Sensor interrogation

摘要

A method of testing a system having at least one electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte gas within a housing of the system, the housing having an inlet, the at least one electrochemical sensor including an electrically active working electrode in fluid connection with the inlet of the system, the method including biasing the electrically active working electrode at a first potential, to detect the analyte gas and biasing the electrically active working electrode at a second potential, different from the first potential, such that the at least one electrochemical sensor is sensitive to a driving force created in the vicinity of the inlet to test at least one transport path of the system. The method may further include creating the driving force in the vicinity of the inlet of the housing of the system and measuring a response of the electrically active working electrode to the driving force.

主权项

1. A method of testing a system having at least one electrochemical sensor for detecting a first gas that is an analyte gas within a housing of the system, the housing of the system having an inlet and a porous membrane through which gas can diffuse in fluid connection with the inlet, the at least one electrochemical sensor comprising an electrically active working electrode in fluid connection with the inlet of the system, comprising:
biasing the electrically active working electrode at a first potential, to detect the first gas; biasing the electrically active working electrode at a second potential, different from the first potential, such that the at least one electrochemical sensor is sensitive to a change in a concentration of a second gas that is a gas other than the first gas or a simulant therefor; creating a driving force in the vicinity of the inlet of the housing of the system which changes the concentration of the second gas other than by application of the first gas or a simulant therefore while the electrically active working electrode is biased at the second potential; and measuring a non-analytical response of the electrically active working electrode to the driving force while the electrically active working electrode is biased at the second potential to test at least one transport path of the system including transport through the porous membrane.