Multiple frequency method for operating electrochemical sensors

• US 8,177,957 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Martin, Louis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olsen, Kaj K
• Application Number:
  US11/893,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20080067080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 204/400, 204/424, 204/425, 204/431, 204/432, 205/775, 205/781, 205/783, 205/784
• US Class Current: 205/781
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4074 for detection of gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4175 Calibrating or checking the analyser

Abstract

A multiple frequency method for the operation of a sensor to measure a parameter of interest using calibration information including the steps of exciting the sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response, exciting the sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response, using the second sensor response at the second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, using the first sensor response at the first frequency, the calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the parameter of interest.

Claims

1. A multiple frequency method for the operation of an electrochemical gas sensor to measure NO using calibration information, wherein interfering parameters of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

providing a NO sensor,

exciting said NO sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response, wherein said first frequency is non-zero,

providing a O₂ sensor,

exciting said O₂ sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response, wherein said second frequency is non-zero,

using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂, and

using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂, and the calibration information to measure the NO.

2. The multiple frequency method for the operation of an electrochemical gas sensor of claim 1,

wherein said step of exciting said NO sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response comprises exciting said NO sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response recorded on a computer-readable medium,

wherein said step of exciting said O₂ sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response comprises exciting said O₂ sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response recorded on a computer-readable medium, and

wherein said step of using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂ comprises using said second sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂ recorded on a computer-readable medium.

3. The multiple frequency method for the operation of an electrochemical gas sensor of claim 1,

wherein the interfering parameters of O₂, are varying O₂ concentration.

4. A multiple frequency method for the operation of an electrochemical gas sensor, to measure is NO₂ using calibration information, wherein interfering parameters of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

providing a NO₂ sensor,

exciting said NO₂ sensor at a first frequency providing a first sensor response, wherein said first frequency is non-zero,

providing a O₂ sensor,

exciting said O₂ sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response, wherein said second frequency is non-zero,

using said O₂ sensor response at a second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂ to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂, and

using said first sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the NO₂.

5. A method of sensing to measure NO using calibration information wherein interfering parameters of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

providing a NO sensor,

exciting said NO sensor at a first frequency, wherein said first frequency is non-zero,

using said NO sensor excited at a first frequency to provide a first sensor response,

providing a O₂ sensor,

exciting said O₂ sensor at a second frequency providing a second sensor response, wherein said second frequency is non-zero,

using said O₂ sensor excited at a second frequency to provide a second sensor response,

using said second O₂ sensor response at said second frequency and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of the interfering parameters of O₂, and

using said NO sensor response at said first frequency, said calculated concentration of the interfering parameters, and the calibration information to measure the NO.

6. A sensing method for measuring NO using calibration information, wherein varying amount of O₂ may be present, comprising the steps of:

providing a NO sensor,

exciting said NO sensor at a first frequency producing a first frequency sensor response that includes both NO and O₂, wherein said first frequency is non-zero,

measuring said first frequency sensor response that includes both NO and O₂ producing a first frequency sensor measurement that includes both NO and O₂,

providing a O₂ sensor,

exciting said O₂ sensor at a second frequency producing a second frequency sensor response that contains only O₂, wherein said second frequency is non-zero,

measuring said second frequency sensor response producing a second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂,

using said second frequency sensor measurement that contains only O₂ and the calibration information to produce a calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and

using said first frequency sensor measurement includes both NO and O₂, said calculated concentration of O₂ measurement, and the calibration information for measuring NO.