EP0710835A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for detecting carbon monoxide, organic compound, and lower alcohol, and methods of the same
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1995-10-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus or method of the present invention measures carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen-rich reactant gas with high precision, and also measures a lower alcohol or another organic compound included in the reactant gas. A carbon monoxide sensor (1) includes an electrolyte membrane (10), a pair of electrodes (12,14) arranged across the electrolyte membrane (10) to form a sandwich structure, a pair of holders (20,22) for supporting the sandwich structure as well as pair of metal plates (16,18), and an insulating member 24 for connecting the holders (20,22) with each other. A gas flow conduit (28) is joined with one holder (20), and a gaseous fuel is fed to the electrode (12) via the gas flow conduit (28). The electrode (14) supported by the other holder (22) is exposed to the atmosphere. A resistor (34) is connected to detection terminals (20T,22T) of the holders (20,22), and a potential difference between both terminals of the resistor (34) is measured with a voltmeter (32). The voltmeter (32) outputs a signal representing the measured potential difference to an external control system. The control system determines the degree of poisoning and the concentration of carbon monoxide, based on the signal representing the measured potential difference.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeyuki Kawatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4073; G01N27/4074; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0258; H01M8/0267; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0662; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2457; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2483; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0082; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for detecting carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said apparatus comprising: an electrolyte membrane; first and second electrodes with a catalyst carried thereon, said first and second electrodes being arranged across said electrolyte membrane; a reactant gas supply conduit for supplying said reactant gas to said first electrode; an oxygen gas supply conduit for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to said second electrode; and potential difference measurement means for measuring a potential difference between said first and second electrodes while a predetermined load is connected to said first and second electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said oxygen gas supply conduit comprises an air opening for exposing said second electrode to the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: a connection passage for connecting said reactant gas supply conduit to the atmosphere; and valve means disposed in said connection passage, said valve means being driven to an open position when a pressure in said reactant gas supply conduit becomes greater than a predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, said apparatus further comprising: valve state detection means for detecting said valve means in its open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: temperature control means for controlling temperature of said first electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: means for heating said first electrode to remove carbon monoxide adsorbed by the catalyst on said first electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: concentration calculating means for calculating a concentration of carbon monoxide included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: determination means for determining that carbon monoxide of not less than a predetermined concentration exists in said reactant gas when the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means is not greater than a preset value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for detecting an organic compound included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said apparatus comprising: an electrolyte membrane; first and second electrodes with a catalyst carried thereon, said first and second electrodes being arranged across said electrolyte membrane; a reactant gas supply conduit for supplying said reactant gas to said first electrode; an oxygen gas supply conduit for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to said second electrode; and potential difference measurement means for measuring a potential difference between said first and second electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said oxygen gas supply conduit comprises an air opening for exposing said second electrode to the atmosphere.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said apparatus further comprising: a connection passage for connecting said reactant gas supply conduit to the atmosphere; and valve means disposed in said connection passage, said valve means being driven to an open position when a pressure in said reactant gas supply conduit becomes greater than a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, said apparatus further comprising: valve state detection means for detecting said valve means in its open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said apparatus further comprising: temperature control means for controlling temperature of said first electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said apparatus further comprising: switching means for moving between a first position where a predetermined load is connected to said first and second electrodes and a second position where said predetermined load is disconnected from said first and second electrodes; means for calculating a concentration of carbon monoxide included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means, while said switching means is in said first position; and means for calculating a concentration of said organic compound included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means while said switching means is in said second position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said apparatus further comprising: means for calculating a concentration of said organic compound included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said apparatus further comprising: determination means for determining that said organic compound of not less than a predetermined concentration exists in said reactant gas when the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means is not greater than a preset value.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for detecting an organic compound included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said apparatus comprising: a multi-layered structure comprising a plurality of layer units laid one upon another, each said layer unit comprising an electrolyte membrane and first and second electrodes having a catalyst carried thereon and arranged across said electrolyte membrane; a reactant gas supply conduit for supplying said reactant gas to said first electrode in said each layer unit; an oxygen gas supply conduit for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to said second electrode in said each layer unit; and potential difference measurement means for measuring a potential difference between said first electrode proximate to a first end of said multi-layered structure and said second electrode proximate to a second end of said multi-layered structure, which is opposite to said first end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said multi-layered structure comprises a stack of fuel cells comprising a plurality of fuel cells laid one upon another, said apparatus further comprising: cut-off means for cutting off a connection of said stack of fuel cells with a predetermined load for a preset time period; and concentration calculating means for calculating a concentration of said organic compound included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured by said potential difference measurement means, in said preset time period when said predetermined load is disconnected from said stack of fuel cells by said cut-off means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for detecting a lower alcohol included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said apparatus comprising: an electrolyte membrane; first and second electrodes with a catalyst carried thereon, said first and second electrodes being arranged across said electrolyte membrane; a reactant gas supply conduit for supplying said reactant gas to said first electrode; an oxygen gas supply conduit for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to said second electrode; and potential difference measurement means for measuring a potential difference between said first and second electrodes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein said lower alcohol detected is methanol.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of detecting carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying said reactant gas to a first electrode, which is one of two electrodes having a catalyst carried thereon and being arranged across an electrolyte membrane; (b) supplying an oxygen-containing gas to a second electrode, which is the other of said two electrodes; and (c) measuring a potential difference between said first and second electrodes while a predetermined load is connected to said first and second electrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, said method further comprising the step of: (d) controlling temperature of said first electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, said method further comprising the step of: (e) calculating a concentration of carbon monoxide included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured in said step (c).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, said method further comprising the step of: (f) determining that carbon monoxide of not less than a predetermined concentration exists in said reactant gas when the potential difference measured in said step (c) is not greater than a preset value.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of detecting an organic compound included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said method comprising the steps of: (g) supplying said reactant gas to a first electrode, which is one of two electrodes having a catalyst carried thereon and being arranged across an electrolyte membrane; (h) supplying an oxygen-containing gas to a second electrode, which is the other of said two electrodes; and (i) measuring a potential difference between said first and second electrodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
112 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, said method further comprising the steps of: (j) switching between a first state where a predetermined load is connected to said first and second electrodes and a second state where said predetermined load is disconnected from said first and second electrodes; (k) calculating a concentration of carbon monoxide included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured in said step (i), in said first state switched in said step (j); and (l) calculating a concentration of said organic compound included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured in said step (i), in said second state switched in said step (j).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, said method further comprising the step of: (m) calculating a concentration of said organic compound included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured in said step (i).
Claim 28
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of detecting an organic compound included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said method comprising the steps of: (n) supplying said reactant gas to a first electrode in each layer unit of a multi-layered structure, said multi-layered structure comprising a plurality of layer units laid one upon another, each said layer unit comprising an electrolyte membrane and first and second electrodes having a catalyst carried thereon and arranged across said electrolyte membrane; (o) supplying an oxygen-containing gas to said second electrode in said each layer unit; and (p) measuring a potential difference between said first electrode proximate to a first end of said multi-layered structure and said second electrode proximate to a second end of said multi-layered structure, which is opposite to said first end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein said multi-layered structure comprises a stack of fuel cells comprising a plurality of fuel cells laid one upon another, said method further comprising the steps of: (q) cutting off a connection of said stack of fuel cells with a predetermined load for a preset time period; and (r) calculating a concentration of said organic compound included in said reactant gas, based on the potential difference measured in said step (p), in said preset time period when said predetermined load is disconnected from said stack of fuel cells in said step (q).
Claim 30
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of detecting a lower alcohol included in a hydrogen-containing reactant gas, said method comprising the steps of: (s) supplying said reactant gas to a first electrode, which is one of two electrodes having a catalyst carried thereon and being arranged across an electrolyte membrane; (t) supplying an oxygen-containing gas to a second electrode, which is the other of said two electrodes; and (u) measuring a potential difference between said first and second electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH0348533B2
Cited
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