The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 26, 1989
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1985
Michael D Hurley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
William J Kaiser, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Eleftherios M Logothetis, Birmingham, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of selectively sensing the quantity of methane gas in an oxygen containing gas stream, which method, as taught in one of its preferred embodiment, includes the step of providing a platinum catalyst (12) and a palladium catalyst (14). The platinum and the palladium catalysts are electrically interconnected (16--16) so as to obtain an electrical output reading (24) therefrom. The electrically interconnected catalysts are heated to a temperature in a range of 350.degree.-450.degree. C. whereby a reference electrical output reading is obtained therefrom. A gas stream containing suspected methane is passed over the electrically interconnected catalysts. Methane gas contained in the gas stream is oxidized only by the palladium catalyst while all other oxidizable components of the gas stream are oxidized by both catalysts. In this manner, the palladium catalyst will be heated to a temperature proportionately higher than the platinum catalyst based on the percentage of methane gas contained in the gas stream. A sample measuring electrical output reading is obtained from the electrically interconnected catalysts while the suspected methane containing gas stream is passing thereover. The sample measuring electrical output reading is compared to the reference electrical output reading to determine the percentage of methane gas contained in the gas stream.