The availability of higher fidelity, robust, highly selective sensors will enable many new and expanded applications of hydrogen-based processes and systems. The operational principle of using a first order sensing reaction and providing long operational lives is common to three types of new generation hydrogen sensors. The catalyst may be purged on demand via dual power resistors also located on the CMOS, allowing quick resets.
Equipment is available for purchase.
This sensor technology offers accurate, fast, intrinsically safe measurement of hydrogen using coated fiber optic elements introduced directly into the environment of interest. A palladium coating applied to an optically designed cap on a polymer optical fiber is interrogated using visible light. The reflected beam is detected and characterized. T his system's nonintrusive approach is easily retrofitted into existing installations and supports large-scale networking of arrays. Evaluation equipment will be available for applications verifications in 1997.