High temperature carbon monoxide sensor for in-situ combustion monitoring
Inventors
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Assignees
MemberWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
West Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
Publication Number
US-12345417-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A high temperature carbon monoxide sensor for in-situ combustion monitoring is provided having a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor and a nickel oxide (NiO) first sensing electrode for targeting carbon monoxide gas at a temperature range from between about 1000 degrees Centigrade to about 1200 degrees Centigrade. A method of measuring carbon monoxide using this sensor is provided.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor for in-situ combustion monitoring. The sensor uses a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor, with a sensor probe including a first sensing electrode and a reference electrode and a nickel oxide (NiO) electrode for targeting carbon monoxide gas within about 1000 degrees Centigrade to about 1200 degrees Centigrade.
The sensor architecture includes a housing and a chamber, with a thermocouple located within the chamber. A yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface is located within the chamber and disposed between the first sensing electrode and the reference electrode, or alternatively between the first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode and between the second sensing electrode and the reference electrode. A porous ceramic element is located within the second open end of the chamber.
Signal wiring and temperature sensing are arranged for measurement at high temperature, with electrode wires and thermocouple wires routed within an alumina tube. A data collector system includes first voltmeter and second voltmeter and a thermometer to collect signals associated with the first sensing electrode, the second sensing electrode, the reference electrode, and the thermocouple. The sensor provides carbon monoxide sensitivity and selectivity behavior in a combustion process environment.
Claims Coverage
The claims include 8 inventive features across independent claims for a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor, a sensor system, a method of measuring carbon monoxide in a combustion process environment, and electrode material selections. The inventive features center on a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor, NiO-based sensing at about 1000 to about 1200 degrees Centigrade, and structural and signal-collection arrangements including a housing, chamber, thermocouple, alumina tube, porous ceramic element, and voltmeters.
Housing and chamber arrangement with thermocouple
A housing having a first end and a second end and a middle section and an internal wall and an external wall, a chamber having an internal wall and an external wall with a first open end and a second open end opposite to the first open end, and a thermocouple wherein at least a portion of the thermocouple is located within the chamber.
Yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor
A yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor within the chamber.
NiO sensing electrode targeting carbon monoxide at 1000–1200 degrees Centigrade
A sensor probe comprising a first sensing electrode and a reference electrode, wherein the first sensing electrode is a nickel oxide (NiO) electrode for targeting carbon monoxide gas at a temperature range from between about 1000 degrees Centigrade to about 1200 degrees Centigrade.
Alumina tube sealed engagement and porous ceramic element placement
A first alumina tube having an external wall and an internal wall with a first open end and a second open end and a middle section disposed between the first open end and the second open end, wherein at least a portion of the first alumina tube is located within the chamber; a sensor probe located within and in sealed engagement with the second open end of the first alumina tube; and a porous ceramic element located within the second open end of the chamber.
Electrode and thermocouple wiring routed in alumina tube middle section
A communication arrangement wherein each of the first sensing electrode wire, the second sensing electrode wire, the thermocouple wire, and the reference electrode wire are located in an interior of the middle section of the first alumina tube.
Data collector system with voltmeters and thermometer
A data collector system comprising a first voltmeter, a second voltmeter, and a thermometer, wherein the first sensing electrode is in communication with the first voltmeter via a first sensing electrode wire, the second sensing electrode is in communication with the second voltmeter via a second sensing electrode wire, the reference electrode is in communication with the first voltmeter and the second voltmeter via a reference electrode wire, and a thermocouple wire is in communication with the thermocouple and the thermometer.
Measuring carbon monoxide in a combustion process environment using the sensor system
A method of measuring carbon monoxide in a combustion process environment comprising using a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor system including the housing and chamber, the first alumina tube, the thermocouple, the sensor probe with a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface and optionally a second sensing electrode, a porous ceramic element, and the data collector system comprising first voltmeter, second voltmeter, and a thermometer.
Electrode material selection for targeting carbon monoxide at 1000–1200 degrees Centigrade
A high temperature carbon monoxide sensor comprising a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor, a first sensing electrode for targeting carbon monoxide gas at a temperature range from between about 1000 degrees Centigrade to about 1200 degrees Centigrade, and a second sensing electrode, wherein the first sensing electrode is made of a material independently selected from NiO and NiO-based doped variants, and wherein the second sensing electrode is made of a material selected from the same enumerated NiO-based doped variants.
The claims define a high temperature carbon monoxide sensor system built around a yttrium-stabilized zirconia interface based emf-measuring electrochemical sensor with NiO-based first sensing electrode targeting carbon monoxide at about 1000 to about 1200 degrees Centigrade. The system further specifies structural placement of a thermocouple and a porous ceramic element, sealed engagement within an alumina tube, wiring routed within the alumina tube, optional second sensing electrode and associated voltmeters, and method claims for measuring carbon monoxide in a combustion process environment.
Stated Advantages
The sensor provides carbon monoxide sensitivity and selectivity behavior in a combustion process environment.
Documented Applications
In-situ combustion monitoring.
Measuring carbon monoxide in a combustion process environment.
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