A device and a method determines the concentration of a vapor in a volume, in particular for determining or controlling the mass flow of the vapor being conveyed through the volume by a carrier gas. The device comprises a sensor, which supplies a sensor signal that is dependent on the concentration or partial pressure of the vapor. The sensor has an oscillatory body that can be brought to oscillation, the oscillation frequency of which is influenced by a mass accumulation formed on a surface of the oscillating body by the condensed vapor. The oscillating body has a temperature control unit, by means of which the oscillating body can be brought to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the vapor. An evaluation unit determines the concentration or the partial pressure of the vapor from the temporal change of the oscillator frequency.

A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

A respiratory assistance apparatus has a gases inlet configured to receive a supply of gases, a blower unit configured to generate a pressurised gases stream from the supply of gases; a humidification unit configured to heat and humidify the pressurised gases stream; and a gases outlet for the heated and humidified gases stream. A flow path for the gases stream extends through the respiratory device from the gases inlet through the blower unit and humidification unit to the gases outlet. A sensor assembly is provided in the flow path before the humidification unit. The sensor assembly has an ultrasound gas composition sensor system for sensing one or more gas concentrations within the gases stream.

In order to provide a gas concentration measurement apparatus that suppresses any change in the temperature of an optical fiber, and also makes it difficult for any effects to appear in the measurement accuracy due to air from the surrounding environment penetrating the optical path of the measurement light while using only a simple structure and without causing any excessive energy consumption there are provided a first sealing component provided between an incident surface of a gas cell and a first end surface that is formed at a periphery of an emission aperture of a light-emitting unit so as to enclose the periphery of the emission aperture, and a second sealing component provided between an emission surface of the gas cell and a second end surface that is formed at a periphery of an incident aperture of a light-receiving unit so as to enclose the periphery of the incident aperture.

A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

A sensor having a MEMS microphone (1) and a processor (2). The MEMS microphone (1) having a noise spectrum depending on a fluid to be analyzed. The processor (2) is configured to receive a measurement signal from the MEMS microphone; to identify a characteristic of the noise spectrum of the MEMS microphone in the measurement signal; and to determine a property of the fluid based on the characteristic identified.

A device and a method determines the concentration of a vapor in a volume, in particular for determining or controlling the mass flow of the vapor being conveyed through the volume by a carrier gas. The device comprises a sensor, which supplies a sensor signal that is dependent on the concentration or partial pressure of the vapor. The sensor has an oscillatory body that can be brought to oscillation, the oscillation frequency of which is influenced by a mass accumulation formed on a surface of the oscillating body by the condensed vapor. The oscillating body has a temperature control unit, by means of which the oscillating body can be brought to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the vapor. An evaluation unit determines the concentration or the partial pressure of the vapor from the temporal change of the oscillator frequency.

A respiratory assistance apparatus has a gases inlet configured to receive a supply of gases, a blower unit configured to generate a pressurised gases stream from the supply of gases; a humidification unit configured to heat and humidify the pressurised gases stream; and a gases outlet for the heated and humidified gases stream. A flow path for the gases stream extends through the respiratory device from the gases inlet through the blower unit and humidification unit to the gases outlet. A sensor assembly is provided in the flow path before the humidification unit. The sensor assembly has an ultrasound gas composition sensor system for sensing one or more gas concentrations within the gases stream.

A dual-gas metering system and method is described herein, wherein percentages of two types of gas in a gas flow are determined. The system uses two speed of sound measurements, and calculates a percentage of hydrogen gas within a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen gas. In a further example, a first speed of sound within a single type of gas (e.g., natural gas) is obtained. This measurement may be obtained from a remote device operating in a region of the gas system upstream of a location wherein a second type of gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) is introduced. A second speed of sound within a dual-gas mixture is measured. A hydrogen concentration value is calculated based at least in part on the first speed of sound and the second speed of sound, such as by using a ratio of the two speeds of sound and a lookup table.

A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.