Gas Concentration Detector Angular Overlap Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas concentration analysis devices for breathing gas mixtures face challenges with complex beam mixing systems that result in signal attenuation, increased manufacturing costs, and high tolerance requirements, leading to a poorer signal-to-noise ratio and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A device with a radiation source emitting light or heat radiation in the 2.5 µm to 14.0 µm range, featuring a detector arrangement with bandpass filter elements and a control unit, where the detector elements are arranged at specific angles to the radiation source, allowing for effective radiation mixing with minimal space and cost, while compensating for contamination effects by forming a ratio between measuring and reference channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a beam mixing system is used to compensate for contamination effects, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam mixing function from a complex multi-component optical system and implements it through a simplified cuvette design where the sample gas itself performs the mixing function. By removing the need for separate beam mixing components and using the natural turbulence and diffusion of gas molecules in the cuvette, the system achieves contamination compensation without the complexity of traditional beam mixing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample gas in the cuvette serves multiple functions simultaneously: it is both the measurement target and the beam mixing medium. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated beam mixing components, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to compensate for contamination effects through ratio measurement of multiple gas components.
2Measurement precision
If a beam mixing system is used to achieve effective beam mixing, then measurement precision is improved, but signal attenuation increases resulting in poorer signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the beam mixing function from external optical components and integrates it into the cuvette design. By allowing the infrared beam to pass directly through the sample gas in the cuvette without multiple reflections and redirections, the system eliminates signal attenuation while maintaining measurement precision through ratio measurement of multiple gas components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample gas itself acts as an intermediary that performs the beam mixing function naturally through turbulence and diffusion, eliminating the need for separate beam mixing components that would cause signal attenuation. This approach maintains signal strength while achieving effective beam mixing for accurate concentration measurements.
3Measurement precision
If the absorption length is increased to compensate for signal attenuation, then measurement precision is improved, but the structural design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam mixing function from complex external optical systems and implements it within a compact cuvette design. By using the sample gas itself for mixing and maintaining a direct optical path, the system achieves the required absorption length without increasing structural complexity, as the cuvette dimensions naturally provide sufficient path length for accurate measurements.
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 configuration provides a simple, effective radiation mixing system with improved signal quality and reduced manufacturing costs, enabling accurate gas concentration measurements with a small space requirement and high measurement sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source (30) suitable and designed to emit light radiation or heat radiation in a wavelength range from lambda1 (λ1) 2.5 μm to lambda2 (λ2) = 14.0 μm
Implementation Method 2
One of the bandpass filter elements (51) is optically transparent to infrared radiation, which is absorbed by the measurement gas
Implementation Method 3
a detector arrangement with at least two for detecting the light radiation or heat radiation generated by the radiation source suitably designed detector elements
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
A device (1) for determining the concentration of a gas component is configured with a radiation source (30) for emitting (31) light or heat in an infrared wavelength range, a detector arrangement (40) with at least two detector elements (50, 60) suitable for detecting the light or heat generated by the radiation source (30) in an angular arrangement (52, 62), and two associated filter elements (51, 61). At least one of the two detector elements (50, 60) is oriented in an angular arrangement (52, 62) with respect to a vertical axis (32), such that an overlap region (65) results due to the angular arrangements (52, 62).The overlap area (65) ensures that attenuation in light propagation, which may be caused by gas molecules or moisture (400), affects both detector elements (50, 60) and is thus compensated with regard to concentration determination.