Hydrogen Reference Gas Sensor Using an Internal Pump Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas sensors using proton conductive solid electrolytes face challenges in accurately measuring hydrogen and other gases containing hydrogen atoms due to the instability and low concentration of hydrogen in air, which is often used as a reference gas, leading to degraded measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor design that generates hydrogen from water vapor using a hydrogen generation pump cell within a reference gas chamber, allowing for precise control of hydrogen concentration and accurate measurement of hydrogen and other hydrogen-containing gases by utilizing a proton-conductive and oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layers and electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If air is used as reference gas, then device size is minimized, but measurement precision of hydrogen and hydrogen-containing gases is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrogen generation pump cell is introduced as an intermediary device within the reference gas chamber to generate hydrogen from water vapor. This mediator converts the unstable air reference into a stable hydrogen-rich reference gas, resolving the contradiction by maintaining small device size while achieving high measurement precision through controlled hydrogen generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen concentration in the reference gas is dynamically changed and controlled by adjusting the operating parameters of the hydrogen generation pump cell. By controlling the hydrogen generation rate, the system maintains a stable and appropriate hydrogen concentration in the reference gas, thereby achieving high measurement precision without requiring large gas cylinders.
2Measurement precision
If gas cylinder is used to supply reference gas with predetermined hydrogen concentration, then measurement precision is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen generation pump cell serves the system by autonomously generating the required hydrogen reference gas from water vapor present in the air. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external gas cylinders, maintaining high measurement precision while keeping the device compact and portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen generation pump cell acts as an intermediary that converts readily available water vapor into the required hydrogen reference gas. This mediator eliminates the need for bulky gas storage while ensuring stable hydrogen concentration for precise measurements.
3Device complexity
If air is used as reference gas, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of measurement is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen generation pump cell is introduced as a relatively simple intermediary component that significantly improves measurement reliability by providing stable hydrogen concentration in the reference gas. This adds minimal complexity while delivering substantial reliability improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
By actively controlling the hydrogen concentration parameter in the reference gas through the pump cell, the system achieves stable and reliable measurements. This parameter control approach enhances reliability without requiring complex reference gas management systems.
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 higher accuracy in measuring hydrogen gas and gases containing hydrogen atoms, such as ammonia and hydrocarbons, by generating a stable hydrogen reference gas internally, thereby improving measurement precision.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogen generation pump cell including: a hydrogen generation electrode disposed on the oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer in the reference gas chamber; and an outer electrode disposed at a position different from the reference gas chamber on the oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer and corresponding to the hydrogen generation electrode
Implementation Method 2
a base part in an elongated plate shape, including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer and an oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer
Implementation Method 3
a base part in an elongated plate shape, including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer and an oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer
Implementation Method 4
The hydrogen sensor detects hydrogen by an electromotive force (EMF) between an electrode located on a surface of the proton conductive solid electrolyte in contact with a measurement gas and a reference electrode located on a surface of the proton conductive solid electrolyte in contact with a reference gas
Data Source
AI summary
A gas sensor includes a sensor element and a control unit for controlling the sensor element. The sensor element includes: a base part; a reference gas chamber formed between a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer and an oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer inside the base part, into the reference gas chamber an outside gas being introduced via an outside gas diffusion-rate limiting path; a hydrogen reference electrode disposed on the proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer in the reference gas chamber; a hydrogen generation pump cell including a hydrogen generation electrode disposed on the oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte layer in the reference gas chamber; and a detection electrode disposed on the proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer to be in contact with a measurement-object gas. The control unit includes: a reference gas adjusting part for adjusting a hydrogen concentration in the reference gas chamber by operating the hydrogen generation pump cell; and a detecting part.