Gas Sensor Arrangement for Multi-Component Concentration Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor arrangements and measuring processes for gas samples are not capable of measuring the respective concentration of three gas components with high reliability, often resulting in cross-sensitivity issues that lead to incorrect measurement results.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement comprising a measuring chamber, a thermal conductivity sensor, and a density sensor, which measures the thermal conductivity, magnetically modulated thermal conductivity, and density of a gas sample to determine the concentrations of three gas components, including a paramagnetic gas like oxygen, with reduced cross-sensitivity to other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing sensor arrangements measure gas component concentrations using thermal conductivity, then the measurement process is simple, but cross-sensitivity to other gas components leads to incorrect measurement results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement principles (thermal conductivity measurement and density measurement) into a single sensor arrangement that simultaneously measures both properties of the gas sample. This merging allows the system to obtain multiple independent measurements (thermal conductivity, magnetically modulated thermal conductivity, and density) from the same gas sample, providing enough information to calculate concentrations of multiple gas components while compensating for cross-sensitivity effects through mathematical evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If a magnetic field is applied to measure magnetically modulated thermal conductivity, then oxygen concentration can be determined, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conductivity sensor serves multiple functions: it measures both the ordinary thermal conductivity of the gas sample and the magnetically modulated thermal conductivity when a magnetic field is applied. This multi-functionality allows the same sensor to provide information about both the total thermal conductivity (useful for calculating concentrations of non-paramagnetic gases) and the oxygen-specific contribution (through magnetic modulation), thereby reducing device complexity compared to using separate sensors for each measurement.
3Reliability
If three measurement values are obtained to determine three gas component concentrations, then measurement reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures three different physical parameters of the gas sample: thermal conductivity, magnetically modulated thermal conductivity, and density. By obtaining three independent measurement values from these different parameters, the system creates a system of three equations with three unknowns (the concentrations of the three gas components). This approach allows reliable determination of multiple gas component concentrations without requiring three separate sensors for each component, as each sensor measures a fundamental property that varies with gas composition.
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
The proposed sensor arrangement and measuring process enable accurate and reliable measurement of the concentrations of three gas components in a gas sample, minimizing cross-sensitivity and eliminating the need for a reference gas, thus providing more precise results compared to existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal conductivity sensor (53) is configured to measure the thermal conductivity of the gas sample in the measuring chamber (2)
Implementation Method 2
A magnetic field with an oscillating magnetic field strength is applied to the measuring chamber (2). The magnetically modulated thermal conductivity of the gas sample in the measuring chamber (2) is measured
Implementation Method 3
The density sensor (59, 60) is configured to measure the density of the gas sample
Implementation Method 4
One gas component of the gas sample is a paramagnetic gas, in particular oxygen. The atoms or molecules of the gas comprises permanent magnetic properties, i.e. a magnetic moment, and automatically align in a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor arrangement and a measuring process measure the respective concentration of three gas components of a gas sample (Gp). One gas component is a paramagnetic gas. The gas sample (Gp) is fed into a measuring chamber (2). A magnetic field with an oscillating magnetic field strength is applied to the measuring chamber (2). The thermal conductivity of the gas sample (Gp) and the magnetically modulated thermal conductivity of the gas sample in the measuring chamber (2) are measured. The three concentrations of the three gas components are determined using the predetermined densities of the three gas components as well as the measured thermal conductivity, the measured magnetically modulated thermal conductivity and the measured density.