Hi, I am designing an SMO gas sensor testing system and want to know if control of gas temperature is required.
I understand that SMO gas sensors with open-loop heating elements will be impacted by ambient temperature fluctuations. However, if the operating temp is kept constant with an ideal feedback loop will the sensor response still be impacted by ambient temp fluctuations.
Note: Ambient temp will remain at 18 +/- 3 deg Celcius anyhow
Note: Ideally would control temp, however with limited funding need to cut costs where possible
Hi Liam, depends upon the Tempco (temperature coefficient) of your sensor. When you say the sensor is kept at constant temperature, then any variation in the ambient temperature should not affect your sensor. But if your sensor expeereinces 15-21oC (18 +/-3oC as stated by you) I believe, your sensor would DO respond to this variation and you can observe/experience some "TREND" in the sensor output that responds to the temperature changes.
Hope I could answer your question.
Thanks and best wishes!
-Prasanna Waichal
Dear Liam Speechley!
Agree with Prasanna Waichal. The result will depend on temperature coefficient.
Usually SMO sensors work at elevated temperatures. So it is not obvious, but I do believe that plus minus 3 degrees should not efect strongly the sensitivituy. Cost-wise you may try to stabilise 18 degrees and make 1 measurement and then to make the same measurement at 21 degrees. Thus you`ll know the difference. Presuming the linearity of temperature dependence at this nerrow temperature range and measuring the temperature while measuring the gas composition you may make the correction anyway.
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