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:
Apr. 16, 1991
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1987
David H Archer, Ross Township, PA (US);
Mohammed M Ahmed, Wilkins Township, both of Allegheny County, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A method for determining the concentration of a plurality of combustible gases in a gas stream comprises providing an electrochemical cell apparatus that includes an electrochemical cell in which a cavity is formed having a diffusion limiting port forming the entrance to the cavity. The cell has a process side in flow communication with a portion of the gas stream flowing into the cavity through the port, and a reference side in flow communication with a reference gas. The process side and the reference side of the electrochemical cell are separated by an electrolyte. The potential difference across the cell is adjusted to create a steady state electrical current flow. A number of the following current flow measurements are obtained, wherein the number of current flow measurements equals the number of combustible gases in the gas stream: determining the steady state current flowing through the electrolyte, and determining the surge of current flowing through the electrolyte after the flow of current is interrupted and then restored, by interrupting the current for a time period, restoring the flow of current and measuring the surge of current until the current attains its steady state value. The total pressure of the gases in the gas stream is measured, and the total pressure and the current flow measurements are converted into an indication of the concentration of each of the combustible gases in the gas stream.