SAGAS: Safety applications of gas sensors

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 98.0074

Key words (English)

Gas warning; CO; CH4; LPG; metal oxide; Gallium oxide; semiconductor gas sensor; explosive gas

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 28114

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.3 Telematic systems

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

SIEMENS AG (D), SATE (I), Universität Giessen (D), Universität Budapest (HU)

Abstract (English)

The subject matter of the SAGAS Project is the realization of gas warning systems for safety applications in domestic use, which for the first time will combine a satisfying degree of reliability with a low price which is affordable for the private consumer. These systems will offer powerful new tools for the protection of human life and health against dangers in the domestic environment arising from explosive (CH4, LPG) or toxic (CO) gases. The required key component of these systems is the availability of a new generation of gas sensors with performance superior to existing sensors. This new gas sensor generation is based on the technology of high temperature operated semiconducting Ga2O3 films which have to be improved to such an extent that they fulfil the very hard specifications of practical use and are ready to be commercialized in the improved version.
Currently available gas warning systems do not fulfil the reliability requirements needed for safety applications. They are based on the conventional technology of semiconductor sensors, using SnO2 as sensor material. Due to comparably low operation temperatures (100-400°C) and a grain boundary controlled gas sensitivity this sensor technology suffers from drawbacks like scattering and drift of sensor properties leading to false alarms. Despite a success of these sensors in other applications, this limits the capability of the conventional gas-sensor technology to provide reliable protection systems for safety applications and achieve a sufficient acceptance by the market. To open the market, it is necessary to profoundly improve the systems performance in order to satisfy the customer requirements.
The aim of this project is the development of reliable gas warning systems equipped with Ga2O3-based metal oxide gas sensors to protect human life from dangers arising from explosive (CH4/ LPG) or toxic (CO) gases in accidental cases like gas leaks or maladjusted burners.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 98.0074