Optical Gas Analysis Housing with Filtered Inlet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical in-situ gas analysis devices face challenges with high particle loads causing light absorption and scattering, leading to measurement interference, and require filters that compromise gas exchange and test gas efficiency, while extractive setups are complex and slow.

Innovation Solution

A device with a gas-tight housing and a filter arrangement that maintains similar process conditions to the gas duct, allowing active gas conveyance and high filter performance, reducing particle interference and improving response time, and incorporating a gas delivery system to minimize test gas consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a porous filter is used to keep particles away from the measurement section, then measurement accuracy is improved, but gas exchange is hindered and response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidgas exchange rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the system into two distinct zones: a measurement section isolated from particles by a porous filter, and a particle-laden gas flow in the duct. This segmentation allows the filter to protect the measurement section while the gas conveying device maintains overall gas exchange through the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A porous filter serves as an intermediary element between the particle-containing gas flow and the measurement section. The filter allows gas molecules to pass through while blocking particles, thus enabling measurement accuracy without completely blocking gas exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a porous filter is used to filter particles, then particle interference is reduced, but response time increases due to limited gas passage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle filteringVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A gas conveying device (vacuum pump or pressure source) is introduced to actively drive gas flow through the porous filter and into the measurement section. This pneumatic assistance overcomes the flow resistance of the filter, maintaining high particle filtering while restoring rapid gas exchange and improving response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Loss of substance

If a filter with low gas permeability is used, then test gas consumption is reduced, but gas exchange is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest gas consumptionVSAvoidgas exchange rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas conveying device creates a controlled flow regime where gas (including test gas) is actively drawn through the low-permeability filter. This self-service mechanism ensures that the filter's low permeability is compensated by the active gas conveyance, maintaining both test gas conservation and adequate gas exchange for calibration operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Loss of time

If in-situ measurement is performed directly in the gas duct, then response time is improved, but particle interference causes measurement failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidparticle interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement section is extracted from the particle-laden gas environment and placed inside a protected housing. A porous filter extracts particles from the gas flow while allowing measurement gas to reach the measurement section, thus removing the harmful particle interference while maintaining the in-situ measurement advantage of rapid response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution enables accurate, reliable in-situ gas analysis with improved response time and reduced test gas consumption, while maintaining process conditions, and allows for efficient contamination compensation and condensate management.

Implementation Method 1

measured by optical transmission or light scattering

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

hydrogen sulfide has a very broad absorption, as does ultrafine dust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3112845B1Device for optical in situ analysis of a measuring gas
Publication Date: 2018.01.24 SICK AG
  • EP3112845B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3112845B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3112845B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The device according to the invention for optical in-situ analysis of a measuring gas component of a measuring gas comprises a gas guide channel 26 in which the measuring gas 28 is guided, a light transmitter 12 for emitting a light beam into a measuring section 16 located in the gas guide channel, a light receiver 22 for receiving scattered and/or transmitted light from the measuring section and an evaluation unit 24 for determining data of the measuring gas component from the received light intensity.In order to provide a device with which improved in-situ gas analysis is possible, it is proposed that the measuring section be arranged in a gas-tight housing 30 which has at least one opening 34 to the gas guide channel in which a filter 35 is arranged and the pressure in the housing is maintained by a gas supply device at a pressure that is slightly lower than the pressure in the gas guide channel, so that the measuring gas is present in the measuring section at almost the same pressure as that in the gas guide channel.