UV Ozone Sensor Using Pulsed LED and Reflective Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ozone detectors face challenges such as large size, limited operational lifetime, sensitivity to non-ozone gases, and inaccurate detection of small ozone concentrations, which can be hazardous to human health.
Innovation Solution
A compact ozone detection system utilizing an ultraviolet source and detector in a chamber with reflecting walls, operated in high power pulse mode, and a computer system to determine ozone presence and concentration, allowing for precise measurement and filtering of gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mercury discharge lamps are used for UV light absorption detection, then ozone detection capability is achieved, but device size increases and operational lifetime is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical mercury discharge lamp system with a solid-state UV LED (light-emitting diode) system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex electrical discharge mechanisms, reducing device size while improving reliability and operational lifetime. The LED-based UV source integrates directly into the detector chamber, removing the requirement for separate lamp housings and electrical discharge components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the UV light source by using pulsed illumination mode rather than continuous illumination. This parameter change allows the system to achieve sufficient signal strength for ozone detection while reducing overall power consumption and heat generation, thereby improving reliability and enabling compact device design.
2Measurement precision
If large chamber size is used for UV absorption detection, then small levels of ozone can be detected, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pulsed illumination of the UV LED source rather than continuous illumination. This periodic action allows the system to accumulate sufficient optical path length for sensitive ozone detection within a compact chamber by delivering high-intensity UV pulses that maximize absorption signal strength during each pulse cycle, thereby achieving high measurement precision without requiring a large chamber volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the optical path length by arranging the UV LED source and detector in a configuration that maximizes the effective path length through the chamber. By carefully designing the light emission angle and detection geometry, the system achieves enhanced ozone detection sensitivity without increasing the physical chamber size, effectively utilizing the three-dimensional space within the compact detector.
3Measurement precision
If semiconductor devices are used to sense ozone, then high sensitivity is achieved, but cross-sensitivity to other gases increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces semiconductor gas-sensing devices with a UV absorption spectroscopy system. This substitution uses the specific optical absorption property of ozone at UV wavelengths (254 nm) to achieve selective detection. By measuring the absorption of UV light by ozone molecules, the system achieves high sensitivity to ozone while being inherently selective and not responsive to other gases that do not absorb at this specific wavelength, thereby eliminating cross-sensitivity issues.
4Reliability
If electrochemical detectors are used, then ozone detection is possible, but accuracy for small ozone concentrations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrochemical detection methods with UV absorption spectroscopy. This substitution uses the strong UV absorption cross-section of ozone molecules to achieve highly sensitive and accurate detection of small ozone concentrations. The UV LED source emits light at 254 nm, which is strongly absorbed by ozone, enabling the system to detect and measure small ozone concentrations with high precision and reliability.
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 system provides accurate and efficient detection of ozone concentrations, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by enabling compact, sensitive, and reliable ozone monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The detectors that operate based on ozone light absorption take advantage of the Beer-Lambert absorption law of ultraviolet (UV) light passing through ambient gas in a chamber that contains ozone. Since ozone strongly absorbs UV radiation, a concentration of ozone can be inferred from a measured amount of UV absorption.
Implementation Method 2
The chamber can include reflecting walls and/or structures configured to guide ultraviolet light
Data Source
AI summary
A solution for evaluating a sample gas for a presence of a trace gas, such as ozone, is provided. The solution uses an ultraviolet source and an ultraviolet detector mounted in a chamber. The chamber can include reflecting walls and/or structures configured to guide ultraviolet light. A computer system can operate the ultraviolet source in a high power pulse mode and acquire data corresponding to an intensity of the ultraviolet radiation detected by the ultraviolet detector while a sample gas is present in the chamber. Using the data, the computer system can determine a presence and/or an amount of the trace gas in the sample gas.