Advantages and Disadvantages of Common Gas Sensors
In addition to those mentioned previously, the following four COMMON GAS SENSORS are also in widely use. Today we shall briefly outline their respective advantages and disadvantages.
1. Photoionisation Gas Sensor
Working Principle: Utilises ultraviolet light to ionise gas molecules, with the resulting ion current being proportional to gas concentration.
Advantages:
Extremely high sensitivity, capable of detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at parts-per-billion (ppb) levels;
Rapid response time, enabling real-time monitoring;
Non-destructive detection, as ionised gas molecules can be reduced.
Disadvantages:
Incapable of detecting gases with high ionisation energy (e.g., CO, CO₂);
UV lamps have a limited lifespan (typically several thousand hours);
Relatively high cost.
Applications: Environmental VOC monitoring, leak detection in chemical industrial parks, precise indoor formaldehyde detection.
2. Laser Gas Sensors
Operating Principle: Utilises laser light sources (e.g., TDLAS – Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) precisely matched to gas absorption peaks, detecting concentrations via spectral analysis.
Advantages:
High selectivity and sensitivity, capable of detecting gases at ppb levels;
Highly resistant to interference, unaffected by background gases;
Suitable for long-range, online real-time monitoring.
Disadvantages:
Expensive, with high technical barriers;
Bulky design with high power consumption;
Complex maintenance, suited for specialised fields.
Applications: Remote atmospheric pollution monitoring, online industrial pipeline leak detection, natural gas composition analysis.
3. Solid Electrolyte Gas Sensors
Working Principle: Solid electrolytes exhibit ionic conductivity at specific temperatures. Gas reacts with the electrolyte surface to generate an ionic current proportional to concentration.
Advantages:
High selectivity for precise detection of specific gases (e.g., O₂, NH₃);
Exceptional stability with high-temperature and corrosion resistance;
Extended lifespan suitable for long-term industrial monitoring.
Disadvantages:
Requires high-temperature operation (200–600°C) with relatively high power consumption;
Significant cost, unsuitable for consumer-grade products;
Sensitive to humidity, requiring dry environments.
Applications: Automotive oxygen sensors, industrial oxygen concentration analysis, ammonia leak detection.
The foregoing outlines common gas sensors currently in use. In our daily production and living environments, all of these gas sensors play vital roles across varied scenarios and fields. If you are in need of guidance in selection, please do not hesitate to contact us!