DETECTION OF REFRIGERANT CONTAMINANTS
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting one or more contaminants in a refrigerant, comprising:
- a housing;
a membrane electrode assembly disposed in the housing, the membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode comprising a first catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles, a counter electrode comprising a second catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles, and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the nanoparticles of the first catalyst are unsupported or are supported on a non-carbon black support, and wherein the sensor has been preconditioned by applying a positive voltage bias to the sensing electrode and exposing the sensor to a preconditioning gas comprising the contaminant(s) or their precursors or derivatives;
a first current collector in electrical contact with the sensing electrode;
a second current collector in electrical contact with the counter electrode;
a first flow field in fluid communication with a first opening in the housing to direct test refrigerant to flow by or through the sensing electrode;
a chamber, either closed or connected with a flow field, to which the counter electrode is exposed; and
an electrical circuit connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gas sensor for detecting one or more contaminants in a refrigerant includes a housing having disposed therein a membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode, a counter electrode, and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode. The sensing electrode comprises nanoparticles of a first catalyst comprising noble metal. The counter electrode comprises nanoparticles of a second catalyst comprising noble metal. The sensing electrode in the sensor has been preconditioned by exposure under a positive voltage bias to a preconditioning gas comprising the contaminant(s) or their precursors or derivatives.
0 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A sensor for detecting one or more contaminants in a refrigerant, comprising:
-
a housing; a membrane electrode assembly disposed in the housing, the membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode comprising a first catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles, a counter electrode comprising a second catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles, and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the nanoparticles of the first catalyst are unsupported or are supported on a non-carbon black support, and wherein the sensor has been preconditioned by applying a positive voltage bias to the sensing electrode and exposing the sensor to a preconditioning gas comprising the contaminant(s) or their precursors or derivatives; a first current collector in electrical contact with the sensing electrode; a second current collector in electrical contact with the counter electrode; a first flow field in fluid communication with a first opening in the housing to direct test refrigerant to flow by or through the sensing electrode; a chamber, either closed or connected with a flow field, to which the counter electrode is exposed; and an electrical circuit connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
-
- 2. A method of preconditioning for the detection of contaminants in a refrigerant sensor comprising a housing, a membrane electrode assembly disposed in the housing, the membrane electrode assembly comprising a first catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles that are unsupported or are supported on a non-carbon black support, a counter electrode comprising a second catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles, and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode, a first current collector in electrical contact with the sensing electrode, a second current collector in electrical contact with the counter electrode, a first flow field in fluid communication with a first opening in the housing to direct test refrigerant to flow by or through the sensing electrode, the housing including a chamber to which the counter electrode is exposed, and an electrical circuit connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode, the method comprising applying a positive voltage bias to the sensing electrode and exposing the sensor to a preconditioning gas comprising the contaminant(s) or their precursors or derivatives.
-
16. (canceled)
-
18. (canceled)
-
19. (canceled)
-
20. (canceled)
-
21. (canceled)
-
22. (canceled)
-
23. (canceled)
Specification