APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING A CONDENSABLE COMPONENT OF A GAS SAMPLE

摘要

An apparatus for measuring a condensable component of a gas sample, such as a hydrocarbon gas sample, includes a slightly roughened measurement surface for exposure to the gas sample. An electronic cooling device cools the measurement surface to cause at least some of the gas sample to condense on the measurement surface. A light source is arranged to transmit light to the measurement surface and the presence of condensate when formed thereon is detected by a change in light intensity detected by a light detector. The apparatus initiates a sequence of cooling cycles for generating an optimal cooling profile such that the rate of cooling of the measurement surface decreases near the dew point temperature of the gas sample for accurate dew point measurement.