Alkali metal ionization detector

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863113

Bauerle, James E ^[1]; Reed, William H ^[2]; Berkey, Edgar ^[3]

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1. Plum Borough, PA
2. Monroeville, PA
3. Murrysville, PA

Variations in the conventional filament and collector electrodes of an alkali metal ionization detector, including the substitution of helical electrode configurations for either the conventional wire filament or flat plate collector; or, the substitution of a plurality of discrete filament electrodes providing an in situ capability for transferring from an operationally defective filament electrode to a previously unused filament electrode without removing the alkali metal ionization detector from the monitored environment. In particular, the helical collector arrangement which is coaxially disposed about the filament electrode, i.e. the thermal ionizer, provides an improved collection of positive ions developed by the filament electrode. The helical filament design, on the other hand, provides the advantage of an increased surface area for ionization of alkali metal-bearing species in a monitored gas environment as well as providing a relatively strong electric field for collecting the ions at the collector electrode about which the helical filament electrode is coaxially positioned. Alternatively, both the filament and collector electrodes can be helical. Furthermore, the operation of the conventional alkali metal ionization detector as a leak detector can be simplified as to cost and complexity, by operating the detector at a reduced collector potential while maintaining the sensitivity of the alkali metal ionization detector adequate for the relatively low concentration of alkali vapor and aerosol typically encountered in leak detection applications.

• DOE Contract Number: E(11-1)-2499
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4095171
• OSTI ID: 863113
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

alkali
metal
ionization
detector
variations
conventional
filament
collector
electrodes
including
substitution
helical
electrode
configurations
wire
flat
plate
plurality
discrete
providing
situ
capability
transferring
operationally
defective
previously
unused
removing
monitored
environment
particular
arrangement
coaxially
disposed
thermal
ionizer
provides
improved
collection
positive
developed
design
hand
advantage
increased
surface
metal-bearing
species
gas
relatively
strong
electric
field
collecting
positioned
alternatively
furthermore
operation
leak
simplified
cost
complexity
operating
reduced
potential
maintaining
sensitivity
adequate
concentration
vapor
aerosol
typically
encountered
detection
applications
coaxially disposed
gas environment
metal ionization
electrode configuration
relatively strong
wire filament
leak detection
flat plate
electric field
alkali metal
ionization detector
leak detector
monitored gas
collector electrode
plate collector
increased surface
coaxially positioned
electrode configurations
coaxially position
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