Optical Gas Analyzer With Multi-Path Mirror Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infrared gas analyzers face issues with high energy consumption, large dimensions, reduced operational reliability due to mechanical parts, and inefficient radiation energy usage, particularly when monitoring hydrocarbon concentrations like methane.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical gas analyzer with a multi-path mirror optical cell, using a differential photovoltaic detector and a pulse LED infrared radiation source, where the filter window and filter mirror compensate for external influences and optimize radiation path, ensuring high sensitivity and low energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a spherical mirror reflector and rotating disc with profile window are used in the optical gas cell, then the infrared radiation can be directed through the cell, but the energy consumption increases substantially due to loss of IR radiation energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spherical mirror reflector and rotating disc with profile window from the optical gas cell, extracting the problematic components that cause energy loss. This eliminates the need for these mechanical parts while maintaining the functionality of directing infrared radiation through the cell using alternative optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating disc system with a stationary optical configuration. Instead of using a rotating disc with profile window to direct radiation, the invention employs fixed optical elements and optimized radiation paths that eliminate moving mechanical parts, thereby reducing energy loss and improving reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple mechanical parts such as rotating disc and rotating optical filter are included, then the analyzer can function, but the operational reliability reduces due to mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the rotating optical filter and other mechanical parts from the system. By eliminating these components, the invention reduces the number of moving parts that can fail, thereby improving operational reliability while maintaining the necessary filtering and analysis functions through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical rotating filters and moving parts with stationary optical configurations. The functionality previously achieved through mechanical rotation is replaced with fixed optical elements and optimized radiation paths, eliminating wear and mechanical failure points.
3Length of stationary object
If spherical mirror reflectors and mechanical parts are used, then the optical path can be controlled, but the overall dimensions of the analyzer increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spherical mirror reflectors from the optical gas cell, extracting the space-consuming component. By eliminating these large reflectors, the overall dimensions of the analyzer are reduced while maintaining optical path control through alternative stationary optical configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the optical path arrangement to utilize space more efficiently in different dimensions. By redesigning the optical paths and removing bulky spherical mirrors, the invention achieves effective optical control in a more compact spatial arrangement.
4Loss of energy
If only small areas of the wide spectrum IR radiation are used, then the energy loss increases, but the measurement precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical elements and configurations that can handle the full wide spectrum of infrared radiation from the source. By using stationary optical paths and removing restrictive mechanical components, the system can utilize the entire spectral range for measurements, improving energy efficiency while maintaining precision through appropriate detector selection and optical design.
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 analyzer achieves maximum sensitivity with minimal energy consumption and small dimensions by concentrating infrared radiation and compensating for mechanical influences, providing efficient energy usage and fast response.
Implementation Method 1
an optical gas cell for infrared radiation to pass through, adapted to concentrate the infrared radiation passing through it
Implementation Method 2
The receiving device includes a measuring photovoltaic detector and a reference photovoltaic detector
Implementation Method 3
The infrared radiation source includes an infrared impulse source of the LED type creating a directed infrared radiation
Implementation Method 4
a filter window located at the inlet of the receiving device and a filter mirror, whose resulting spectral transmission and reflection characteristics correspond to the absorption spectrum for the gas to be measured
Data Source
AI summary
An optical gas analyzer, preferably for hydrocarbons, comprises an optical gas cell, an infrared LED pulse radiation source and a radiation detector at the inlet and outlet of the cell, respectively, and a control unit. The detector comprises measuring and reference photovoltaic detectors, a filter window at the detector inlet, and a filter mirror inside the same. Resulting spectral transmission and reflection characteristics of the filter window and filter mirror match the absorption spectrum for the gas and the radiation spectrum of the source. The filter window and filter mirror compensate external influence upon the radiation path trajectory within the cell on the gas concentration result. The cell comprises spherical or parabolic and flat mirrors arranged in a checker order to transmit the beam of the source via a zigzag-like trajectory between the mirrors. The analyzer offers a fast response and high sensitivity along with minimized power consumption and dimensions.