Oxygen partial pressure sensor

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869477

Dees, Dennis W ^[1]

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1. Downers Grove, IL

A method for detecting oxygen partial pressure and an oxygen partial pressure sensor are provided. The method for measuring oxygen partial pressure includes contacting oxygen to a solid oxide electrolyte and measuring the subsequent change in electrical conductivity of the solid oxide electrolyte. A solid oxide electrolyte is utilized that contacts both a porous electrode and a nonporous electrode. The electrical conductivity of the solid oxide electrolyte is affected when oxygen from an exhaust stream permeates through the porous electrode to establish an equilibrium of oxygen anions in the electrolyte, thereby displacing electrons throughout the electrolyte to form an electron gradient. By adapting the two electrodes to sense a voltage potential between them, the change in electrolyte conductivity due to oxygen presence can be measured.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5344549
• OSTI ID: 869477
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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adapting
affected
anions
change
conductivity
contacting
contacts
detecting
displacing
due
electrical
electrical conductivity
electrode
electrodes
electrolyte
electron
electrons
equilibrium
establish
exhaust
exhaust stream
form
gradient
measured
measuring
method
nonporous
oxide
oxide electrolyte
oxygen
oxygen anion
oxygen partial
partial
partial pressure
permeates
porous
porous electrode
potential
presence
pressure
pressure sensor
provided
sense
sensor
solid
solid oxide
stream
subsequent
throughout
utilized
voltage
voltage potential