How to choose a high-quality electrochemical gas sensor?

If you are in the market for an electrochemical sensor, you'd know that there are so many things that you need to consider before choosing the one that you need. The phenomenon on which electrochemical gas sensors work has its limitations, and it does not work universally to detect all types of gases.

This is your guide packed with all the essential information that you need before picking the electrochemical sensor that fits your needs and requirements.

You need to consider a bunch of stuff, and we will go over each point individually.

Type of gas

Electrochemical gas sensors can detect several gases. The first thing you need to know is what gas you want specifically to detect and make sure the sensor you will buy can detect it.

Currently, electrochemical sensors support detection for the following important gases;

i. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

ii. Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)

iii. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

iv. Chlorine (Cl2)

v. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

vi. Nitric Oxide (NO)

vii. Ozone (O3)

viii. Hydrogen Fluoride (HF)

ix. Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)

x. Phosgene (COCl2)

xi. Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2)

xii. Ammonia (NH3)

xiii. Phosphine (PH3)

xiv. Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)

xv. Hydrogen (H2)

xvi. Ethylene Oxide (C2H4O)

xvii. Oxygen (O2) and others

Some electrochemical sensors can detect more than a few gases, but their accuracy is dependent on several different things.

Cross sensitivity reduction

Electrochemical sensors are susceptible to different gases having similar chemical reactivity properties. The better electrochemical sensors have filters installed to reduce the chances of a non-target gas interfering with the detection.

Temperature calibration

Generally, well-built electrochemical sensors work over larger ranges of temperature, -20C to 50C commonly. Any electrochemical sensor rated to work at narrower ranges of temperature is not a good option to spend your money on.

Compactness

Electrochemical sensors are mostly smaller in size and easier to install, but if you are working with limited space, you need to consider the size of the sensor and the space it will need to be installed.

Life span

A good quality electrochemical sensor has a life span of around 3 years, based on the type of gas it is designed to detect, but any sensor should have one year of life span. Any time less than that is considered to be a deal-breaker.

Portability

Some electrochemical sensors need to be installed to work, while some can be portable. Installed sensors are usually more precise and accurate; meanwhile, portable sensors are easier to use, and some high-quality ones are accurate as well, so based on your usage, you need to decide trading off a little convenience for some extra accuracy or not, if for example, you are working in a laboratory you would be better off using an installed sensor, because you can install and forget about worrying it anymore. Portable sensors, however, are more useful for technicians or workers who work in remote environments and need a sensor.

These are some major factors that you need to consider when choosing a high-quality electrochemical gas sensor on the market. The cost to performance ratio is the most important thing, and make sure that it is from a licensed, reputable brand and holds good reviews online. Most of the information is highly dependent on the type of gas you want to detect, so make sure you do your research.