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US4368431A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrochemical measuring device for determining the oxygen content in gases

Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG Germany
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Filing: 1980-11-13
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Granted: 1983-01-11
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Expires: 2000-11-13
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Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical measuring device for determining the oxygen content in gases with approximately constant pressure, especially in combustion exhaust gases, with an oxygen ion-conducting solid electrolyte having two electrodes connected to a voltage source, and measuring changes in current. In combination with the electrical measuring device, a constriction is disposed in the path of the constant pressure gas stream with the constriction having a passageway of cross sectional area to pass the gas stream at the velocity of sound under the condition of critical pressure ratio dependent on a ratio of the pressure at the outflow side of the inflow side of the constriction which brings about sound velocity of the gas stream.

Inventors

  • 👤 Franz-Josef Rohr
  • 👤 Rudolf Krapf

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 00:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4067; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0011; G01N33/0016

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
Electrochemical measuring device for determining oxygen content in gases with approximately constant pressure, especially in combustion exhaust gases, comprising a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet for passage of a constant pressure gas stream therethrough, an ion-conducting solid electrolyte with a first and a second electrode disposed in the housing to provide a passageway therein for contact of said constant pressure gas stream with said first electrode for measurement of the oxygen content in the gas, said first and second electrodes connected by electrical conductors to an electric current source and a current measuring device, the combination therewith of a constriction in the path of the constant pressure gas stream, said constriction having a passageway of cross sectional area to pass the gas stream at the velocity of sound under the condition of critical pressure ratio dependent on a ratio of the pressure at the outflow side of the constriction to the pressure at the inflow side of the constriction which brings about sound velocity of the gas stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 172 words
Electrochemical measuring device for determining oxygen content in gases with approximately constant pressure, especially in combustion exhaust gases, comprising a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet for passage of a constant pressure gas stream therethrough, an ion-conducting solid electrolyte with a first and a second electrode disposed in the housing to provide a passageway therein for contact of said constant pressure gas stream with said first electrode for measurement of the oxygen content in the gas, said first and second electrodes connected by electrical conductors to an electric current source and a current measuring device, the combination therewith of a constriction in the path of the constant pressure gas stream, said constriction having a passageway of cross sectional area to pass the gas stream at the velocity of sound under the condition of critical pressure ratio dependent on a ratio of the pressure at the outflow side of the constriction to the pressure at the inflow side of the constriction which brings about sound velocity of the gas stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said constriction is formed with a circular disc havng a central opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said constriction is formed by a nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said disc consists of glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 3, wherein said nozzle consists of glass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 59 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said passageway for contact of said constant pressure gas stream, adjacent to the first electrode, has a cross section of about 10 to 20 mm 2 , and wherein said passageway of the constriction has a cross section at its narrowest point of about 0.8 to 20×10 -4 mm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 6, wherein said constriction is formed with a circular disc having a central opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 6, wherein said constriction is formed by a nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said constriction is disposed in the path of the constant pressure gas after the gas flows past said first electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 9, wherein said constriction is formed with a circular disc having a central opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 9, wherein said constriction is formed by a nozzle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 59 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 9, wherein said passageway for contact of said constant pressure gas stream, adjacent to the first electrode, has a cross section of about 10 to 20 mm 2 , and wherein said passageway of the constriction has a cross section at its narrowest point of about 0.8 to 20×10 -4 mm 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a suction device to cause said pressure ratio is connected to the outflow side of the constriction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 13, wherein the suction device is a suction pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 13, wherein a buffer space is inserted between the suction device and outflow side.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 14, wherein the suction pump is designed for intermittent operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
Electrochemical measuring device according to claim 16, wherein said suction pump is a hand pump.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 331 words
A method of controlling the fuel-air ratio of a burner for fluid fuels in which fuel to the burner is regulated by a valve, and air to the burner is regulated by an air throttle, and combustion products generated by burning the fuel pass through and are discharged from a combustion chamber, comprising bleeding a small stream of discharging combustion gases and passing the gases through an electrochemical measuring device for determining oxygen content in gases with approximately constant pressure, comprising a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet for passage of a constant pressure gas stream therethrough, an ion-conducting solid electrolyte with a first and a second electrode disposed in the housing to provide a passageway therein for contact of said constant pressure gas stream with said first electrode for measurement of the oxygen content in the gas, said first and second electrodes connected by electrical conductors to an electric current source, the combination therewith of a constriction in the path of the constant pressure gas stream, said constriction having a passageway of cross sectional area to pass the gas stream at the velocity of sound under the condition of critical pressure ratio dependent on a ratio of the pressure at the outflow side of the constriction to the pressure at the inflow side of the constriction which brings about sound velocity of the gas stream, activating a control unit by an electric current from the electrochemical measuring device in accordance with the measurement therein of the oxygen content of the combustion gases, regulating the air intake to the burner in accordance with the oxygen content of the combustion gases by means of the control unit connected to an air throttle positioning device controlling the setting of the air throttle, and regulating the fuel fed to the burner in accordance with the oxygen content of the combustion gases by means of the control unit connected to a fuel valve positioning unit controlling the setting of the fuel valve.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 331 words
A method of controlling the fuel-air ratio of a burner for fluid fuels in which fuel to the burner is regulated by a valve, and air to the burner is regulated by an air throttle, and combustion products generated by burning the fuel pass through and are discharged from a combustion chamber, comprising bleeding a small stream of discharging combustion gases and passing the gases through an electrochemical measuring device for determining oxygen content in gases with approximately constant pressure, comprising a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet for passage of a constant pressure gas stream therethrough, an ion-conducting solid electrolyte with a first and a second electrode disposed in the housing to provide a passageway therein for contact of said constant pressure gas stream with said first electrode for measurement of the oxygen content in the gas, said first and second electrodes connected by electrical conductors to an electric current source, the combination therewith of a constriction in the path of the constant pressure gas stream, said constriction having a passageway of cross sectional area to pass the gas stream at the velocity of sound under the condition of critical pressure ratio dependent on a ratio of the pressure at the outflow side of the constriction to the pressure at the inflow side of the constriction which brings about sound velocity of the gas stream, activating a control unit by an electric current from the electrochemical measuring device in accordance with the measurement therein of the oxygen content of the combustion gases, regulating the air intake to the burner in accordance with the oxygen content of the combustion gases by means of the control unit connected to an air throttle positioning device controlling the setting of the air throttle, and regulating the fuel fed to the burner in accordance with the oxygen content of the combustion gases by means of the control unit connected to a fuel valve positioning unit controlling the setting of the fuel valve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 48 words
Method according to claim 18, wherein a suction device causing the pressure ratio is connected to the outflow side of the constriction and the gases discharged from the suction device returned to the main stream of combustion gases downstream from the point of bleeding of said small stream.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3223873A Cited
US3445757A Cited
US3459039A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-01-10 1986-07-12 1987-01-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-01-10 1990-07-12 1991-01-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-01-10 1994-07-12 1995-01-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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