Method for quantitatively determining a component of a gas flow and apparatus therefor

Claim 1

A method for making a quantitative determination of a component in a gas flow with an apparatus including: a testing conduit for conducting the gas flow therethrough; said testing conduit having a throttle formed therein for throttling said gas flow; a gas sensor for detecting the component, said gas sensor having an inlet and an outlet; a sample line having a first end branching into said testing conduit upstream of said throttle and a second end connected to said inlet of said gas sensor; a valve connected to said outlet and being switchable between an open position wherein gas flows through said sample line, said gas sensor and said valve and a closed position wherein the flow of gas through said gas sensor is interrupted; a pressure sensor connected to said sample line for measuring the pressure of said gas flow upstream of said throttle; and, a control unit for controlling said valve and for receiving signals from said sensors; a method for making a quantitative determination of said component in said gas flow, the method comprising the steps of: switching said valve into said open position via said control unit thereby permitting gas to flow through said sample line, said gas sensor and said valve; determining the gas volume flowing through the sample tube by computing the time integral of said signal of said pressure sensor in said control unit; and, switching said valve into said closed position after one of the following conditions is satisfied: a pregiven volume of said gas has passed into said gas sensor via said sample conduit; and, a pregiven time span has elapsed.

Claim 2

A method for making a quantitative determination of a component in a gas flow with an apparatus including: a testing conduit for conducting the gas flow therethrough; said testing conduit having a throttle formed therein for throttling said gas flow; a gas sensor for detecting the component, said gas sensor having an inlet and an outlet; a sample line having a first end branching into said testing conduit upstream of said throttle and a second end connected to said inlet of said gas sensor; a valve connected to said outlet and being switchable between an open position wherein gas flows through said sample line, said gas sensor and said valve and a closed position wherein the flow of gas through said gas sensor is interrupted; a pressure sensor connected to said sample line for measuring the pressure of said gas flow upstream of said throttle; and, a control unit for controlling said valve and for receiving signals from said sensors; a method for making a quantitative determination of said component in said gas flow, the method comprising the steps of: switching said valve into said open position via said control unit thereby permitting gas to flow through said sample line, said gas sensor and said valve; determining the gas volume flowing through the sample tube by computing the time integral of said signal of said pressure sensor in said control unit; and, switching said valve into said closed position after one of the following conditions is satisfied: a pregiven volume of said gas has passed into said gas sensor via said sample conduit; and, a pregiven time span has elapsed.

Claim 5

An apparatus for quantitatively determining a component in a gas flow, the apparatus comprising: testing conduit for conducting the gas flow therethrough; said testing conduit having throttle means formed therein for throttling said gas flow; a gas sensor for detecting the component and for supplying a signal indicative of said component, said gas sensor having an inlet and an outlet; a sample line for conducting a portion of said gas flow as a sample gas flow, said sample line having a first end branching into said testing conduit upstream of said throttle means for receiving said sample gas flow and a second end connected to said inlet of said gas sensor; a valve connected to said outlet and being switchable between a closed position wherein a passing of said sample gas flow through said gas sensor is prevented and an open position wherein said sample gas flow can pass through said gas sensor; a pressure sensor connected to said sample line for measuring the pressure of said gas flow upstream of said throttle means and for supplying a signal indicative of said pressure; and, control means connected to said sensors for receiving said signals, said control means also being connected to said valve for controlling said valve to switch between said positions and being adapted for making a quantitative determination of said component with the aid of said signals.

Claim 6

An apparatus for quantitatively determining a component in a gas flow, the apparatus comprising: testing conduit for conducting the gas flow therethrough; said testing conduit having throttle means formed therein for throttling said gas flow; a gas sensor for detecting the component and for supplying a signal indicative of said component, said gas sensor having an inlet and an outlet; a sample line for conducting a portion of said gas flow as a sample gas flow, said sample line having a first end branching into said testing conduit upstream of said throttle means for receiving said sample gas flow and a second end connected to said inlet of said gas sensor; a valve connected to said outlet and being switchable between a closed position wherein a passing of said sample gas flow through said gas sensor is prevented and an open position wherein said sample gas flow can pass through said gas sensor; a pressure sensor connected to said sample line for measuring the pressure of said gas flow upstream of said throttle means and for supplying a signal indicative of said pressure; and, control means connected to said sensors for receiving said signals, said control means also being connected to said valve for controlling said valve to switch between said positions and being adapted for making a quantitative determination of said component with the aid of said signals.