Solid state oxygen sensors operating on optical technologies have surpassed electro-galvanic fuel cells in virtually every aspect. Electro-galvanic fuel cells once set the benchmark for oxygen sensing technologies.
These oxygen sensors operate like a battery using an expendable electrolyte that is reactive with oxygen. However, the accuracy of electro-galvanic oxygen sensors has been repeatedly called into question.
Their cross sensitivity with other gases and the rate the chemicals used within are depleted are reliant on the levels of concentration of the target gas.
In this blog post, SST Sensing will explore four of the primary benefits of solid state oxygen sensors in more detail.
#1 Low Cost
#2 Operate Over A Wider Temperature Range
#3 Long Operating Life
#4 Virtually No Cross-Sensitivity
#1 Low-Cost Solid State Oxygen Sensors
Generally, solid state oxygen sensors are cost-competitive with electrochemical sensors. There is a common misconception that the technology demands increased up-front investment compared to electro-galvanic cells, but this is rarely the case. The non-depleting technology at work in solid state optical oxygen sensors can provide appreciable long-term cost savings, whilst providing additional key benefits to electro-galvanic cells.
#2 Solid State Oxygen Sensors Operate Over a Wider Temperature Range
Electrochemical sensors are sensitive to temperature and therefore require external compensation, using hardware or software methods. LuminOx contains built-in temperature and pressure sensors and can work below freezing point. Not only does LuminOx measure and compensate for temperature, but it’s two wire communications interface allows the gas temperature and pressure to be measured and transmitted.
#3 Long Operating Life
One of the primary drawbacks of electrochemical oxygen sensors is the depleting nature by which they operate. Optical technologies are typically founded on non-depleting techniques like fluorescence quenching, which utilizes an oxygen-sensitive fluorescent dye that is excited with a pulsed light. This fluorescence is detected, and the rate of fluorescent decay over time is measured as a function of ppO2.
LuminOx solid state oxygen sensors from SST Sensing can remain in service for more than 5 years, providing high performance and extremely reliable oxygen measurements in the long-term.
#4 Virtually No Cross-Sensitivity
Electrochemical sensors generally come with a list of cross sensitive gases that affect the oxygen reading and therefore increase or decrease the output current. Optical solid-state oxygen sensors have minimal cross-sensitivity with other gases as luminescence/fluorescence quenching by oxygen is highly selective to oxygen molecules.
Solid State Oxygen Sensors from SST Sensing
SST Sensing specializes in gas sensing solutions and cutting-edge oxygen sensors for industrial applications. We provide both zirconia oxygen sensors and optical oxygen sensors operating on the principle of fluorescence quenching.
Additionally, the LuminOx range of optical oxygen sensors from SST are RoHS and REACH compliant and are therefore do not use lead or any other hazardous materials during manufacture.
If you would like any more information about our oxygen sensors, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
