Techniques for oxygen analysis
There are several measuring principles:
Electrochemical
Teledyne has developed and perfected the use of electrochemical oxygen sensors for a wide variety of applications. TAI has developed the Micro-Fuel Cell, which works like a transducer; it converts energy from one form into another form. A well-known transducer is the battery that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The Micro-Fuell Cell works the same way; the amount of oxygen in the gas is reduced by an electrolysis reaction and measured by electrical current. The analyser automatically corrects for changes in temperature (at a constant oxygen level). Periodic cell replacement is required. However, the Insta Trace, another Teledyne innovation, eliminates the inconvenience associated with replacing an electrochemical oxygen sensor. Analysers according to the electrochemical principle are suitable for oxygen concentrations between 1 ppm and 25%.
Paramagnetic
The physical property that distinguishes oxygen from other techniques is paramagnetism. Due to these properties, oxygen molecules are attracted by a strong magnetic field. This data is used by the paramagnetic detection technique. Because the gas sample is guided along a magnetic field, a voltage change occurs when the gas contains oxygen. This in turn generates a current (pje) that returns an element of the analyser to its original position. The current required to maintain the original position is proportional to the oxygen concentration. Paramagnetic analysers are very suitable for measurements of oxygen levels between 90 and 100%.
Thermal conductivity
Two thermistors are used for thermal conductivity; one for the sample gas and one for the reference gas. Because the two thermistors are located close to the walls of the sample chamber and are heated, they lose heat to the walls of the sample chamber at a rate that is proportional to the thermal conductivity of the surrounding gas. The temperature difference and the bridge voltage (Wheatstone) are converted in proportion to the concentration of one of the components of the gas mixture.
Zirconium oxide sensor
The zirconia sensor is heated to 700 ° C. When the sample contacts the electrode of the sensor, it generates an electrical signal. This signal is proportional to the ratio between the oxygen concentration in the sample gas and the oxygen concentration in a reference gas. The reference gas in this case is the ambient air that is in contact with the electrode on the outside.