Jacket Tube Deflection for Optical Gas Analyzer

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-situ gas analyzers face challenges in accurately measuring gas components like hydrogen sulfide and other molecular compounds due to high particle loads such as dust, smoke, and water aerosols, which cause increased light absorption and scattering, leading to reduced signal-to-noise ratios and measurement errors.

Innovation Solution

A gas analyzer design featuring a jacket tube transverse to the gas flow with closed ends and openings for gas and light passage, utilizing the difference in weight and mobility between particles and gas components to deflect interfering particles away from the measurement volume, thereby reducing their presence and maintaining the accuracy of gas measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the measurement volume is reduced to reduce particle interference, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the sensitivity of gas measurement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidsensitivity of gas measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts interfering particles from the measurement path by introducing a deflection device that separates particles from the gas flow before they can enter the measurement volume. This allows the measurement volume to maintain its optimal size for sensitivity while preventing particle interference, thus resolving the contradiction between signal-to-noise ratio and measurement sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The deflection device acts as an intermediary between the particle-laden gas flow and the measurement volume. It selectively deflects interfering particles while allowing the gas components to pass through to the measurement volume, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio without reducing the measurement sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If an electrostatic precipitator is used to deflect particles, then particle interference is reduced, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle interference reductionVSAvoidcomplexity of deflection device
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex, energy-intensive electrostatic precipitators with a simple mechanical deflection device that has no moving parts or energy requirements. The deflection device uses basic mechanical elements to achieve particle separation, significantly reducing device complexity and eliminating energy consumption while maintaining effective particle interference reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If a filter is used to reduce particle concentration, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using filters that require maintenance and replacement, the patent extracts particles from the gas flow using a mechanical deflection device. This approach eliminates the need for filter media and associated maintenance activities, improving ease of repair while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The deflection device is designed to be self-cleaning and requires no external maintenance. The simple mechanical structure allows particles to be continuously deflected without clogging or degradation, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating maintenance requirements associated with filters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design effectively reduces the interference of particles in the measurement volume, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and measurement accuracy, allowing for accurate gas analysis even under extreme particle load conditions without the need for energy consumption or additional materials, and is easily maintainable.

Implementation Method 1

the jacket pipe, which protects against the flow, causes a droplet aerosol dust separation from the gas due to gravity alone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the deflection device is designed as a jacket tube lying transversely to the gas flow, inside which the measurement volume is located... the heavier, more sluggish particles do not find their way into the measuring volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3460452B1Gas analyser for optical gas analysis
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 SICK AG
  • EP3460452B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3460452B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3460452B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a gas analyzer for optical in-situ gas analysis in a gas stream (60), which, in addition to a gas fraction to be measured whose concentration is to be determined, contains particles (68) interfering with the concentration determination, such as dust, smoke, water droplets or other aerosols, comprising a light transmitter (12) and a light receiver (22), which together define an optical measuring section in a measuring volume (16), an evaluation device (24) for evaluating received signals from the light receiver (22) for concentration determination, and a deflection device for deflecting the interfering particles (68) in order to allow these particles (68) to flow past the measuring volume (16).In order to provide an improved gas analyzer for optical gas analysis, with which the interfering influence of the particles contained in the medium on the intended measurement is reduced, it is proposed that the deflection device be designed as a jacket tube (38) lying transversely to the gas flow (60), in the interior of which the measuring volume (16) is located, wherein the jacket tube (38) has a closed jacket and the end faces have openings (46 and 48) for allowing gas (60) and light (14) to pass into the measuring volume (16).