Oxygen detection apparatus

Abstract

Abstract AN OXYGEN DETECTION SYSTEM IS SHOWN INCLUDING AN OXYGEN SENSOR HAVING A DIFFERENTIAL OXYGEN PRESSURE RESPONSIVE ELECTROLYTE CELL AND A CATALYTIC AGENT FOR CATALYTICALLY BURNING A RESIDUAL FUEL IN SAMPLE GASES BEFORE THE GASES REACH THE EFFECTIVE DETECTION ZONE OF THE CELL. THE EFFECTIVE DETECTING ZONE OCCURS WHERE TWO ELECTRODES CONTACT DIRECTLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF AN ELECTROLYTE WALL. A HEATER ARRANGEMENT HEATS THE REGIONS OF THE DETECTION ZONE AND THE CATALYTIC AGENT TO AN EFFECTIVE OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE CELL INCLUDES A TUBULAR ELECTROLYTE MEMBER HAVING RESPECTIVE OPEN AND CLOSED OPPOSITE ENDS. A GAS ENTRY TUBE EXTENDS INTO THE BORE OF THE ELECTROLYTE MEMBER THEREBY FORMING A CONCENTRIC SPACE THEEBETWEEN. THE INNER SURFACE OF THE ENTRY TUBE AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE CLOSED END OF THE ELECTROLYTE MEMBER ARE COMPRISED OF A CATALYTIC AGENT, SO THAT SAMPLE GAS ENTERING THE ENTRY TUBE AND DOUBLING BACK THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE ENTRY TUBE AND THE ELECTROLYTE MEMBER IS EXPOSED TO AN EXTENSIVE AREA OF HEATED CATALYTIC AGENT BEFORE IT REACHES THE EFFECTIVE DETECTION ZONE. THE DETECTION SYSTEM FURTHER INCLUDES A DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE PUMP CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR OUTLET THROUGH A CAPILLARY RESITRICTION, THE INLET OF THE SENSOR BEING CONNECTED TO A SUBATMOSPHERIC SOURCE OF GAS BEING SAMPLE. THE CAPILLARY RESTRICTION PROVIDES SUBATANTIALLY CONSTANT GAS FLOW RATE.

Inventors

• 👤 William M Hickam
• 👤 John F Zamaria

Bibliographic Details