Hydrogen Detection System Humidity Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thermal conductivity type hydrogen sensors struggle to accurately detect low hydrogen concentrations due to humidity interference, as they tend to measure water vapor as hydrogen, leading to deviations in detected concentrations from actual levels.

Innovation Solution

A hydrogen detection system incorporating a thermal conductivity type hydrogen sensor, a humidity sensor, and a controller that calculates dew point temperature to correct hydrogen concentration readings using pre-stored conversion tables, allowing for accurate detection across a wide range of hydrogen concentrations by accounting for humidity effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a thermal conductivity type hydrogen sensor is used to detect hydrogen concentration, then the sensor can detect hydrogen in a wide concentration range, but the detection accuracy deteriorates at low concentrations due to humidity interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection rangeVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A humidity sensor is introduced as an intermediary device to detect humidity levels. The humidity information is then used to correct the hydrogen concentration measurements from the thermal conductivity sensor, thereby eliminating the interference caused by humidity while preserving the wide detection range capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring humidity levels and using this information to adjust the hydrogen concentration readings. The controller corrects the sensor output based on real-time humidity data, ensuring accurate measurements across the entire concentration range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If humidity is high in the environment, then the thermal conductivity sensor measures water vapor as hydrogen, but this causes the detected hydrogen concentration to deviate from the actual concentration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidconcentration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of humidity into a useful correction factor. By detecting humidity levels and using them to calculate dew point temperatures, the system transforms the interference caused by water vapor into accurate correction data that compensates for the humidity effect, enabling precise measurements even in high-humidity environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the measurement parameters by introducing dew point temperature as a correction parameter. Instead of directly measuring hydrogen concentration alone, the system measures both hydrogen concentration and humidity, then uses the dew point calculation to adjust the hydrogen reading, thereby eliminating the measurement error.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables precise detection of hydrogen concentrations from 0.1% to 4% and up to 100% by effectively mitigating humidity-induced errors, thereby improving the system's tolerance to volatile siloxane and enhancing detection accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

thermal conductivity type hydrogen sensor configured to detect a hydrogen concentration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conductivity: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

humidity sensor configured to detect humidity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHumidity detection: Hygrometer

Data Source

PatentUS20240142424A1Hydrogen detection system

Publication Date: 2024.05.02 ROHM CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a hydrogen detection system including a thermal conductivity type hydrogen sensor configured to detect a hydrogen concentration, a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity, and a controller. The controller corrects a first detection value detected by the thermal conductivity type hydrogen sensor, on the basis of the humidity detected by the humidity sensor, and outputs the hydrogen concentration as a second detection value.