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Operational Theory
The output of the fuel cell is limited by (1) the amount of oxygen in
the cell at the time and (2) the amount of stored anode material.
In the absence of oxygen, no current is generated.
2.2.4 The Effect of Pressure
To determine the amount of oxygen present in the sample in parts--
per-million or a percentage of the gas mixture, it is necessary that the
sample diffuse into the cell under constant pressure.
If the total pressure increases, the rate that oxygen reaches the
cathode through the diffusing membrane will also increase. The electron
transfer, and therefore the external current, will increase, even though
the oxygen concentration of the sample has not changed. It is therefore
important that the sample pressure at the fuel cell (usually vent pressure)
remain relatively constant between calibrations.
2.2.5 Calibration Characteristics
Given that the total pressure of the sample gas on the surface of the
Micro-Fuel Cell input is constant, a convenient characteristic of the cell is
that the current produced in an external circuit is directly proportional to the
rate at which oxygen molecules reach the cathode, and this rate is directly
proportional to the concentration of oxygen in the gaseous mixture. In other
words, it has a linear characteristic curve, as shown in Figure 2-4. Measuring
circuits do not have to compensate for nonlinearities.
In addition, since there is zero output in the absence oxygen, the
characteristic curve has close to an absolute zero (within ± 1 % oxygen).
In practical application, zeroing may be used to compensate for the
combined zero offsets of the cell and the electronics. (The electronics is
zeroed automatically when the instrument power is turned on.)
Teledyne Analytical Instruments
3000RS-P
12
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