Long-Life Catalytic Type Combustible Gas Sensors

Figaro Engineering Inc. (Japan) is pleased to announce its latest offering—the TGS68series of catalytic type gas sensors and the related products. Figaro offers two gas sensor models—TGS6810 for methane/ LP gas detection, and TGS6812 for methane/ LP gas/ H2 gas detection, and one pre-calibrated module, FCM6812.

Features: Fail safe design, Linear output, Sensitive to combustible gases, Small sensitivity to alcohol, High durability to silicone vapor, SO2, Compact and Low cost, long life (Expected life: 10 years), Meets RoHS requirements.

Applications: Residential LNG and LPG alarms, Detectors for LNG and LPG, Hydrogen and combustible gas leak detectors and fuel cell applications. 

The most notable feature of these sensors is “Fail safe” design concept. For conventional catalytic type sensors, sensor output in gas tends to decrease by time in one direction after deterioration of catalyst. As a result, there is a risk without alarming in case of gas leakage after deterioration of catalyst. Figaro catalytic type sensors are designed so that sensor output in gas tends to increase in the long run by changing material and bead size between detector element and compensator element. In addition, by immersing the catalyst deep inside sensing element, the sensor is more durable to silicone vapours and corrosive gases such as SO2 than conventional type sensors. Furthermore, as the sensor possesses an adsorbent inside its sensor cap, its cross sensitivity to alcohol is much smaller than traditional catalytic type sensors.

Though the sensors are not suitable for gas analysers or measurement purposes where high accuracy is required, due to the instability of the air level or Vout in air, the sensors are ideal for stationary gas detectors or monitoring system for combustible gases.

As a related product, Figaro has a pre-calibrated module FCM6812 with hydrogen sensor TGS6812 which includes the following features: Linear analog output proportional to gas concentration, Maintenance free, Self diagnosis, Compact and low cost. 

The module has been used for hydrogen leak detection from Stationary type fuel cell in Asia, North America US and European countries.