Emission control, chemical sensors

Chemical sensors are key in the transportation industry. Sensors are used to determine the fuel ratio, manage the optimum ratio, and measure the oil quality for pollution control. Chemical sensors monitor tailpipe emissions and catalytic converters. Additionally, sensors aid in chemical diagnostics of oil, transmission fluids, and other performance fluids. 

Plasma emission spectrometers have shown a rapid growth. This holds also for NMR spectrometer sales because of new applications in biomedical research and more sophisticated experimental methods using increased computing power. Similarly, Raman spectroscopy, traditionally used in academic research, is gaining acceptance in industrial R D and quality control applications. Materials research and surface analysis in a variety of industries keeps the sales of electron microscopic, electron spectroscopic, ion spectroscopic, and X-ray instruments growing. Details of the various techniques on surface and interface characterization which are also important in R D of chemical sensors themselves, can be found in Chapter 3, Section 3.4.2. 

A very important aspect of gas sensors in automotive exhaust-gas environments is aftertreatment of the electrodes to control a specific sensor behavior. For example, to measure nonequilibrium raw emissions, the sensor needs excellent catalytic ability. Various methods are known to improve electrodes in Zr02-based sensors. One well known method is to increase the active platinum surface area and the three-phase boundary area by partial reduction of zirconia close to the electrode. This occurs when the ceramic is exposed to a reducing atmosphere at high temperatures or when an electrical cathodic current is applied through the electrode and electrolyte. A similar effect can be achieved by chemical etching of the elec-... 

Burners capable of adjusting operating parameters in real time Sensors and controls for emissions and heat distribution Fuel and oxidant physical and chemical characteristics Fuel and oxidant mixing within the burner Process interactions within the burner system Robust design tools/unified code Fundamental understanding of physical and chemical science... 

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