NOx sensor
First Claim
1. A NOx sensor comprising:
- a gas detection chamber composed of an internal space surrounded by zirconia solid electrolyte substrates having oxygen ion conductivity;
a NOx sensing cell including a NOx sensing electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate in said gas detection chamber, said NOx sensing electrode being active to NOx and oxygen, and a reference electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate, said reference electrode being active to at least oxygen;
a NOx conversion pumping cell including a NOx conversion electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate in said gas detection chamber, said NOx conversion electrode being active to NOx and oxygen, and a counter electrode to be paired with said NOx conversion electrode, said counter electrode being fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate, being active to oxygen;
voltage applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to said NOx conversion pumping cell;
a first gas treatment chamber communicating with said gas detection chamber and having a gas inlet leading to an atmosphere of a gas to be detected, an inorganic porous member being loaded into said first gas treatment chamber; and
means for measuring a potential difference between said NOx sensing electrode and said reference electrode while converting NOx in the gas to be detected into single component after a reducing gas in the gas to be detected is oxidized in said first gas treatment chamber, and thereby detecting a total NOx concentration in the gas to be detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a NOx sensor for accurately detecting the total concentration of nitrogen oxides in a measured gas without being affected by interference gases. The sensor comprises a gas treatment chamber 5 arranged at the prior stage of the gas detection chamber 3, an inorganic porous member 25 loaded in the gas treatment chamber, and a NOx conversion pumping cell 14,15 and/or an oxygen supplying pumping cell which supplies oxygen into the gas treatment chamber. When the measured gas is introduced in the gas treatment chamber, the interference gases contained in the measured gas are effectively oxidized by the supplied oxygen under the assistance of the catalytic activity of inorganic porous member. The total amount of the nitrogen oxides is measured in the gas detection chamber while NOx in the measured gas are converted into a single component (NO2 or NO) by the NOx conversion pumping cell after the interference gases are oxidized.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A NOx sensor comprising:
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a gas detection chamber composed of an internal space surrounded by zirconia solid electrolyte substrates having oxygen ion conductivity;
a NOx sensing cell including a NOx sensing electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate in said gas detection chamber, said NOx sensing electrode being active to NOx and oxygen, and a reference electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate, said reference electrode being active to at least oxygen;
a NOx conversion pumping cell including a NOx conversion electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate in said gas detection chamber, said NOx conversion electrode being active to NOx and oxygen, and a counter electrode to be paired with said NOx conversion electrode, said counter electrode being fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate, being active to oxygen;
voltage applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to said NOx conversion pumping cell;
a first gas treatment chamber communicating with said gas detection chamber and having a gas inlet leading to an atmosphere of a gas to be detected, an inorganic porous member being loaded into said first gas treatment chamber; and
means for measuring a potential difference between said NOx sensing electrode and said reference electrode while converting NOx in the gas to be detected into single component after a reducing gas in the gas to be detected is oxidized in said first gas treatment chamber, and thereby detecting a total NOx concentration in the gas to be detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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19. A NOx sensor comprising:
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a gas detection chamber composed of an internal space surrounded by zirconia solid electrolyte substrates having oxygen ion conductivity;
a NOx detection cell including a NOx sensing electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate in said gas detection chamber, said NOx sensing electrode being active to NOx and oxygen, and a reference electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate, said reference electrode being active to at least oxygen;
a NOx conversion pumping cell including a NOx conversion electrode fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate in said gas detection chamber, said NOx conversion electrode being active to NOx and oxygen, and a counter electrode to be paired with said NOx conversion electrode, said counter electrode being fixed onto said zirconia solid electrolyte substrate, being active to oxygen;
voltage applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to said NOx conversion pumping cell;
a first gas treatment chamber communicating with said gas detection chamber and having a gas inlet leading to an atmosphere of a gas to be detected;
an oxidation catalyst pumping cell including an oxidation catalyst electrode arranged in said first gas treatment chamber, said oxidation catalyst electrode having a gas channel, being active to a reducing gas and oxygen, and serving as an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode to be paired with said oxidation catalyst electrode, said cathode electrode being arranged on a zirconia solid electrolyte substrate outside said gas detection chamber and being active to oxygen;
voltage applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to said oxidation catalyst pumping cell; and
means for measuring a potential difference between said NOx sensing electrode and said reference electrode while converting NOx in the gas to be detected into NO2 or NO after the reducing gas in the gas to be detected is oxidized in said first gas treatment chamber, and thereby detecting the total NOx concentration in the gas to be detected.
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Specification