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Sensor Detects Ozone In Air, Water & Explosive Gases
In Freiburg, Germany, scientists have developed a highly sensitive, miniaturized mobile Ozone sensor. This sensor can be used not only in air, but also in water and in the vicinity of explosive gases.
Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent and can cause a wide range of symptoms in humans, including lacrimation, irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, throat, and bronchial tubes, headaches, coughing and even deterioration in lung function.
The main sources of ozone pollution are industrial and transport emissions. Particularly in warmer weather, these react with intensive UV radiation to form ground-level ozone.
But laser printers and copiers, machines so prevalent in modern-day offices, can also emit ozone.
The European Commission has announced its intention to cut the guideline value for ozone in the air from the current level of 90 parts per billion to 60 parts per billion by 2010, and when this new regulation comes into force, there will be an increased demand for inexpensive ozone sensors.
But, according to project manager Dr. Volker Cimalla of the IAF, “Since ozone is, at the same time, an agent with high application potential, novel sensors are required, which have to be compact and affordable.”
Sensors are essential equipment in industrial settings such as wastewater treatment facilities and water sterilization units, where they are used to monitor the ozone concentration – firstly to ensure the required concentration for the relevant application is maintained, and secondly to guard against exceeding hazardous thresholds for humans.
According to Project manager Cimalla, “The ozone sensors currently available on the market employ extremely laborious and complex measuring procedures such as UV absorption and are therefore very expensive.”
“By contrast, the more affordable ozone sensors have to be heated up to 300 degrees Celsius and produce inaccurate readings or only work in limited areas of application,” he said.
“We’ve done away with the need for heating by instead applying blue/violet light radiation to trigger the chemical process necessary for regeneration on the sensor surface. This allows the sensors to operate at room temperature,” he added.
The scientists built on the existing knowledge that molecules absorbed on the surface of a sensing layer alter its electrical resistance – and can also be removed again by light irradiation.
The result is a highly-sensitive, miniaturized sensor capable of measuring the low ozone levels that occur in environmental and ambient air monitoring just as accurately as the high levels associated with industrial process control.
Since the sensor is extremely small, it can even be integrated into mobile equipment.
NASA Develops Chemical Sensor for iPhone
Jing Li, a physical scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., along with other researchers working under the Cell-All program in the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, developed a proof of concept of new technology that would bring compact, low-cost, low-power, high-speed nanosensor-based chemical sensing capabilities to cell phones.
The device Li developed is about the size of a postage stamp and is designed to be plugged in to an iPhone to collect, process and transmit sensor data. The new device is able to detect and identify low concentrations of airborne ammonia, chlorine gas and methane. The device senses chemicals in the air using a “sample jet” and a multiple-channel silicon-based sensing chip, which consists of 16 nanosensors, and sends detection data to another phone or a computer via telephone communication network or Wi-Fi.
Portable Paperless Recorders and Data Acquisition Stations
February 17, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Flow, Mobile, Pressure, Temperature
This high performance, easy-to-use portable recorder displays real-time measured data on a clear, wide-angle color LCD and can handle a wide range of measurement in your lab, plant, or test stand.
These recorders have powerful stand-alone data logging capability and the units record on-site changes in temperature, voltage, current, flow and pressure. The product features secure high capacity memory with internal memory of 200MB, choice of compact flash and USB removable storage media, detachable input terminals that simplify field wiring, and advanced network connectivity with email, file transfer, and web server functions.
Wireless Implantable Medical Devices
January 20, 2009 by R. Nelson Parrish
Filed under Mobile
The increasing availability of compact, low power wireless medical technologies will enable a new generation of human implantable medical monitoring and patient care devices using the Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) radio frequency band, according to Cambridge Consultants. Designers of personal, self-contained medical devices for blood pressure and metabolite monitoring and control, new drug delivery tools or neuro-stimulation technology are moving toward wireless devices that can be implanted into the human body for constant, yet unobtrusive care.
One of the challenges of these devices, however, is designing a suitable antenna that can operate within the complex RF environment of the human body where fat, muscle, and skin tissue create challenging wireless signal conditions. Cambridge Consultants, a design and development company, recently tested MICS band antennas for just such implantable devices.
New approaches to the shape and size of an implantable antenna can provide improved and consistent-read coverage for a monitoring or drug-delivering device, and can improve performance and battery life. A recent demonstration by the company showed a seven-fold improvement in power consumption, potentially extending the use of an implantable device by a significant margin.
Cambridge Consultants
www.cambridgeconsultants.com
Mobile Equipment Vehicle Sensors
Minneapolis, Minn. — TURCK introduces its new family of robust inductive proximity sensors for use on mobile vehicle systems. Designed to reliably detect the position of doors, ladders, outriggers, gates and booms, the Mobile Equipment Sensor Series delivers rugged sensing solutions for agriculture, construction, commercial and utility industry mobile equipment applications. The sensors are available in five styles—M12, M18 and M30 barrel sensors, along with Q14 and Q20 rectangular versions—to easily install on a wide range of mobile vehicles. By incorporating advanced technology and enhanced electronics, the sensors provide an extended sensing range while resisting the high levels of EMC often found with mobile vehicle electric systems.
The Mobile Equipment Sensor Series is constructed of robust PBT housings and durable materials, such as stainless steel, to resist stones, salt spray and extreme shock and vibration. To ensure dependable operation in the broadest range of environments, the sensors deliver IP 68 and IP 69k protection and a temperature range of -40 to 85° C. In addition, the sensors series offers load dump compensation to withstand electrical pulses and provide reliable operation.
With quick-disconnect or potted-in cable connections, as well as optional mounting accessories, the sensor series is quickly simply integrated into mobile vehicle systems. Optional pigtail versions with standard automotive connections are also available.
Pepperl+Fuchs’ New Mobile Equipment Sensors
TWINSBURG, OH – Pepperl+Fuchs introduces Mobile Equipment Sensors. These IP69K rated inductive proximity sensors are shock test rated to 50G for reliable operation in high shock and vibration environments, can operate in extreme cold (-40°) and heat (+85°C/+185°F), and feature 10x more powerful radiated field immunity than standard sensors to satisfy the demanding performance criteria set forth in IEC and SAE mobile equipment standards. They are fully compatible with Deutsch, Weatherpack (Packard) and Amp/Tyco connectors.
Mobile Equipment sensors are available in 12, 18 and 30 mm diameters to deliver 4, 8 and 15mm sensing ranges, respectively. The extended sensing range of up to 15mm facilitates increased target-to-sensor separation, which significantly reduces accidental impacts to maximize uptime. Load dump circuitry protects the sensor against power spikes during machine start-up, which is particularly significant when the sensor is powered directly from a battery. Additionally, they feature heavy-gauge, cut-proof PUR cables that are unaffected by oil, grease and other fluids common to such applications.
Mobile Equipment sensors are specifically engineered to overcome the environmental challenges common to truck, bus, crane, lawn mowing, fork lift and other mobile equipment applications. Their ability to reliably operate in extreme temperatures also makes them well suited for use in nearly any outdoor environment, or in freezers where standard sensors with a typical -25°C rating are unsuitable for use.
