Abstract: A gas analysis apparatus including a sorption bed and a receiver normally spaced apart from the sorption bed. A given flow path is defined between the sorption bed and the receiver for directing a gas to be analyzed across the sorption bed for adsorption thereby in an adsorption mode of operation of the apparatus. A drive relatively moves the sorption bed and the receiver closer together from their spaced apart condition to produce a volume reduction of the defined, given flow path across the sorption bed in a desorption mode of operation of the apparatus. A heater selectively heats the sorption bed to desorb the adsorbed gas from the bed into the volume reduced flow path. A gas analyzer is connected to the receiver for analyzing the desorbed gas.

Abstract: A sorption/desorption gas analysis apparatus includes a sorption/desorption bed having a thin layer of sorption material fixed to an outside surface of a first and a second adjacent tapered bed element arranged in a mutually mating configuration. The bed elements are further arranged to be selectively moved with respect to each other to produce a first flow volume therebetween past the sorptive material during a sorption mode of operation and a second substantially smaller flow volume past the sorptive material during a desorption mode of operation. The sorption/desorption bed is used in the gas analysis apparatus by first exposing the sorption bed to an impinging flow of a sample gas containing the constituent of interest which is sorbed by the sorptive material in the sorption mode of operation.

Abstract: A thin bed sorption/desorption apparatus includes a heater element laminated within a high temperature chemically inert polymer with an adhesive on the outside of the laminate being used to attach a thin film of small particle size sorptive material. Various embodiments of the apparatus are each arranged to provide a flow of a sample to be analyzed across the surface of the sorptive material. The method for making the thin bed sorption/desorption apparatus includes the steps of encapsulating a thin-film heater element in a laminated structure of a polyimide which is a high temperature, chemically inert polymer. The outside surface of the laminate is coated with a polyimide adhesive which is diluted with dimethyl formamide. The sorptive material in the form of a powder having a maximum particle size of 100 mesh is applied to the wet adhesive. Subsequently, the coated structure is heat cured at approximately 220.degree. C.

Abstract: A quasi-continuous sorption/desorption analysis method includes the steps of admitting a sample to be analyzed to a stationary sorption/desorption bed for adsorption therein. The flow rate of the sample across the bed is maintained at a high rate for an extended period of time to produce a long sorption time cycle by the sorption bed. Conversely, the subsequent desorption of the sample from the sorption bed is achieved by selectively activating a rapid bed heating element and providing a concurrent low flow rate across the bed to desorb the sample from the sorption bed during a very short desorption time cycle to make the ratio of the sorption/desorption periods as large as possible. The desorbed sample is ultimately conducted to a sample constituent detector for analysis.

Abstract: An electrode system for an electrochemical sensor has a plurality of electrically conductive sensing segments isolated from each other and mounted on a support substrate formed from a chemically inert encapsulation material. The sensing segments are unencapsulated and are each coated with respective ones of ion conducting sensing materials to characterize each of the segments except for one of the segments which is uncoated and is arranged to be used as a reference electrode. The outer surface area of the sensing materials and the reference electrode is coated with a layer of a nonaqueous electrolyte which serves as a sorption/desorption medium. The electrolyte, in turn, is covered by a semipermeable thin film membrane secured at its peripheral edge by an O-ring to the support to form a fluid seal. Electrically conductive leads are connected to respective ones of the sensing surfaces, and a temperature measuring device is provided in the electrode structure for temperature compensation.

Abstract: In combination: a housing defining separate sorption and desorption chambers; gas analyzing means in communication with the desorption chamber; sorption means mounted for movement between a first condition, in which it is located in the sorption chamber, and a second condition, in which it is located in the desorption chamber; means causing a flow of gas to be analyzed through the sorption chamber when said sorption means is in said first condition; and means causing flow of gas from the desorption chamber to the analyzing means when the sorption means is in the second condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a gas analyzing system uses a rotary valve for mixing fuel gas to be analyzed for calorific content and air. The speed of the rotary valve which determines the air-fuel ratio is controlled by a controller sensing combustion products resulting from a combustion of the fuel gas and air mixture. The control of the air-fuel ratio is arranged to produce a substantially stoichiometric combustion at which condition the calorific content of the fuel gas is determined from the controller operation. The air supplied to the rotary valve is initially pumped through a dehumidifier for removing water vapor to minimize the error in the measurement of the calorific content of the fuel gas produced by the entrained water vapor. The dehumidifier includes a labyrinth in the air flow path which is cooled by a thermoelectric cooler below the dew point temperature of the air stream but above the freezing point of water to produce a condensation of the entrained water vapor on the cooled surface.

Abstract: A temperature sensor uses a thin film structure having an RF sputtered layer of a temperature sensitive material forming a thermistor element deposited on an electrically insulating and thermally insulating substrate. The sensor may include a plurality of deposited thermistor layers arranged on both sides of the substrate and having electrical connection means attached thereto. The sensor is arranged on a substrate suitable for inclusion in a detector cell forming a chamber arranged to be connected to a source of fluid flow.

Abstract: A combustible gas analyzer for determining the Wobbe Index of a combustible gas uses a constant pressure combustible gas supply and constant flow rate air supply to provide oxygen and gas for combustion. The air is supplied directly to be mixed with the combustible gas while the gas is passed through a variable orifice or valve before mixing with the air supply. A zirconium oxide detector is arranged to measure the oxygen content of the combustion products to enable a predetermined oxygen level to be reached. The valve is operated by a valve control response to the output of the zirconium oxide detector to maintain the preset oxygen level. The position of the valve is monitored as a representation of the Wobbe Index of the combustible gas.

Abstract: A gas analyzing apparatus for determining the BTU or calorific content of a combustible gas uses a radiometer or optical pyrometer for measuring the temperature of a metal cup black body heated by a flame produced by a combustion of the combustible gas in a gas-air mixture and a valve controller responsive to a control signal for adjusting the air-gas ratio, thermistors for measuring the temperature of the gas-air mixture and the ambient temperature and a temperature monitor including means responsive to the output signals from the radiometer and the thermistors to produce an output signal representative of the temperature difference therebetween and a peak detector responsive to the output signal from the temperature monitor means to produce the control signal for controlling the valve controller to obtain a peak in the output signal from the temperature monitor, whereby to obtain a maximum temperature differential between the metal cup and air-gas mixture with the attained differential temperature being an

Abstract: A gas analyzer for determining the BTU or caloric content of a combustible gas uses a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of a metal cup which is heated by a flame produced by the combustion of the gas in an excess air environment. The supply of combustible gas is periodically turned off while the air supply flow is maintained to produce a periodic heating and cooling sequence of the metal cup during fixed respective time periods. A differential temperature monitor is arranged to monitor the temperature of the metal cup and the incoming fuel and air to produce a differential temperature signal during the heating and cooling sequence. In a second embodiment, the gas flame is continuously ignited and is supplied from a rotating gas jet in the excess air environment. The flame is sequentially applied to a series of metal cups to produce a heating and cooling sequence of each cup.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating components of a fluid mixture of materials uses an acoustic or sonic generator attached to one end of a hollow tube, or column having a uniform internal diameter, to produce standing sonic waves within the column. The sonic waves act as so-called chromatographic plates with the plate height being equivalent to the wavelength, and the plate number in the column being equal to the total number of nodes in the column. The effective column length can be controlled by the use of moving sonic waves which by changing the direction of wave motion can enhance or attentuate the separation process to produce a variation in the apparent column length without changing the physical length of the ultrasonic column. A sample to be separated and a carrier fluid are introduced into the end of the column adjacent to the sonic generator while a fluid exit is provided in the other end of the column.

Abstract: A solid state ion concentration measuring electrode having the ion concentration measuring electrode structure formed by successive layers on an insulating substrate with an outer ion sensitive glass layer being deposited on a substantially thermally matched supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering. The reference electrode is similarly formed by depositing an outer layer of glass onto a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering with the temperature expansion of the glass and supporting solid electrolyte structure being selected to produce a differential expansion causing random cracking of the glass layer during temperature cycling of the referenece electrode. A combination structure is provided wherein the ion concentration measuring electrode and the reference electrode are formed on opposite sides of the same electrically insulating substrate with a thermal compensating element being included in the integrated package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluid sample injection for a chromatograph using an acoustic or sonic generator generating standing waves in a hollow tube. A selectively controlled source of a carrier fluid is arranged to apply a carrier fluid to one end of the tube. A source of sample fluid is connected by a valve to a predetermined location along the tube corresponding to the location of a node separation space in a standing wave generated by the acoustic signal generator. A sample exit port is located on the other side of the hollow tube and is controlled by a valve to provide an exit for the sample fluid flowing across the hollow tube between the nodes. Another end of the tube that is connected to a chromatographic column to supply the sample thereto for separation and subsequent application to a chromatographic detector. A timing and control circuit is used to control the frequency and amplitude of the acoustic signal generator and the timing of the operation of the carrier gas and sample control valves.

Abstract: A solid state pH measuring electrode having the pH measuring electrode structure formed by successive layers on an insulating substrate with an outer pH sensitive glass layer being deposited on a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering. The reference electrode is similarly formed by depositing an outer layer of glass onto a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering with the temperature expansion of the glass and supporting solid electrolyte structure being selected to produce a differential expansion causing random cracking of the glass layer during temperature cycling of the reference electrode. A combination structure is provided wherein the pH measuring electrode and the reference electrode are formed on opposite sides of the same electrically insulating substrate with a thermal compensating element being included in the integrated package.

Abstract: A solid state pH measuring electrode having the pH measuring electrode structure formed by successive layers on an insulating substrate with an outer pH sensitive glass layer being deposited on a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering. The reference electrode is similarly formed by depositing an outer layer of glass onto a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering with the temperature expansion of the glass and supporting solid electrolyte structure being selected to produce a differential expansion causing random cracking of the glass layer during temperature cycling of the reference electrode. A combination structure is provided wherein the pH measuring electrode and the reference electrode are formed on opposite sides of the same electrically insulating substrate with a thermal compensating element being included in the integrated package.

Abstract: A solid state pH measuring electrode having the pH measuring electrode structure formed by successive layers on an insulating substrate with an outer pH sensitive glass layer being deposited on a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering. The reference electrode is similarly formed by depositing an outer layer of glass onto a supporting solid electrolyte layer by RF sputtering with the temperature expansion of the glass and supporting solid electrolyte structure being selected to produce a differential expansion causing random cracking of the glass layer during temperature cycling of the reference electrode. A combination structure is provided wherein the pH measuring electrode and the reference electrode are formed on opposite sides of the same electrically insulating substrate with a thermal compensating element being included in the integrated package.