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Gas Sensor Types: Advantages and Disadvantages

gas sensor sensor type sensor electrochemical sensor infrared sensor

This page covers the advantages and disadvantages of different Gas sensor types, including catalytic, thermal, electrochemical, optical, infrared, semiconductor, and SAW sensors.

Definition:

A gas sensor is a chemical sensor device comprised of a transducer and an active layer. It converts chemical information into an electronic signal, such as a frequency, voltage, or current change.

Our environment contains various gases that can be hazardous beyond certain limits. Monitoring gas levels is essential for the safety of humans, animals, and plants. Various gas sensor technologies are available for detecting these different gases.

Electrochemical Gas Sensor

Based on the above, here’s a list of various gas sensor types:

Catalytic Gas Sensor
Thermal Conductivity Gas Sensor
Electrochemical Gas Sensor
Optical Gas Sensor
Infrared Gas Sensor
Semiconductor Gas Sensor
Acoustic Wave Gas Sensor

Advantages and Disadvantages of Gas Sensors

The following table outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the gas sensor types mentioned above:

Gas sensor type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Catalytic Gas Sensor	- Simple and low-cost technology - Measures the flammability of gases	- Requires air or oxygen to work - Can be poisoned by lead, chlorine, and silicon
Thermal Conductivity Gas Sensor	- Robust and simple construction. - Easy to operate in the absence of oxygen. - Very wide measurement range.	- Can react due to heating of the wire.
Electrochemical Gas Sensor	- Measures toxic gases in very low concentrations. - Ability to detect a wide range of gases.	- Difficult to know failure modes unless very advanced monitoring methods are used.
Optical Gas Sensor	- Very easy to operate in the absence of oxygen. - Not affected by EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). - Wide monitoring area.	- Affected by ambient light interference.
Infrared Gas Sensor	- Uses a physical technique for sensing. - No unseen failure modes. - Can be used in inert atmospheres.	- Not all gases have infrared absorption. - Sequential monitoring is slower on multi-point analyzers. - Requires more user expertise.
Semiconductor Gas Sensor	- Mechanically robust sensor. - Works well at constant high humidity.	- Susceptible to contaminants and changes due to environmental conditions. - Non-linear response affects sensor complexity.
Acoustic Wave Gas Sensor	- Can detect nerve and blister agents. - Battery-less. - Can be used for wireless applications. - Can be placed in harsh & rotating parts.	- Difficult to handle during fabrication due to smaller size.