Enhancement of the Response time of a Reflective Type Sensor for Ozone Measurements

Abstract

Sensor response time T (90) or speed of response is mathematically a function of the rate of diffusion of a gas sample in an absorption spectroscopic gas cell. Increasing the rate of diffusion increases the speed of response and vice versa. In this article, we present the design and analytical results on the response time of a reflective type ozone gas sensor. The variables of length and cross sectional area were interplayed to optimise the rate of diffusion. Two optical reflectors were employed in increasing the path length of the sensor; this resulted in the simultaneous reduction of the effective cell length and an increase in the diameter of the gas cell (cylindrical structure). Ozone diffusion in the 30 cm length of gas cell has been simulated to be 0.01713 ppm cm3/secs in comparison to 0.01023 ppm cm3/sec for a single reflector gas cell, which shows an enhancement of the sensor response time.