12/16/2016

Toray Engineering | Measurement & Control Technologies | Principle of Measurement of Zirconia Oxygen Analyzers

Principle of Measurement of Zirconia Oxygen Analyzers

Principle of Measurement
Toray zirconia oxygen analyzers determ ine oxygen concentration using the conductivity of a zirconia
ceram ic cell. Zirconia ceram ic cells only allow oxygen ions to pass through at high tem peratures. With
reference gas on one side and sam ple gas on the other, oxygen ions m ove from the side with the
highest concentration of oxygen to that with the lowest concentration. The m ovem ent of ions
generates an EMF (Electro Motive Force) which can be m easured to determ ine the oxygen content.

Fig. 1

In Fig. 1, a gas with fixed oxygen concentration (norm ally air) is placed on the A side as the reference
gas (PR), while the gas whose oxygen concentration is to be m easured (PM) is placed on the B side.
When this is done, ion conduction occurs from the side with higher oxygen concentration to the side
with lower oxygen concentration.
The electrochem ical reaction on both sides follows Form ula 1, and the EMF accom panying ion
conduction is given by the Nernst equation (Form ula 2).

Formula 1

Formula 2

Since the EMF varies depending on the tem perature of the zirconia sensor and the oxygen

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12/16/2016

Toray Engineering | Measurement & Control Technologies | Principle of Measurement of Zirconia Oxygen Analyzers

concentration of the reference gas (PR), in the actual device, the zirconia sensor is placed in a
constant tem perature oven, and air is generally used as the reference gas.
With Toray's zirconia sensor, a stable EMF conform ing to the Nernst equation is obtained from about
500C, as shown in the Table.

General Precautions for Use

Zirconia oxygen analyzers ordinarily operate at a high tem perature close to 800C (700C, in the case
of Toray). Therefore, please be aware that m easurem ent m ay be im possible, or there m ay be
adverse effects on sensor service life, in the following situations.
1. Oxygen analyzers cannot be used if the set-up atm osphere is an explosion-proof zone.
2. If the m easured gas contains flam m able gas (i.e. m ethane, alcohol, carbon m onoxide), it will
cause a com bustion reaction, and result in m easurem ent error.
3. Organic silica (used in sealing com pounds etc.) will cause sensor degradation. (Our com pany's
findings indicate that this is the leading cause of degradation.)
4. The sensor m ay degrade if the m easured gas contains corrosive gas (i.e. fluorine-based gases,
chlorine-based gases, sulfate-based gases) or poisonous substances (i.e. Si, Pb, P, Zn, Sn).
5. If the m easured gas interm ittently contains a substance such as carbon m onoxide with a high
calorific value, the sensor will accum ulate a heat history, and this will cause sensor m alfunction
due to problem s such as platinum electrode peeling.
6. If the m easured gas contains large am ounts of NOX , SOX or other corrosive gas, this will cause
sensor m alfunction due to problem s such as platinum electrode peeling.
7. At high tem peratures, freon gas will cause an unpredictable reaction with oxygen, and this m ay
result in m easurem ent error.
8. Water droplets, dust and m ist will dam age the sensor, shorten its service life, and cause errors.
9. In general, these analyzers cannot be used with closed loops (circulating system s) unless they
are specially designed for that purpose. The sensor m ay be dam aged by excess pressure.
When m easuring gases containing these substances, please rem ove those substances before
supplying gas to the analyzer. For inform ation on rem oval m ethods, please consult with the sales
supervisor prior to purchase.

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