A4.1 - Setup to eliminate the gas flow dependency of a hydrocarbon sensor for automotive exhaust applications

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hagen ◽  
A. Harsch ◽  
R. Moos
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunter Hagen ◽  
Antonia Harsch ◽  
Ralf Moos

Abstract. Gas sensors will play an essential role in future combustion-based mobility to effectively reduce emissions and monitor the exhausts reliably. In particular, an application in automotive exhausts is challenging due to the high gas temperatures that come along with highly dynamic flow rates. Recently, a thermoelectric hydrocarbon sensor was developed by using materials which are well known in the exhausts and therefore provide the required stability. As a sensing mechanism, the temperature difference that is generated between a catalytically activated area during the exothermic oxidation of said hydrocarbons and an inert area of the sensor is measured by a special screen-printed thermopile structure. As a matter of principle, this thermovoltage significantly depends on the mass flow rate of the exhausts under certain conditions. The present contribution helps to understand this cross effect and proposes a possible setup for its avoidance. By installing the sensor in the correct position of a bypass solution, the gas flow around the sensor is almost free of turbulence. Now, the signal depends only on the hydrocarbon concentration and not on the gas flow. Such a setup may open up new possibilities of applying novel sensors in automotive exhausts for on-board-measurement (OBM) purposes.


Author(s):  
N. David Theodore ◽  
Mamoru Tomozane ◽  
Ming Liaw

There is extensive interest in SiGe for use in heterojunction bipolar transistors. SiGe/Si superlattices are also of interest because of their potential for use in infrared detectors and field-effect transistors. The processing required for these materials is quite compatible with existing silicon technology. However, before SiGe can be used extensively for devices, there is a need to understand and then control the origin and behavior of defects in the materials. The present study was aimed at investigating the structural quality of, and the behavior of defects in, graded SiGe layers grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).The structures investigated in this study consisted of Si1-xGex[x=0.16]/Si1-xGex[x= 0.14, 0.13, 0.12, 0.10, 0.09, 0.07, 0.05, 0.04, 0.005, 0]/epi-Si/substrate heterolayers grown by CVD. The Si1-xGex layers were isochronally grown [t = 0.4 minutes per layer], with gas-flow rates being adjusted to control composition. Cross-section TEM specimens were prepared in the 110 geometry. These were then analyzed using two-beam bright-field, dark-field and weak-beam images. A JEOL JEM 200CX transmission electron microscope was used, operating at 200 kV.


Author(s):  
Sooho Kim ◽  
M. J. D’Aniello

Automotive catalysts generally lose-agtivity during vehicle operation due to several well-known deactivation mechanisms. To gain a more fundamental understanding of catalyst deactivation, the microscopic details of fresh and vehicle-aged commercial pelleted automotive exhaust catalysts containing Pt, Pd and Rh were studied by employing Analytical Electron Microscopy (AEM). Two different vehicle-aged samples containing similar poison levels but having different catalytic activities (denoted better and poorer) were selected for this study.The general microstructure of the supports and the noble metal particles of the two catalysts looks similar; the noble metal particles were generally found to be spherical and often faceted. However, the average noble metal particle size on the poorer catalyst (21 nm) was larger than that on the better catalyst (16 nm). These sizes represent a significant increase over that found on the fresh catalyst (8 nm). The activity of these catalysts decreases as the observed particle size increases.


Author(s):  
A. R. Landa Canovas ◽  
L.C. Otero Diaz ◽  
T. White ◽  
B.G. Hyde

X-Ray diffraction revealed two intermediate phases in the system MnS+Er2S3,:MnEr2S4= MnS.Er2S3, and MnEr4S7= MnS.2Er2S3. Their structures may be described as NaCl type, chemically twinned at the unit cell level, and isostructural with CaTi2O4, and Y5S7 respectively; i.e. {l13} NaCl twin band widths are (4,4) and (4,3).The present study was to search for structurally-related (twinned B.) structures and or possible disorder, using the more sensitive and appropiate technigue of electron microscopy/diffraction.A sample with nominal composition MnEr2S4 was made by heating Mn3O4 and Er2O3 in a graphite crucible and a 5% H2S in Ar gas flow at 1500°C for 4 hours. A small amount of this material was thenannealed, in an alumina crucible, contained in sealed evacuated silica tube, for 24 days at 1100°C. Both samples were studied by X-ray powder diffraction, and in JEOL 2000 FX and 4000 EX microscopes.


Author(s):  
B.S. Soroka ◽  
V.V. Horupa

Natural gas NG consumption in industry and energy of Ukraine, in recent years falls down as a result of the crisis in the country’s economy, to a certain extent due to the introduction of renewable energy sources along with alternative technologies, while in the utility sector the consumption of fuel gas flow rate enhancing because of an increase the number of consumers. The natural gas is mostly using by domestic purpose for heating of premises and for cooking. These items of the gas utilization in Ukraine are already exceeding the NG consumption in industry. Cooking is proceeding directly in the living quarters, those usually do not meet the requirements of the Ukrainian norms DBN for the ventilation procedures. NG use in household gas stoves is of great importance from the standpoint of controlling the emissions of harmful components of combustion products along with maintenance the satisfactory energy efficiency characteristics of NG using. The main environment pollutants when burning the natural gas in gas stoves are including the nitrogen oxides NOx (to a greater extent — highly toxic NO2 component), carbon oxide CO, formaldehyde CH2O as well as hydrocarbons (unburned UHC and polyaromatic PAH). An overview of environmental documents to control CO and NOx emissions in comparison with the proper norms by USA, EU, Russian Federation, Australia and China, has been completed. The modern designs of the burners for gas stoves are considered along with defining the main characteristics: heat power, the natural gas flow rate, diameter of gas orifice, diameter and spacing the firing openings and other parameters. The modern physical and chemical principles of gas combustion by means of atmospheric ejection burners of gas cookers have been analyzed from the standpoints of combustion process stabilization and of ensuring the stability of flares. Among the factors of the firing process destabilization within the framework of analysis above mentioned, the following forms of unstable combustion/flame unstabilities have been considered: flashback, blow out or flame lifting, and the appearance of flame yellow tips. Bibl. 37, Fig. 11, Tab. 7.


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