GAS SENSOR BASED ON DYNAMIC THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND MOLECULAR VELOCITY

摘要

An apparatus and method for gas detection. The apparatus comprises a) a sample chamber (4) for holding a gas sample, b) a sealable vacuum port (8) in fluid communication with the sample chamber, for evacuating the sample chamber, c) a sealable inlet port (6) in fluid communication with the sample chamber, for introducing the gas sample into the evacuated sample chamber, and d) a thermal conductivity sensing element (10) at least partly disposed within the sample chamber, for measuring the thermal conductivity of the gas sample. A gas sample released into the evacuated sample chamber requires a time interval to contact the thermal conductivity sensing element. The time interval is a measure of gas speed. Thermal conductivity and temperature of the gas sample are measured following determination of gas speed. By determining three parameters in a single sample of gas, different gas mixtures having similar thermal conductivities can be distinguished.