission system, and control unit. This reduces the number of instruments from two to one while maintaining the measurement precision of both methods through dedicated TC and IR cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device provides universal determination capability for hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen in a single instrument. The TC cell handles hydrogen measurement with full-range precision, the IR cell handles oxygen and nitrogen measurement, and both can operate independently or simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices.
4Ease of operation
If a single device performs both TC and IR determination, then operational convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the TC and IR determination systems into a single integrated device with a shared impulse furnace, gas transmission system, and control unit. The unified design allows operators to perform hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen determination in one instrument, improving ease of operation despite the increased internal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device incorporates automatic control systems that manage the complex coordination between TC and IR cells, impulse furnace operation, and gas flow control. The system self-regulates measurement parameters and data processing, reducing the operational burden on users despite the sophisticated internal architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for flexible and accurate determination of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen on a single device, meeting diverse determination requirements without the need for multiple instruments, reducing costs and improving operational convenience by enabling joint determination modes such as O/N, O/H, N/H, and O/N/H through intelligent valve control and gas path switching.
Implementation Method 1
The TC method is to determine H2 released from a molten sample by high-sensitivity thermistor wires to realize measurement of the hydrogen content in materials; and the core determination unit for the TC method is the TC cell, which adopts a Wheatstone bridge structure
Implementation Method 2
the core determination unit for the TC method is the TC cell, which adopts a Wheatstone bridge structure, the analysis arm is balanced with the reference arm when no sample gas passes through
Implementation Method 3
The IR absorption method for hydrogen determination is to convert the H2 released from the molten sample into H2O vapor, and then determine the hydrogen content in the material through the absorption of H2O vapor molecules at a specific IR band (6.5 μm)
Implementation Method 4
the absorption of H2O vapor molecules at a specific IR band (6.5 μm). The core determination unit for the IR absorption method is the IR cell
Implementation Method 5
H2 released by sample melting in the impulse furnace is carried by the carrier gas
Implementation Method 6
H2 released by sample melting in the impulse furnace is carried by the carrier gas to enter the TC cell after dust filtration and analysis purification
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a combined oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen joint determination device and method based on thermal conductivity-infrared technique. In the device, a melting and extraction system comprises a carrier gas introduction pipeline, a chamber valve, an impulse furnace and a dust filter; an analytical gas transmission system comprises a flush valve, a bypass valve, a mass flowmeter and a first switching valve; a signal detection system comprises an infrared cell, an analysis purification reagent tube and a thermal conductivity cell; and a signal analysis system comprises a controller and a processor. The present invention realizes different joint determination modes by switching different gas paths, which can meet different determination requirements of different users.