| CPC G01N 27/16 (2013.01) [G01N 33/0031 (2013.01); G01N 33/0075 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A gas detection device for monitoring an area for at least one combustible target gas to be detected, the gas detection device comprising:
a detector comprising a detector heating segment, which is heated when electrical current flows through the detector heating segment;
a compensator comprising a compensator heating segment, which is heated when electrical current flows through the compensator heating segment;
a sensor arrangement; and
a signal-processing analysis unit;
wherein the gas detection device is configured to provide a fluidic connection between the detector and the area to be monitored and to provide a fluidic connection between the compensator and the area to be monitored;
wherein the gas detection device is configured:
to apply an electrical voltage to the detector so that an electrical current flows through the detector heating segment and heats the detector heating segment: and
to apply an electrical voltage to the compensator so that an electrical current flows through the compensator heating segment and heats the compensator heating segment;
wherein the detector is configured to oxidize the combustible target gas present in a gas detection device interior by heating the detector heating segment;
wherein the compensator is configured to oxidize the combustible target gas to a lesser extent than the detector or the compensator is configured to not be capable of oxidizing the combustible target gas or the gas detection device is configured such that a smaller quantity of the combustible target gas reaches the compensator than reaches the detector from the area to be monitored or the compensator is configured to oxidize the combustible target gas to a lesser extent than the detector and the gas detection device is configured such that a smaller quantity of the combustible target gas reaches the compensator than reaches the detector from the area to be monitored or the compensator is configured to not be capable of oxidizing the combustible target gas and the gas detection device is configured such that a smaller quantity of the combustible target gas reaches the compensator than reaches the detector from the area to be monitored;
wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to measure:
a detector detection variable, which depends on a temperature of the detector heating segment; and
a compensator detection variable, which depends on a temperature of the compensator heating segment;
wherein the analysis unit is configured
to determine whether or not the combustible target gas is present in the area to be monitored, based on the measured detector detection variable and the measured compensator detection variable; or
to determine a concentration of the combustible target gas in the area to be monitored, based on the measured detector detection variable and the measured compensator detection variable; or
to determine whether the combustible target gas is present in the area to be monitored or not and to determine a concentration of the combustible target gas in the area to be monitored, based on the detector detection variable and the compensator detection variable;
wherein the analysis unit is further configured to calculate at least once, based on a determined presence of the predefined combustible target gas, a quality parameter for a current quality of the gas detection device, based on the detector detection variable and the compensator detection variable, such that the quality parameter increases:
with a measured increase in the detector detection variable; and
with a measured decrease in the compensator detection variable.
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