Method and apparatus for improved gas detection

• US 7,429,362 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc. (Perkinelmer Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc. (Perkinelmer Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clark, David, Dalmia, Avinash, Prohaska, Otto J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nagpaul; Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US10/951,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20050042148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 422/160, 422/80, 422 99-101, 422/130, 436/180, 204/1, 204/412
• 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. A method for providing a reactor, comprising the steps of:

providing a first passage containing a first reactant;

connecting a heater to the first passage using a connector, where the connector contains a sample;

transporting a mixture of the first reactant from the first passage and the sample from the connector to the heater;

placing the connector within a second passage containing a second reactant;

transporting the second reactant to the mixture of the first reactant and sample;

heating the mixture of the first reactant and sample and, subsequently, heating the mixture of the first reactant, second reactant, and 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 gas to pass through to contact the electrode.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a chamber and homogeneously combining the at least two reactant gases and gas sample in the chamber.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of oxidizing the premix and gas sample.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of reducing the premix and gas sample.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing the connector and the second passage concentric with one another.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling the connector to an outlet.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of coupling an electrochemical gas sensor to the outlet for detecting a gas component in the sample.

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

providing a first passage containing a first reactant;

connecting a connector to the first passage, where the connector contains a sample;

transporting the first reactant from the first passage to the connector for mixing the first reactant with the sample;

extending the connector through a heater;

coupling a second passage to the connector, where the second passage contains a second reactant;

mixing the first reactant and a sample with the second reactant;

extending the second passage through the heater;

heating the first reactant, second reactant, and sample in the heater; 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 gas to pass through to contact the electrode.

9. The method according to claim 8, 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.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of oxidizing the premix and gas sample.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of reducing the premix and gas sample.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of coupling an electrochemical gas sensor to the second passage for detecting a gas component in the sample.