Trace Oxygen Analyzers

This chapter discusses the “micro-fuel cell” electrochemical oxygen transducer and how it performs while used as the sensor in an oxygen analyzer. Monitoring oxygen contamination of inert gases is commonplace in the production of chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors, heat-treated metals, and in virtually every industry where inert gases are used in a manufacturing process. One instrument supplier (Meeco) markets the trace-oxygen instrument system combined with a trace-moisture instrument system. Every oxygen electrochemical sensor is constructed for a particular application. Process-monitoring instrument systems serve the medical, underwater diving, and industrial markets. Electronic zero of a trace-oxygen instrument system needs to be checked and fixed (if required) before a calibration can be started. The micro-fuel cell electrochemical oxygen transducer has a positive temperature reaction: When the temperature increases, the cell's output increases.