Respiratory Gas Analyzers -2

Chinmay Muralidharan
 INRODUCTION
• Respiratory gas analyzers are used to know
qualitative and quantitative composition of
inspired and expired gas and vapour mixtures.
• This instrument is of great importance in
investigation concerning about lung function
assessment and anesthesia
• The most important gases for analysis are : C0,
C02 and N0.
 Types of analyzers
1. Infrared Gas Analyser
2. Paramagnetic Oxygen Analyser
3. Polarograhic Oxygen Analyser
4. Thermal Conductivity Analyser
5. N2 Analyzer on Ionization Technique
Thermal Conductivity Analyser
(TCA)
 PRINCIPLE
• It is based on Thermal Conductivity of gas
(ability to conduct heat)
• Different gases have different conductivity
• This difference can be employed to
determine the composition of gases
quantitatively.
• In the detector, there are a reference chamber and a measuring
chamber, in each of which a thin platinum wire is stretched.
 COMPONENTS
i. Platinum filament or thermistor
ii. Brass or stainless steel block
iii.Potentiometer
iv. Wheatstone Bridge
 WORKING
• Thermal conductivity is measured with a sensor that employs four matched
filaments that change resistance according to the thermal conductivity of
the gas passing over it.
• The sensor uses four matched filaments that change resistance according to
the thermal conductivity of the gas passing over it. These four filaments
are connected in a Wheatstone Bridge configuration as shown below in
Figure 1.
 WORKING (Contd)
• When all four resistances are the same, VOUT is zero and the bridge is considered
balanced. When zeroing, the reference gas is passed over all the filaments, the
resistances will be the same (because filaments are matched) and the bridge is
balanced. When the sample gas is passed over half of the bridge, then V OUT’s
value correlates to the content of the sample gas in the reference.
• The four elements are electronically connected in a bridge circuit and a constant
current is passed through the bridge to heat the elements. If each element is
surrounded by the same gas, then the temperature and hence the resistance of
each element will be similar and the bridge circuit will be balanced.
• When the gas to be measured is introduced into the sample gas stream, the two
Katharometer elements in this gas stream will be cooled to a greater extent than
the two elements in the reference gas. The bridge circuit will be unbalanced,
producing a signal voltage related to the measure gas content of the sample gas.
Electrical diagram of the thermal
conductivity sensor.
 APPLICATIONS
• Measures the gas sample content of a sample/reference
mixture by comparing the thermal conductivity of the mixture
with that of a reference.
• Used for CO2 concentration changes in the individual breaths
of a patient.
• High speed response necessary for can be obtained by
reducing the pressure of the gas.
• Oxygen and nitrogen has similar thermal conductivity. Hence,
little variations will have negligible effect.
 PRECAUTION
• Be sure to wire properly with correct polarity
of terminals. After wiring is completed, do not
pull on or bend the wire.
• Make sure that the rated voltage is attained
within two seconds of turning the power ON.
• The absence of right gas concentration in a
process can result in reduced productivity and
hazardous conditions like explosions.