Optical member for measuring concentration, concentration measurement unit including the optical member, and fuel cell

• US 20070059589A1
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ryu Arasawa
• Original Assignee: Ryu Arasawa
• Inventors: Arasawa, Ryu
• Application Number:
  US10/555,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20070059589A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/90
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4133 Refractometers, e.g. differential
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04194 Concentration measuring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An optical member for measuring a concentration, the optical member being capable of measuring with high accuracy from low concentration to high concentration, and the like are provided.

Light (P1) emitted from a light source (P) for inspection is refracted at a boundary surface between an emitting surface (11b) of a first optical element (11) and a substance (7) to be measured, the substance circulating in a path (15), by an angle (θ₂) of refraction depending on the concentration (refractive index) of the substance (7) to be measured. Furthermore, when the light is incident on a second optical element (12), the light is refracted to light (P3) parallel to a reference optical axis (O-O). When the light (P3) is emitted from the second optical element (12) to the outside, the light (P3) is further greatly refracted by magnifying means (16) provided on an emitting surface (12b) of the second optical element (12).

Claims

1. An optical member for measuring a concentration comprising:

a path through which a substance to be measured passes;

a first optical element including an incident surface on which light for inspection is incident and an emitting surface facing said path;

a second optical element including an incident surface facing said path and an emitting surface from which the light is emitted; and

magnifying means that magnifies a distance between an emitting optical axis of light transmitting through said first optical element, being refracted by the substance to be measured in said path and transmitting through said second optical element, and an incident optical axis of the light for inspection.

2. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 1,

wherein said magnifying means is diffraction means.

3. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 1,

wherein said magnifying means is provided so as to be integrated with the emitting surface of said second optical element.

4. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 1,

wherein the emitting surface of said first optical element and the incident surface of said second optical element are parallel to each other and tilted with respect to the axial direction of the incident optical axis of the light for inspection.

5. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 1,

wherein a concave surface is provided so as to be integrated with the incident surface of said first optical element.

6. A concentration measurement unit including an optical member, the unit comprising

the optical member according to claim 1,

a light-emitting element for allowing light for inspection to be incident on the incident surface of said first optical element, and

a photo detector for receiving the light transmitted through said magnifying means.

7. The concentration measurement unit according to claim 6,

wherein an inflow port for supplying the substance to be measured to said path is provided at one end of said path formed between said first optical element and said second optical element, and an outflow port for discharging the substance to be measured from said path is provided at another end.

8. A fuel cell including a concentration measurement unit, in which power is generated by a power generation unit including an anode, a cathode facing the anode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween;

by supplying an organic fuel to the anode side; and

by supplying an oxidizing agent gas to the cathode side,

wherein the organic fuel is supplied to the anode side via said path provided in the concentration measurement unit according to claim 6.

9. The fuel cell including a concentration measurement unit according to claim 8,

wherein the inflow port of the optical member is connected to a mixing tank and the outflow port of the optical member is connected to the anode side of the power generation unit.

10. An optical member for measuring a concentration comprising:

a path through which a substance passes;

a first optical element including a first incident surface on which light for inspection is incident and a first emitting surface facing said path;

a second optical element including a second incident surface facing said path and a second emitting surface from which said light is emitted; and

a third optical element magnifying a distance between an emitting optical axis of the light transmitting through said first optical element, being refracted by said substance in said path and transmitting through said second optical element and an incident optical axis of the light for inspection.

11. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 10,

wherein said third optical element is a diffraction element.

12. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 10,

wherein said third optical element is integrated with said second emitting surface of said second optical element.

13. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 10,

wherein said first emitting surface of said first optical element and said second incident surface of said second optical element are parallel to each other.

14. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 13,

wherein said first emitting surface of said first optical element and said second incident surface of said second optical element are tilted with respect to the axial direction of the incident optical axis of the light for inspection.

15. The optical member for measuring a concentration according to claim 10,

wherein a concave surface is integrated with said first incident surface of said first optical element.

16. The concentration measurement unit comprising:

the optical member according to claim 10;

a light emitting element for allowing light for inspection to be incident on said first incident surface of said first optical element; and

a photo detector for receiving the light transmitted through said third optical element.

17. The concentration measurement unit according to claim 16,

wherein an inflow port for supplying the substance to said path is provided at one end of said path formed between said first optical element and said second optical element, and an outflow port for discharging the substance from said path is provided at another end.

18. A fuel cell comprising:

the concentration measuring unit according to claim 16;

a power generation unit including an anode, a cathode facing the anode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween;

wherein an organic fuel is supplied to said anode via said path provided in said concentration measuring unit, and wherein an oxidizing agent gas is supplied to said cathode.

19. The fuel cell according to claim 18,

wherein an inflow port of said optical member is connected to a mixing tank and an outflow port of said optical member is connected to said anode side of said power generation unit.