Systems and methods for blockage detection in gas detectors
Methods and systems for detecting barrier blockage in a gas detector are disclosed. In some embodiments, a gas detector comprises a barrier configured to define a sensing chamber of the gas detector. The gas detector further comprises a radiation detection system. The radiation detection system comprises a radiation source and a detector. The radiation detection system may be configured for generating output signals related to radiation transmitted through the barrier. The gas detector comprises a controller operatively connected to the radiation detection system. The controller is configured to: determine an amount of radiation transmitted through the barrier based on the output signals; and determine a condition of the barrier based on the determined amount of radiation, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the barrier is blocked.
1 . A gas detector comprising:
a barrier configured to define a sensing chamber of the gas detector;
a gas sensor located in an interior of the sensing chamber;
a radiation detection system, the radiation detection system comprising a radiation source and first detector, the radiation detection system configured for generating output signals related to radiation transmitted from the radiation source, through the barrier and to the first detector;
wherein the radiation source is located inside the sensing chamber and the first detector is located outside of the sensing chamber;
and
a controller operatively connected to the radiation detection system, the controller configured to:
determine an amount of radiation transmitted through the barrier based on the output signals; and
determine a condition of the barrier based on the determined amount of radiation, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the barrier is blocked.
2 . The gas detector of claim 1 , wherein presence of blockage in the barrier is determined responsive to the determined amount of transmitted radiation through the barrier being below a radiation threshold.
3 . The gas detector of claim 2 , wherein the radiation threshold is determined based on a radiation permeability of the barrier.
4 . The gas detector of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine an amount of blockage of the barrier based on the determined amount of radiation.
5 . The gas detector of claim 4 , wherein determining the amount of blockage comprises determining a first amount of radiation transmitted through the barrier when the barrier is clean, determining a change between the determined amount of radiation and the first amount of radiation, and determining the amount of blockage based on the radiation change.
6 . The gas detector of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a remaining operational life of the barrier based on the determined amount of radiation.
7 . The gas detector of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
send an alert to a user, the alert indicating the condition of the barrier.
8 . The gas detector of claim 1 ,
further comprising a second detector, wherein the second detector is located inside the sensing chamber; and
the controller is configured to:
determine a first amount of radiation transmitted through the barrier and received by the first detector;
determine a second amount of radiation received by the second detector without going through the barrier; and
determine the condition of the barrier based on a comparison of the first amount of radiation and the second amount of radiation.
9 . The gas detector of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is a light source and the detector is a light detector.
10 . The gas detector of claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a hydrophobic membrane configured to allow gas to flow while blocking liquids and debris.
11 . The gas detector of claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a membrane having a permeability selected in response to a type of gas the gas detector is configured to detect.
12 . The gas detector of claim 11 , wherein the permeability of the barrier is dependent on a number and a size of pores in the membrane.