The Boeing Company
Methods and systems for measuring concentrations of known components in gas samples using acoustic resonance

Abstract:

Disclosed are methods and systems for measuring concentration of known components in gas samples using an acoustic resonance technique. A system includes a resonant chamber, a sound generator positioned at and acoustically coupled to an opening of the resonant chamber, and an audio sensor positioned proximate to and in sound communication to the opening and configured to measure an acoustic spectrum. During operation, the sound generator produces a white noise such that the soundwaves of the white noise passes through a gas sample positioned in the resonant chamber. As the soundwaves pass through the gas sample, the audio sensor monitors the frequency spectrum and identifies any resonant frequency that, if present, would correspond to a specific component and the concentration of this component. Specifically, the component concentration is determined from the frequency response.