Automated Gas Detector Calibration via Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas detectors face challenges in consistency of gas absorbance across a wide temperature range, requiring extensive testing and limiting their ability to detect dynamic gas types or ranges, with firmware updates needed for each new gas type or parameter modification.
Innovation Solution
A method using a computing device to control a mass flow device for mixing gases at various concentrations and a temperature chamber to generate a look-up table or mathematical formula mapping absorbance values to gas concentrations, which can be downloaded to a detector, allowing for automated calibration and detection without firmware modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual temperature testing and population of gas detection surfaces is performed, then accurate absorbance values can be obtained, but the process takes weeks to complete and requires significant time and labor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual model of the calibration process through simulation software that replicates the physical testing environment. The simulation copies the essential physics of gas absorption and temperature effects without requiring physical presence of the detector, temperature chamber, and gas mixing equipment, thereby dramatically reducing calibration time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of population of gas detection surfaces with automated software-based population. The simulation software automatically calculates and populates the gas detection surface data structures based on simulated measurements, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing the time required for calibration
2Adaptability or versatility
If detectors are designed to support multiple gas types and ranges, then versatility is improved, but the complexity of calibration and firmware updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal calibration approach where a single simulation software platform can calibrate detectors for multiple gas types and concentration ranges. The software contains generalized models of gas absorption physics that work across different gas species, eliminating the need for separate calibration procedures for each gas type and reducing firmware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables versatility through parameter-based configuration rather than hardware or firmware changes. The simulation software allows users to modify gas type parameters, concentration ranges, and detector characteristics through software settings, enabling the same detector hardware to support multiple gas types without requiring firmware updates or recalibration of the physical device
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 automates the calibration process, reducing time and labor, enabling accurate gas detection across a temperature range and supporting multiple gas types without the need for frequent firmware updates, thus improving detector efficiency and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
a mass flow device to mix gases at a plurality of concentrations so as to provide a sequence of concentrations of a gas over a range of concentrations
Implementation Method 2
reading, by the computing device, gas absorbance values from a first detector included in the chamber
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to controlling a flow of a mixture of gas at a plurality of concentrations, controlling a temperature of a chamber over a temperature range, reading, by a computing device comprising a processor, gas absorbance values from a first detector included in the chamber over the plurality of concentrations and over the temperature range, generating at least one of a look-up table and a mathematical formula for the first detector based on the gas absorbance values, and causing the at least one of the look-up table and the mathematical formula to be stored in a second detector.