METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF A GAS SAMPLE

• US 20160299110A1
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Soc. Coop.
• Original Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
• Inventors: REMONDINI, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,338,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0001 by organoleptic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0022 using a number of analysing channels

Abstract

Method and device for the analysis of a gas sample; the method provides for the sample to be conveyed from an inlet (4) along a feeding duct (6) and from the feeding duct (6), divided into equal portions, along a plurality of passage channels (7) and through a plurality of detecting stations (9); in the area of each detecting station (9) a sensor (8) is arranged, which detects a different characteristic of the sample; the gas sample portions are conveyed directly and precisely onto the sensors (8) so as to increase the speed and sensitivity of the detection.

Claims

1. An analysis device for the analysis of a gas sample, the analysis device comprising:

an analysis unit comprising;

an inlet to let the gas sample into the analysis unit;

an outlet;

a feeding duct;

at least two passage channels; and

at least two sensors, each of which is arranged in the area of a respective detecting station;

at least one gas moving unit to convey the gas from said inlet, along the feeding duct, through the passage channels, through the detecting stations, to said outlet;

the feeding duct being arranged downstream of the inlet;

each passage channel being arranged downstream of the feeding duct and upstream of the outlet, being designed to allow a respective portion of the gas sample to move from the feeding duct to the relative sensor, and comprising a respective segment, which is arranged between the feeding duct and the relative detecting station;

each detecting station being arranged along a respective passage channel upstream of said outlet;

the gas moving unit comprising a suction device, which is arranged downstream of the detecting stations so as to convey the portions of the gas sample through the detecting stations.

2. An analysis device according to claim 1, wherein each sensor has its own sensitive element, which is oriented in such a way that the relative portion of the gas sample conveyed along the respective passage channel comes into contact with the sensitive element while moving in a direction transverse to the sensitive element;

the sensitive element being oriented transversally to the longitudinal extension of the respective passage channel;

each sensor being designed to detect a different characteristic of the sample.

3. An analysis device according to claim 2, wherein the sensitive element is oriented so that the relative portion of the gas sample conveyed along the respective passage channel comes into contact with the sensitive element moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sensitive element;

the sensitive element being oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the respective passage channel.

4. An analysis device according to claim 1, wherein each sensor has a sensitive element, which is arranged in the area of an end opening of the respective segment, which is opposite to the feeding duct;

the sensitive element facing the end opening of the respective segment;

the sensors being chosen in the group consisting of;

sensors designed to detect, each, a specific substance, metal oxide sensors, and a combination thereof.

5. An analysis device according to claim 1, wherein each passage channel extends from the feeding duct transverse to said feeding duct;

the passage channels being arranged in sequence along the longitudinal extension of the feeding duct.

6. An analysis device according to claim 1, wherein a volumetric flow rates of each passage channel are substantially equal to one another;

the areas of the inner cross sections of each segment being substantially equal to one another.

7. An analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding duct has an inner cross section with an area that is at least one hundred times the area of the inner cross section of each segment.

8. A analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit further comprises a confluence chamber, which is designed to collect the gas passed through the detecting stations;

the confluence chamber being arranged downstream of the detecting stations and upstream of the outlet.

9. An analysis unit comprising:

an inlet to let a gas sample into the analysis unit;

an outlet;

a feeding duct;

at least two passage channels; and

at least two sensors, each of which is arranged in the area of a respective detecting station;

the feeding duct being arranged downstream of the inlet;

each passage channel being arranged downstream of the feeding duct and upstream of the outlet, being designed to allow a respective portion of the gas sample to move from the feeding duct to the relative sensor, and comprising a respective segment, which is arranged between the feeding duct and the relative detecting station;

each detecting station being arranged along a respective passage channel upstream of said outlet;

each sensor having its own sensitive element oriented so that the relative portion of the gas sample conveyed along the respective passage channel comes into contact with the sensitive element moving in a direction transverse to the sensitive element;

the sensitive element being oriented transversally to the longitudinal extension of the respective passage channel;

each sensor being adapted to detect a different characteristic of the sample.

10. An analysis unit according to claim 9, wherein the sensitive element is oriented so that the relative portion of the gas sample conveyed along the respective passage channel comes into contact with the sensitive element moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sensitive element;

the sensitive element being oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the respective passage channel.

11. A method for the analysis of a gas sample by means of an analysis device for the analysis comprising a feeding duct;

at least two passage channels; and

at least two sensors, each of which is arranged in the area of a respective detecting station along a relative passage channel;

each passage channel comprising a respective segment, which is arranged between the feeding duct and the relative detecting station;

the method comprising;

a step of conveying the gas sample along the feeding duct;

a step of conveying each one of at least two portions of the gas sample from the feeding duct along a respective passage channel and through a respective detecting station;

each portion being fed through the detecting station by means of suction due to a sucking device arranged downstream of the detecting stations; and

a detecting step, during which each sensor performs a detection on the respective portion of the gas sample;

wherein each sensor detects a characteristic of the sample that is different from the characteristics detected by the other sensors.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein each sample portion is conveyed against a respective sensitive element of the relative sensor according to a substantially laminar flow.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein each sample portion is conveyed against a respective sensitive element of the relative sensor in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the sensitive element.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the sample portions are conveyed along each passage channel with flow rates that are substantially equal to one another;

the combination of the portions making up the gas sample.