Tag ion cell

Claim 2

An electrode cell comprising in combination: hollow chamber means having a portion with a substantially circular cross-section bounded by two end walls; means for introducing a stream of liquid into said cell through an inlet port along a path substantially tangent to the interior curved wall of said chamber; means for permitting fluid flow from said cell through an outlet port along a path initially directed radially with respect to said cross-section; and a pair of electrodes responsive to ionic species in said liquid, each forming a portion of a respective one of said end walls.

Claim 3

A cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said input and output ports are in opposite sides of said chamber in said curved wall.

Claim 4

A cell as defined in claim 2 wherein said ports are each disposed substantially halfway between said end walls.

Claim 5

A cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 6

A cell as defined in claim 1 having the shape of a right cylinder with a length not greater than about twice its cross-sectional radius.

Claim 7

A cell as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said electrodes includes an ion-sensitive surface and said surface comprises at least about 10 percent of the surface area of the corresponding one of said end walls.

Claim 8

Apparatus for electrochemical monitoring of a first ionic species of interest in a first liquid flow stream comprising in combination; means for mixing a second flow stream containing a second species of ion at a substantially fixed concentration, intimately into said first flow stream; an electrode cell comprising a hollow chamber having a substantially circular cross-section portion bounded by two end walls; means for introducing said mixed flow streams into said cell through an inlet port along a path substantially at least partially tangentially to the interior curved wall of said chamber; means for permitting said stream to flow out of said celL through an outlet port along a path initially directly radially to said curved wall; a first electrochemical electrode for providing an electrical signal as a function of the activity of said first ionic species in said stream, said first electrode forming at least a portion of one of said end walls; and a second electrochemical electrode for providing an electrical signal as a function of the activity of said second species of ion, said second electrode forming at least a portion of the other of said end walls.

Claim 9

Apparatus for electrochemical monitoring of a first ionic species of interest in a first liquid flow stream comprising in combination; means for mixing a second flow stream containing a second species of ion at a substantially fixed concentration, intimately into said first flow stream; an electrode cell comprising a hollow chamber having a substantially circular cross-section portion bounded by two end walls; means for introducing said mixed flow streams into said cell through an inlet port along a path substantially at least partially tangentially to the interior curved wall of said chamber; means for permitting said stream to flow out of said celL through an outlet port along a path initially directly radially to said curved wall; a first electrochemical electrode for providing an electrical signal as a function of the activity of said first ionic species in said stream, said first electrode forming at least a portion of one of said end walls; and a second electrochemical electrode for providing an electrical signal as a function of the activity of said second species of ion, said second electrode forming at least a portion of the other of said end walls.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first electrode is substantially non-responsive to said second species, and said second electrode is substantially non-responsive to said first species.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said input and output ports are on opposite sides of said chamber in said curved wall and disposed substantially halfway between said end walls.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cell is oriented with respect to gravity so that said side walls are substantially vertical and said inlet port is positioned in the bottom portion of said chamber.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 7 including pump means for impelling both of said flow streams at an approximately fixed ratio of flow rates.