Method and apparatus for improved gas detection

• US 20050042148A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc. (Perkinelmer Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc. (Perkinelmer Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clark, David, Dalmia, Avinash, Prohaska, Otto J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/130
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/125 pyrolising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/645 electrical conductivity detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/12 using combustion G01N25/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/188 Total or elemental sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a reactor having a heater, a passage for transporting a reactant, and a chamber containing a gas sample and being coupled to the passage for receiving the reactant and mixing the reactant with the gas sample. The reactor further includes a connector leading from the chamber to the heater for transporting a mixture of the reactant and gas sample, and wherein the heater heats the mixture of the reactant and gas sample.

Claims

1-10. -10. (cancelled)

11. A method for providing a reactor, comprising the steps of:

premixing at least two reactant gases together;

combining the premix of the at least two reactant gases with a gas sample;

heating the premix and gas sample; and

detecting a gas component in the gas sample using an electrochemical gas sensor having a substrate, an electrode deposited on a surface of the substrate, an ionomer membrane in contact with the surface and electrode, the ionomer membrane having a first surface and a second surface, and an opening in the ionomer membrane extending from the first surface to the second surface in a location proximate to the electrode, thereby defining a passage for providing diffusion control for the gas.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a chamber and homogeneously combining the at least two reactant gases and gas sample in the chamber.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of oxidizing the premix and gas sample.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of reducing the premix and gas sample.

15. A method for providing a reactor, comprising the steps of:

mixing a first reactant gas with a gas sample;

heating the mixture of the first reactant gas with the gas sample prior to adding the second reactant gas.

adding a second reactant gas to the first reactant gas and gas sample;

heating the first reactant gas, second reactant gas, and gas sample; and

detecting a gas component in the gas sample using an electrochemical gas sensor having a substrate, an electrode deposited on a surface of the substrate, an ionomer membrane in contact with the surface and electrode, the ionomer membrane having a first surface and a second surface, and an opening in the ionomer membrane extending from the first surface to the second surface in a location proximate to the electrode, thereby defining a passage for providing diffusion control for the gas.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a chamber and homogeneously combining the first reactant gas, second reactant gas, gas sample, and combinations thereof in the chamber.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of oxidizing the premix and gas sample.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of reducing the premix and gas sample.