Patent ID: 6694800
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A gas analyzer comprising:a measuring volume having connections for input and output flow of a sample gas mixture, at least one gas component of which is to be analyzed for determining its concentration in said mixture, and having first and second ends transparent to radiation; a radiation source for providing a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength range, said beam approaching collimation and being directed to pass said measuring volume through the first and second ends thereof; a heat sink for said radiation source; at least one thermal detector having an active radiation detecting sensor element within at least one detector housing and receiving the radiation exiting said measuring volume, said thermal detector having a reference sensor element within the same detector housing and protected from said radiation, said thermal detector generating an output signal indicative of a property of said at least one gas component of said mixture in the measuring volume; at least one optical bandpass filter between said active radiation detecting sensor element and said radiation source; electrical contact pins in said at least one detector housing for the output of said signal(s); electrical wires composed of materials and having dimensions producing an overall thermal conductance substantially lower than that of said electrical contact pins, said electrical wires being connected with the electrical contact pins either directly or indirectly, and enclosed in the thermal mass together with said detector housing(s), and extending from the cavity through the thermal mass to the outside thereof with at least one exit point at said outer surface; a thermal mass formed of a material having high thermal conductance, said thermal mass: having a cavity and an outer surface, surrounding at least said detector housing in the cavity, being in contact with said detector housing, and extending towards the radiation source; and a thermal barrier between the heat sink and the thermal mass.