Application of Gas Sensor for Air Damper Control Systems in Automobiles

Abstract

Recently, the demand for the application of an Automatic Air Damper Control System in automobiles has been expanding. In this system; composed of one or two gas sensors and a signal processing software, it is important to detect incoming gasoline and diesel exhaust gases from other cars sensibly and reliably. However, conventionally used tin oxide (SnO₂) based semiconductor gas sensors have high sensitivity to reducing gases (e.g. CO, HC) but are effected by the presence of oxidizing gases (e.g. NO_X). Since the contents of reducing gas in diesel exhaust is relatively lower compared with gasoline exhaust, it is more difficult to detect diesel exhaust from low concentration ranges.