APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING IDENTIFICATION AND CONCENTRATION OF AN ATMOSPHERIC COMPONENT

摘要

88-3-567 IMPROVED APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING IDENTIFICATION AND CONCENTRATION OF AN ATMOSPHERIC COMPONENT Apparatus and method for determining the identity and concentration of one or more components in a test atmosphere having a known concentration of oxygen. A solid electrolyte oxygen sensor is used, having a first solid electrolyte wall in contact with, and interposed between, a first electrode and a second electrode and a second solid electrolyte wall in contact with, and interposed between a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The second and fourth electrodes are in communication with the test atmosphere. A partition wall separates the first and third electrodes forming a first chamber bounded by the first wall and the partition wall and a second chamber bounded by the partition wall and the second wall. Diffusion limiting means inhibit gas flow of the gas from the test atmosphere to the first chamber and from the first chamber to the second chamber. A first negative voltage (or positive voltage when then unknown component has a concentration larger than that of a stoichiometric gas mixture) is applied to the first and second electrodes generating a first electrical current on a first electric current plateau. Simultaneously the EMF across the third and fourth electrodes is measured. These two numbers are correlated with a table to determine gas component identity and concentration. Alternatively a first negative voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes generating a first electrical current. Simultaneously a second negative voltage is applied to the third and fourth electrodes generating a second electrical current. The magnitudes of said first and second voltages are in contrast to each other (the first voltages is low and the second voltage is high or vise versa, with their 88-3-567 difference kept at least 1000mV). The second current is measured and is correlated with a figure to determine gas concentration or hydrogen-equivalent gas concentration.