Optimization of structure and power supply conditions of catalytic gas sensor

The analytical optimization of the structure and the power supply conditions of the catalytic gas sensor consisting of two spherical elements and connected to a Wheatstone bridge circuit is presented. Expressions for the parameters of the sensitive and reference elements and the catalytic gas sensor connected to the bridge circuit are obtained. The ratio of the sensitivity of the catalytic gas sensor to the bias voltage of the bridge circuit is chosen as a goal function and the heat balance equation for the element of the sensor in ambient air without combustible gases is used as a constraint. The diameter of the elements and the bias voltage of the bridge circuit are chosen as independent parameters. The optimization problem of the catalytic gas sensor is solved by its transformation to one parameter optimization problem without the constraint. Dependencies of optimum values of the goal function and corresponding values of the independent parameters, the sensitivity, the resistance of each element, the consumed power of each element and the current density flowing through the elements on the design parameters of the elements and their operating temperature are determined.