Water-conductivity CO2 sensor
First Claim
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1. A sensor device for measuring CO2 in an ambient atmosphere, comprising:
- a sensor body inert to water and CO2, said body having a chamber adapted to be functionally proximate an ambient atmosphere;
a quantity of ionically pure water in said chamber;
a membrane separating said water from said ambient atmosphere, said membrane being CO2 permeable and water vapor impermeable such that said membrane is in contact with said atmosphere;
a conductivity meter in contact with said water for measuring the conductivity of said water; and
a signal for indicating the CO2 concentration as a function of said conductivity.
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Abstract
A sensor for measuring CO2 in an ambient atmosphere, typically air in a room. The sensor body is inert to water and CO2, and has a chamber proximate the atmosphere of interest. Pure water is placed in the chamber and separated from the atmosphere by a CO2 permeable membrane to allow the atmosphere to pass into the water. Conductivity is measured and the concentration of CO2 as a function of conductivity is displayed. Temperature is measured to further refine the measurement data.
10 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A sensor device for measuring CO2 in an ambient atmosphere, comprising:
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a sensor body inert to water and CO2, said body having a chamber adapted to be functionally proximate an ambient atmosphere;
a quantity of ionically pure water in said chamber;
a membrane separating said water from said ambient atmosphere, said membrane being CO2 permeable and water vapor impermeable such that said membrane is in contact with said atmosphere;
a conductivity meter in contact with said water for measuring the conductivity of said water; and
a signal for indicating the CO2 concentration as a function of said conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. The device of claim 10, which further includes a heat source for raising the temperature of said water to 100°
- C. to purge CO2 from said water.
- View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A sensor device for measuring CO2 in an ambient atmosphere, comprising:
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sensor body means inert to water and CO2, for providing a chamber adapted to be functionally proximate an ambient atmosphere;
a quantity of ionically pure water in said chamber;
membrane means for separating said water from said ambient atmosphere, said membrane means being CO2 permeable and water vapor impermeable such that said membrane means is in contact with said atmosphere;
conductivity meter means in contact with said water for measuring the conductivity of said water; and
signal means for indicating the CO2 concentration as a function of said conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of measuring CO2 in an ambient atmosphere, comprising the steps of:
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providing a quantity of ionically pure water in a chamber adapted to be functionally proximate an ambient atmosphere;
separating said water from said ambient atmosphere with a membrane CO2 permeable and water vapor impermeable such that said membrane means is in contact with said atmosphere;
measuring the conductivity of said water; and
indicating the CO2 concentration as a function of said conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification