摘要 |
Method and system for determining chemical composition of a single-component or multiple-component gas, using a discharge holdoff mechanism. A voltage difference V between two spaced apart electrodes is brought to a selected value and held, the holdoff time interval Deltat(V;ho) required before gas discharge occurs is measured, and the associated electrical current or cumulative electrical charge is measured. As the voltage difference V increases, the time interval length Deltat(V;ho) decreases monotonically. Particular voltage values, V∞ and V0, correspond to initial appearance of discharge (Deltat≈∞) and prompt discharge (Deltat≈0). The values V∞ and V0 and the rate of decrease of Deltat(V;ho) and/or the rate of increase of current or cumulative charge with increasing V are characteristic of one or more gas components present.
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