EP0692095A1 - Detector device - Google Patents

Detector device

Info

Publication number
EP0692095A1
EP0692095A1 EP94909993A EP94909993A EP0692095A1 EP 0692095 A1 EP0692095 A1 EP 0692095A1 EP 94909993 A EP94909993 A EP 94909993A EP 94909993 A EP94909993 A EP 94909993A EP 0692095 A1 EP0692095 A1 EP 0692095A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
window
shielding gas
gas flow
source
sai
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94909993A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Howard William Lightfoot
Christopher D. Jones
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ENVIRO SYSTEMS Ltd
Original Assignee
ENVIRO SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ENVIRO SYSTEMS Ltd filed Critical ENVIRO SYSTEMS Ltd
Publication of EP0692095A1 publication Critical patent/EP0692095A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
    • G01N27/62—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosols; by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode
    • G01N27/64—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosols; by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode using wave or particle radiation to ionise a gas, e.g. in an ionisation chamber
    • G01N27/66—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosols; by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode using wave or particle radiation to ionise a gas, e.g. in an ionisation chamber and measuring current or voltage

Definitions

  • This invention relates to detector devices fo gas-borne contaminant.
  • One such detector device is described i PCT/GB92/01313 and comprises a sample gas flow passag and a window into said passage for ionising radiation
  • the ionised sample gas passes between measurin electrodes.
  • the device is very sensitive t low contaminant concentrations, it is also very toleran of high concentrations. A problem arises, however, o contaminant fouling the window which reduces th sensitivity and can give rise to spurious results.
  • the present invention alleviates that problem.
  • the invention comprises a detector device fo detection of gas-borne contaminant having a sample ga flow passage and a window into said passage for ionisin radiation and shield means interposing a flow o shielding gas between said window and said sample ga f flow against contamination of said window.
  • the device may comprise an ionising radiatio source chamber behind said window and shielding gas flo means for shielding gas from said chamber over sai window into said passage.
  • Said chamber may have filtered inlet.
  • Sample gas flow past said window may draw sai shielding gas flow in train.
  • Said shielding gas flow may comprise a thi layer.
  • the source of ionising radiation may comprise a ultraviolet source.
  • the device may comprise baffle means definin the sample and shielding gas flow paths and which ma comprise radiation-unaffected material such as poly tetrafluoroethylene, which is tolerant of ultraviole radiation and which does not, when subject to suc radiation, emit photoelectrons, which would interfer with measurements.
  • radiation-unaffected material such as poly tetrafluoroethylene, which is tolerant of ultraviole radiation and which does not, when subject to suc radiation, emit photoelectrons, which would interfer with measurements.
  • the shielding gas may be clean (e.g. filtered air, but the device may comprise a source of shieldin gas such as a reservoir of clean air or nitrogen.
  • the detector device illustrated in the drawin comprises a sample gas flow passage 11 through whic sample gas, e.g. air which might carry contaminant, i drawn by a fan 12.
  • sample gas e.g. air which might carry contaminant
  • the device has a window 13 openin into the passage 11 for ionising radiation which ionise the sample gas.
  • the ionised sample gas then passes b an electrode system 14 which detects the ionisatio occasioned by the radiation.
  • An ultraviolet source 15 is located behind th window 13 in a chamber 16.
  • the source 15 has an en face comprising the window 13 which in use with heavil contaminated samples could itself become coated wit contaminant which will affect its performance - th radiation emitted through the window 13 will b attenuated, and the coating, itself excited by th radiation, could emit photoelectrons that woul interfere with measurement.
  • the window 13 is protected by a flow o shielding gas 1J . between the window 13 and the sampl gas flow through the passage 11.
  • the chamber 16 is hermetically sealed except fo a filtered inlet 17 and a shielding gas outlet apertur 18a. Sample gas flow past the window 13 (pulled by th fan 12) draws the shielding gas flow in train as a thi layer flow over the window 13.
  • a definitive source o shielding gas may be provided as a reservoir, such as pressure cylinder 19 connected through suitable valvin 21 to the chamber 16.
  • the shielding gas may then b clean air or it may be nitrogen, which does not absor 10.6 eV UV radiation and does not, on that account affect the sensitivity of the device.
  • an air shield would reduce the sensitivity onl by about 20% which is a small price for the longer ter stability of the detector.
  • Dilution of the sample gas by the shielding ga need cause a reduction in contaminant concentration o one or two percent at most, which will be of little o no consequence, but can be compensated for in any even during calibration of the device.
  • the aperture 18a is in a baffle 22 defining th sample and shielding gas flow paths.
  • the aperture 18 can be the same size as or slightly smaller than th window 13 - as it will be subject to some radiation, i is desirably of a material which is not affected. Poly tetrafluoroethylene is tolerant of UV radiation and doe not emit photoelectrons on exposure.
  • the face of th baffle 22 in the passage 11 can be metallised an earthed to help define and maintain the electri potential distribution within the detection device.
  • the gas shielding arrangement is of cours applicable to any window into the passage, not just window for ionising radiation.
  • a detector device ma have several windows into the passage for one reason o another; each window can be shielded in similar fashion.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Other Investigation Or Analysis Of Materials By Electrical Means (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Radiation (AREA)

Abstract

There is disclosed a detector device for detection of gas-borne contaminant having a sample gas flow passage and a window into said passage for ionising radiation and shield means interposing a flow of shielding gas between said window and said sample gas flow against contamination of said window.

Description

DETECTOR DEVICE
f This invention relates to detector devices fo gas-borne contaminant.
One such detector device is described i PCT/GB92/01313 and comprises a sample gas flow passag and a window into said passage for ionising radiation The ionised sample gas passes between measurin electrodes. Although the device is very sensitive t low contaminant concentrations, it is also very toleran of high concentrations. A problem arises, however, o contaminant fouling the window which reduces th sensitivity and can give rise to spurious results.
The present invention alleviates that problem.
The invention comprises a detector device fo detection of gas-borne contaminant having a sample ga flow passage and a window into said passage for ionisin radiation and shield means interposing a flow o shielding gas between said window and said sample ga f flow against contamination of said window.
*!
The device may comprise an ionising radiatio source chamber behind said window and shielding gas flo means for shielding gas from said chamber over sai window into said passage. Said chamber may have filtered inlet.
Sample gas flow past said window may draw sai shielding gas flow in train.
Said shielding gas flow may comprise a thi layer.
The source of ionising radiation may comprise a ultraviolet source.
The device may comprise baffle means definin the sample and shielding gas flow paths and which ma comprise radiation-unaffected material such as poly tetrafluoroethylene, which is tolerant of ultraviole radiation and which does not, when subject to suc radiation, emit photoelectrons, which would interfer with measurements.
The shielding gas may be clean (e.g. filtered air, but the device may comprise a source of shieldin gas such as a reservoir of clean air or nitrogen.
One embodiment of a detector device according t the invention wjJLl now be described with reference t the accompanying drawings, in which the single Figure i a diagrammatic lengthwise section through a detecto device of the type disclosed in PCT/GB92/01313 afore mentioned.
The detector device illustrated in the drawin comprises a sample gas flow passage 11 through whic sample gas, e.g. air which might carry contaminant, i drawn by a fan 12. The device has a window 13 openin into the passage 11 for ionising radiation which ionise the sample gas. The ionised sample gas then passes b an electrode system 14 which detects the ionisatio occasioned by the radiation.
An ultraviolet source 15 is located behind th window 13 in a chamber 16. The source 15 has an en face comprising the window 13 which in use with heavil contaminated samples could itself become coated wit contaminant which will affect its performance - th radiation emitted through the window 13 will b attenuated, and the coating, itself excited by th radiation, could emit photoelectrons that woul interfere with measurement.
Against such contamination, according to th invention, the window 13 is protected by a flow o shielding gas 1J . between the window 13 and the sampl gas flow through the passage 11. The chamber 16 is hermetically sealed except fo a filtered inlet 17 and a shielding gas outlet apertur 18a. Sample gas flow past the window 13 (pulled by th fan 12) draws the shielding gas flow in train as a thi layer flow over the window 13.
Instead of relying on filtered air drawn throug the chamber 16 by the fan 12, a definitive source o shielding gas may be provided as a reservoir, such as pressure cylinder 19 connected through suitable valvin 21 to the chamber 16. The shielding gas may then b clean air or it may be nitrogen, which does not absor 10.6 eV UV radiation and does not, on that account affect the sensitivity of the device. In practice however, an air shield would reduce the sensitivity onl by about 20% which is a small price for the longer ter stability of the detector.
Dilution of the sample gas by the shielding ga need cause a reduction in contaminant concentration o one or two percent at most, which will be of little o no consequence, but can be compensated for in any even during calibration of the device.
The aperture 18a is in a baffle 22 defining th sample and shielding gas flow paths. The aperture 18 can be the same size as or slightly smaller than th window 13 - as it will be subject to some radiation, i is desirably of a material which is not affected. Poly tetrafluoroethylene is tolerant of UV radiation and doe not emit photoelectrons on exposure. The face of th baffle 22 in the passage 11 can be metallised an earthed to help define and maintain the electri potential distribution within the detection device.
The gas shielding arrangement is of cours applicable to any window into the passage, not just window for ionising radiation. A detector device ma have several windows into the passage for one reason o another; each window can be shielded in similar fashion.

Claims

1. A detector device for detection of gas-born contaminant having a sample gas flow passage and window into said passage for ionising radiation an shield means interposing a flow of shielding gas betwee said window and said sample gas flow agains contamination of said window.
2. A device according to claim 1, comprising a ionising radiation source chamber behind said window an shielding gas flow means for shielding gas from sai chamber over said window into said passage.
3. A device according to claim 2, said chambe having a filtered inlet.
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which sample gas flow past said window draws sai shielding gas flow in train.
5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which said shielding gas flow comprises a thin layer.
6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the source of ionising radiation comprises a ultraviolet source.
7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising baffle means defining the sample an shielding gas flow paths.
8. A device according to claim 7, in which sai baffle means comprise radiation - unaffected materia such as polytetra-fluoroethylene.
9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the shielding gas is clean air.
10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 comprising a source of shielding gas.
11. A device according to claim 10, in which sai source comprises a reservoir of clean air.
12. A device according to claim 10, in which sai source comprises a reservoir of nitrogen.
EP94909993A 1993-03-30 1994-03-21 Detector device Withdrawn EP0692095A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB939306556A GB9306556D0 (en) 1993-03-30 1993-03-30 Detector device
GB9306556 1993-03-30
PCT/GB1994/000575 WO1994023292A1 (en) 1993-03-30 1994-03-21 Detector device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0692095A1 true EP0692095A1 (en) 1996-01-17

Family

ID=10732963

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94909993A Withdrawn EP0692095A1 (en) 1993-03-30 1994-03-21 Detector device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0692095A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH08508341A (en)
AU (1) AU6261994A (en)
GB (2) GB9306556D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1994023292A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063156A (en) * 1976-02-27 1977-12-13 Varian Associates, Inc. Assymetric cylinder electron capture detector
DE3330509C1 (en) * 1983-08-24 1985-05-23 Fa. Matter-Siegmann, Wohlen Process for controlling combustion processes
JP3332921B2 (en) * 1991-07-19 2002-10-07 イギリス国 Apparatus and method for detecting gas

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9423292A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9306556D0 (en) 1993-05-26
JPH08508341A (en) 1996-09-03
WO1994023292A1 (en) 1994-10-13
GB2291713A (en) 1996-01-31
AU6261994A (en) 1994-10-24
GB9519848D0 (en) 1995-11-29

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