Stack gas analyzing system with calibrating/sampling feature

Claim 2

For use in an effluent analyzing system having one or more analyzers for detecting the levels of suspected constituents, a calibration/sampling system including: a. a chambered probe including a first inlet for receiving effluent samples, a second inlet and an outlet; b. sample delivery means connected to the outlet for transferring the contents of said chambered probe to the analyzers at a predetermined rate of flow; c. a calibrating fluid supply connected to the second inlet for selectively supplying known concentrations of fluids at a rate of flow greater than the rate established by said sample delivery means to force effluent from the chambered probe thereby permitting the analyzers to selectively receive calibrating fluid samples through the probe to the exclusion of effluent fluid samples.

Claim 3

A system as recited in claim 1 further including means for selectively supplying the calibrating fluids directly to the analyzers, bypassing the chambered probe and sample delivery system.

Claim 4

A system as recited in claim 1 further including means for maintaining said calibration means in a standby condition during effluent sampling, said standby maintaining means including valve means for causing the calibrating fluids to be selectively vented from the system.

Claim 5

A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said calibrating means includes a blanking fluid supply including: a. a valve for selectively interrupting the flow of calibrating fluids; b. a source of blanking fluid connected to said calibrating means at a point between said valve and said second inlet to said chambered probe.

Claim 6

A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sample delivery means includes: a. a pump for transferring the contents of said chambered probe at a rate of flow greater than the rate at which the contents can be accepted by the analyzers; and b. a vent for exhausting the excess contents from the system.

Claim 7

A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the system has a first inlet to the analyzers from the sample delivery means and a second inlet from the means for directly supplying the calibrating fluids.

Claim 8

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein the calibrating fluids are supplied directly to the second inlet to the analyzers at a rate of flow exceeding the rate of flow at which contents of the chambered probe are transferred to the first input to the analyzers, whereby the analyzers can be selectively flooded with calibrating fluids without terminating the flow of contents of the chambered probe into the sample delivery means.

Claim 9

A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said calibrating fluid supply includes: a. an outlet pump; and b. flow regulating means connected to the outlet side of said pump for maintaining a desired rate of flow.

Claim 10

A system as recited in claim 1 further including an alternate supply of calibrating fluids which may be selectively connected directly to the analyzers, bypassing the sample delivery means and the calibrating means.

Claim 11

For use in a stack gas analyzing system having one or more analyzers for detecting suspected constituents in a stack gas flow, a calibration/sampling system including: a. a chambered probe including a first inlet for receiving stack gas samples, a second inlet and an outlet; b. a sample delivery subsystem connected to the outlet of said chambered probe for delivering samples to the analyzers at a predetermined rate of flow; c. a calibrating gases supply subsystem connected to the second inlet of said chambered probe for selectively supplying calibrating gases at a rate of flow greater than the rate established within said sample delivery subsystem to force stack gases from the chambered probe, thereby permitting the analyzers to selectively receive calibrating gases through the probe to the exclusion of stack gases.

Claim 12

For use in a stack gas analyzing system having one or more analyzers for detecting suspected constituents in a stack gas flow, a calibration/sampling system including: a. a chambered probe including a first inlet for receiving stack gas samples, a second inlet and an outlet; b. a sample delivery subsystem connected to the outlet of said chambered probe for delivering samples to the analyzers at a predetermined rate of flow; c. a calibrating gases supply subsystem connected to the second inlet of said chambered probe for selectively supplying calibrating gases at a rate of flow greater than the rate established within said sample delivery subsystem to force stack gases from the chambered probe, thereby permitting the analyzers to selectively receive calibrating gases through the probe to the exclusion of stack gases.

Claim 13

A system as recited in claim 10 further including means for selectively supplying calibrating gases directly to the analyzers, bypassing the chambered probe and sample delivery subsystem.

Claim 14

A system as recited in claim 10 further including means for maintaining said calibrating gases supply subsystem in a standby condition during stack gas sampling, said standby maintaining means including a valve for selectively venting calibrating gases externally of the system.

Claim 15

A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said calibrating gases supply subsystem includes a blanking air supply comprising: a. a valve for selectively interrupting the introduction of calibrating gases into the system; b. a connection to the exterior of the system for permitting air to be introduced into said calibrating gases supply subsystem at a point between said valve and the second inlet to said chambered probe; and c. a filter in line in said connection for removing impurities in the air to be introduced into the system.

Claim 16

A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said sample delivery subsystem includes: a. a pump for transferring the contents of said chambered probe at a rate of flow greater than the rate at which the contents can be accepted by the analyzers; and b. a vent connected to said subsystem at a point between the analyzers and said pump for exhauting system gases in excess of those accepted by the analyzers.

Claim 17

A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the system has a first inlet to the analyzers from the sample delivery subsystem and a second inlet from the means for supplying calibrating gases directly.

Claim 18

A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the calibrating gases may be supplied directly to the second inlet to the analyzers at a rate of flow exceeding the rate of flow established at the first inlet by the sample delivery subsystem, whereby the analyzers can be selectively flooded with calibrating gases without terminating the flow of stack gas into the sample delivery subsystem.

Claim 19

A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said calibrating gases supply subsystem includes: a. a pump; and b. flow regulating means in line with the outlet from said pump for maintaining the rate of flow at a desired level.

Claim 20

A system as recited in claim 10 further including an alternate supply of calibrating gases which may be selectively connected directly to the analyzers, bypassing the sample delivery subsystem and the calibrating gases supply subsystem.

Claim 21

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said calibrating gases supply subsystem includes a blanking air supply comprising: a. a valve for selectively interrupting the introduction of calibrating gases into the system; b. a connection to the exterior of the system for permitting air to be introduced into said calibrating gases supply subsystem at a point between said valve and the second inlet to said chambered probe; and c. a filter in line in said connection for removing impurities in the air to be introduced into the system.

Claim 22

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said sample delivery subsystem includes: a. a pump for transferring the contents of said chambered probe at a rate of flow greater than the rate at which the contents can be accepted by the analyzers; and b. a vent connected to said subsystem at a point between the analyzers and said pump for exhausting system gases in excess of those accepted by the analyzers.

Claim 23

A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the calibrating gases may be supplied directly to the second inlet to the analyzers at a rate of flow exceeding the rate of flow established at the first inlet by the sample delivery subsystem, whereby the analyzers can be selectively flooded with calibrating gases without terminating the flow of stack gas into the sample delivery subsystem.

Claim 24

A system as recited in claim 19 wherein said sample delivery subsystem includes: a. a pump for transferring the contents of said chambered probe at a rate of flow greater than the rate at which the contents can be accepted by the analyzers; and b. a vent connected to said subsystem at a point between the analyzers and said pump for exhausting system gases in excess of those accepted by the analyzers.

Claim 25

A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the calibrating gases may be supplied directly to the second inlet to the analyzers at a rate of flow exceeding the rate of flow established at the first inlet by the sample delivery subsystem, whereby the analyzers can be selectively flooded with calibrating gases without terminating the flow of stack gas into the sample delivery subsystem.