Fluid analysis apparatus and fluid analysis method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10698425-B2
Application number	US-201715817374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

The present invention intends to reduce the contamination level of an introduction path, miniaturize a circuit board, and improve measurement accuracy by adjusting the number of molecules of a measurement target component to flow into an analysis part, and includes: a detector for detecting the concentration of the measurement target component contained in fluid; an introduction path connected to the detector to introduce the fluid into the detector; and a flow rate switching mechanism adapted to, depending on the concentration of the measurement target component, switch the flow rate of the fluid to be introduced into the detector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid analysis apparatus comprising:
a detector for measuring concentration of a measurement target component contained in fluid;
an introduction path connected to the detector to introduce the fluid into the detector; and
a flow rate switching mechanism provided upstream of the detector in the introduction path, and adapted to compare the concentration obtained by the detector with a predetermined threshold value, and to switch a flow rate of the fluid to be introduced into the detector between (i) a first flow rate when the concentration is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, and (ii) a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate when the concentration is less than the predetermined threshold value.

2. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the introduction path includes a first introduction path and a second introduction path, and
the flow rate switching mechanism comprises:
a first flow rate regulating part provided in the first introduction path to regulate the flow rate of the fluid to the first flow rate;
a second flow rate regulating part provided in the second introduction path to regulate the flow rate of the fluid to the second flow rate; and
a flow path switching part that switches a flow path to be connected to the detector between the first introduction path and the second introduction path.

3. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising
an amplifier that amplifies a detection signal obtained by the detector.

4. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising
a calculation part that calculates the concentration by, on a basis of concentration conversion corresponding to the flow rate of the fluid, calculating an output signal resulting from the amplification by the amplifier.

5. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 4 ,
the fluid analysis apparatus making a detection response on a side of the second introduction path slower than a detection response on a side of the first introduction path.

6. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the calculation part is one adapted to perform the concentration conversion by taking a moving average of the output signal and making an averaging time for an output signal obtained at the first flow rate shorter than an averaging time for an output signal obtained at the second flow rate.

7. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the fluid is exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine.

8. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the fluid analysis apparatus is one mounted in a vehicle to analyze the exhaust gas.

9. The fluid analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the fluid flow rate switching mechanism comprises a device adapted to continuously switch the flow rate in the introduction path.

10. A fluid analysis method using a fluid analysis apparatus comprising a detector for measuring concentration of a measurement target component contained in fluid, an introduction path connected to the detector to introduce the fluid into the detector, and a flow rate switching mechanism provided upstream of the detector in the introduction path, the method comprising:
by the flow rate switching mechanism provided upstream of the detector in the introduction path
comparing the concentration obtained by the detector with a predetermined threshold value, and
switching a flow rate of the fluid to be introduced into the detector between (i) a first flow rate when the concentration is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, and (ii) a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate when the concentration is less than the predetermined threshold value.

Assignees

• Horiba Ltd

Inventors

• Yoshimura Tomoshi

Classifications

• G01N1/2252 Primary

  in a vehicle exhaust · CPC title

• G01N33/0009

  General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment (devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state G01N1/22) · CPC title

• G01M15/102

  by monitoring exhaust gases · CPC title

• G01N35/00 Primary

  Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor · CPC title

• G01N33/00

  Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00 · CPC title