Heraeus Electro-nite International N.v.

Heracus Electric-nite International N.v.

Silvia Lenaerts

Ulrich Guth

Ulrich Sch&ouml;nauer

G&ouml;tz Reinhardt

Susanne Brosda

Patrick Van De Voorde

Peter Van Geloven

A gas sensor is provided for measurement of oxygen and/or the air-to-fuel lambda ratio and hydrocarbons and/or carbon monoxide in gas mixtures. To reliably measure a plurality of gaseous components, the sensor is provided with a reference electrode representing a constant oxygen partial pressure, an oxygen ion-conducting solid electrolyte, and at least two measuring electrodes, the measuring electrodes and the reference electrode being mounted directly on the solid electrolyte and having electrical leads for connection and for take-away of electrical measurement signals. The solid electrolyte ( ) is constructed with a measurement gas side exposed to the gas mixture and a reference gas side separated from the gas mixture. The system of electrodes has the reference electrodes ( &Prime;) on the reference gas side and at least two measuring electrodes ( ) on the measurement gas side, and is so constructed that one of the reference electrodes ( ) is assigned to at least one measuring electrode ( ), which forms the anode of this electrode pair ( ). The pair of electrodes ( ) is adapted for the application of a voltage or a current for pumping oxygen, and the system simultaneously transmits at least two measurement signals, which correspond to different gaseous components of the gas mixture.

Gas sensor

A method of measuring oxygen and/or the air-to-fuel lambda ratio and hydrocarbons and/or carbon monoxide in gas mixtures using a gas sensor is provided. To reliably measure a plurality of gaseous components, the sensor is provided with a reference electrode representing a constant oxygen partial pressure, an oxygen ion-conducting solid electrolyte, and at least two measuring electrodes, the measuring electrodes and the reference electrode being mounted directly on the solid electrolyte and having electrical leads for connection and for take-away of electrical measurement signals. The solid electrolyte is constructed with a measurement gas side exposed to the gas mixture and a reference gas side separated from the gas mixture. The system of electrodes has the reference electrodes on the reference gas side and at least two measuring electrodes on the measurement gas side, and is so constructed that one of the reference electrodes is assigned to at least one measuring electrode, which forms the anode of this electrode pair. The pair of electrodes is adapted for the application pumping oxygen, and the system simultaneously transmits at least two measurement signals, which correspond to different gaseous components of the gas mixture.

Method of using a gas sensor

A method for measurement of nitrogen oxides using a gas sensor. To reliably measure nitrogen oxides, the sensor has a reference electrode representing a constant oxygen partial pressure, at least two electrode pairs, with common a electrode associated with each pair of electrodes, and solid electrolytes arranged between the two electrodes of an electrode pair directly at the electrodes. The solid electrolyte between a first electrode pair is gas-permeable, while the solid electrolyte between a second electrode pair is gastight, whereby the second electrode pair is adapated for potentiometric or amperometric measurement of nitrogen oxides, and the first electrode pair is adapted for application of a current or a voltage to pump oxygen. The second electrode of the second electrode pair is constructed as a reference electrode on the reference gas side of the solid electrolyte of the second electrode pair. The sensor also has electrical leads for connection and for take-away of electric measurement signals.

Growing community of inventors

Kuringen, Belgium

Silvia Lenaerts