NOx monitor using differential mobility spectrometry

Abstract

System for detection and analysis of gas samples in fieldable real-time Differential Mobility Spectrometry (DMS) chemical sensor system which uses non-radioactive ion source for monitoring and detecting NOx emissions; provides reliable methods for detecting and monitoring of anthropogenic sources of NOx; also detection of NO in exhaled breath for patient health diagnosis.

1 . System for chemical analysis of a gas sample, comprising: 
 a flow path,    a soft ionization source,    an ion filter including ion filter electrodes across said flow path,    an electronic input, said electronic input coupled to said ion filter electrodes for generating a high-low varying asymmetric displacement field between said electrodes across said flow path,    said asymmetric displacement field imparting transverse motion to said flow of ion species according to mobility characteristics of said ion species and according to extant field conditions, said transverse motion driving unwanted ion species in said flow of ion species into said ion filter electrodes for neutralization thereof,    said asymmetric displacement field being compensated, said compensation for selecting at least one ion species out of said flow of ion species and accommodating travel of said selected ion species in said flow path to said ion outlet for detection without said neutralization,    said ion filter distinguishing between ion species of an ionized NOx sample based on differences in ion mobility in said filter field, and    said filter passing selected said ion species of said ionized NOx sample for detection based on said compensation, and    said detected, passed, selected, ion species being identified based on historical detection data of said system and on said extant field conditions    
   
   
       2 - 20 . (canceled)