Abstract:
An instrument for determining the concentration of a particular gas that might be present in a sample has no moving parts and is extremely compact. The instrument uses as a source of radiation a device that has a radiating element whose temperature is alternated between T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 and whose spectrum approximates that of a blackbody. Radiation from this source is passed through a dual pass band filter that has two non-overlapping pass bands, one of which is centered at a wavelength at which the gas absorbs and the other of which is centered at a wavelength at which the sample does not absorb radiation. After passing through this filter, the radiation passes through the sample chamber and then is intercepted by a detector which produces an electrical signal determined by the radiation intercepted. The electrical signal is processed to provide an indication of the concentration of the gas.
Abstract:
A submersible fluorometer of the type having a source transmitting light pulses into the fluid in which the fluorometer is submersed to cause material in suspension to fluoresce and a fluoroescence detector, wherein a second detector is used to measure the intensity of light output of the source during each pulse of light, the outputs of the fluorescence detector and the second detector are sampled during each pulse of light and a ratioing circuit is used to determine the intensity of the fluorescence relative to the intensity of the light causing fluorescence. This arrangement compensates the output for both short and long term drift effects particularly in the light source. Preferably both the light transmitted to the said fluid and the light received therefrom is filtered, in the first case to remove light having wavelengths equal to or longer than that of the fluorescence and in the second case to remove light having wavelengths shorter than that of the fluoroscence.
Abstract:
A sensor arrangement monitors the conversion rate of an exhaust gas catalyst (1) arranged in the tail-pipe (6) of an internal combustion engine (16). The sensor arrangement has two element pairs composed each of an infrared radiation element and of an infrared sensor element (2.1/4.1 or 2.2/4.2) arranged opposite to the infrared radiation element with respect to the exhaust gas flow (5.1, 5.2). These pairs of infrared radiation elements and infrared sensor elements are arranged one adjacent to the input side and the other adjacent to the output side of the exhaust gas pipe (6, 7) of the catalyst (1). The spectral sensitivity of each pair is tuned to the absorption or emission spectrum of at least one gas, which is always the same, of the exhaust gas mixture. A comparator arrangement (26) receives the output signals of both infrared sensor elements (4.1, 4.2) or values calculated in the same manner from said output signals for both infrared sensor elements, and generates a signal from the output signals or calculated values. The signal contains information on changes of concentration of the gas in the exhaust gas mixture in the catalyst (1), thus on the conversion rate of the catalyst.
Abstract:
A gas sample chamber (10) for use in a gas analyzer consists of an elongated hollow tube (21) having an inwardly-facing specularly-reflective surface (22) that permits the tube to function also as a light pipe for conducting radiation from a source (20) to a detector (16) through the sample gas. A number of apertures (24) in the wall of the elongated hollow tube permit the sample gas to enter and exit. Particles of smoke and dust of a size greater than 0.1 micron are kept out of the chamber by use of a semi-permeable membrane (28) that spans the apertures in the hollow tube. Condensation of the sample gas components is prevented by heating the sample chamber electrically to a temperature above the dew point of the component of concern.
Abstract:
Instrumentation for measuring the amount of material dissolved in a liquid solution which utilizes electro-optic technology based on the Beer-Lambert Law is implemented either as a portable, battery powered model or integrated in an automated process monitoring system. In the portable, battery powered model, a sample probe (14) is inserted into a solution to be measured. The results of the measurement are displayed on a display (22). The displayed results are frozen for a predetermined period of time at the expiration of which, the power is turned off to conserve battery power. In the automated process monitoring model, a solution loading analyzer (100) is supplied with a sample of solution to be analyzed. A probe (14) positioned in a measurement well (200) is used to determine the ratio of incident light to light transmitted through the sample. A spray nozzle (212) is used for cleaning the probe head (16).
Abstract:
A multi-component nondispersive gas analyzer of a type typically used to measure the concentrations of gases present in automotive emissions and in breath analyzers has no moving parts and employs electrically operated means for effectively inserting and removing a reference cell (34) from the optical path and for selecting a particular filter to determine momentarily the wavelengths of radiation being examined. The means for accomplishing these ends include a substrate (84) on which a layer (82) of vanadium dioxide is deposited. The layer is a good reflector at temperatures greater than 67oC and reflects only slightly at lower temperatures. The layer is alternately heated by an electrical current and is then allowed to cool to provide the desired optical switching action. This electrically-controlled selectively reflective layer is then used in conjunction with the reference cell (34) and with an array of filters (46) to implement the necessary switching and selection of the components.
Abstract:
A method of identifying the presence of a first gas such as methane within a sample, for example containing natural gas. A detector is provided having a sensor responsive to a first wavelength, a sensor responsive to a second wavelength, and a sensor for collecting reference readings. A gas sample is analysed to obtain a first absorption reading corresponding to the first wavelength, a second absorption reading corresponding to the second wavelength and a reference reading. A first absorption figure is calculated using the first absorption reading and the reference reading, and a second absorption figure using the second absorption reading and the reference reading. A lineariser function is applied to each of the first and second absorption figures to calculate first and second concentration figures. The sensor for each wavelength is calibrated for detecting the first gas such that the data collected at each wavelength gives the same reading when only said first gas is present in a sample. The ratio of the first concentration figure to the second concentration figure is then calculated, and the ratio used to identify whether only the first gas is present in the sample.
Abstract:
A sensor and method for measuring the concentration of alcohol in an alcohol-hydrocarbon mixture for use with flexible fuel vehicles. The sensor and method are characterized by a pair of detectors or sensing elements (27, 28) which detect absorbance of two different wavelength bands of energy transmitted through the fuel. The first wavelength band is absorbed by the alcohol and substantially unabsorbed by the hydrocarbons and other non-alcohols in the fuel mixture. The second or reference wavelength band is selected where the absorbance of alcohols and hydrocarbons is essentially the same and preferably essentially zero. The output of the two detectors or sensing elements (27, 28) is ratioed to provide a signal representative of the alcohol content of the fuel mixture. In a preferred embodiment, the sensing elements (27, 28) are included in a differential thermopile (98).