Space Age Sensor for Earth

Miniaturised ceramic sesors, originally developed for the European Space Agengy(ESA). find increasing applications here on earth;in medical analysis , sports training and even environmental protection.....................

 

It all began in 1993 when the institute of Space Systems(IRS) of the University of Stuttgart started to develop special ceramic gas sensors to measure re-entry conditions for spacegraft.The sensors were used-at time -to measure oxygen levels in the wind tunnels which tested the various heat shield materials that would be used in spacecraft design."The sensors avalible then were no good for testing spacecraft systems because they were big.heavy and used a lot of heating power". explains Rainer Baumann from the Technical University of Dresden who participated in the development of this very small type of sensor.

 

"so we had to develop a new type of senor to measure re-entry conditions for spacecraft.The sensors had to be very small and capable of measuring oxygen at high altitudes and during re-entry.Although the sensors were originally developed for the space programme the technology when shown to industry at a series of presentation by ESA's Technology Transfer Programme-attacted a great deal of interest for possible use in earth-based applications.The main mission of ESA's Tecnology Transfer Programme Office is to facilitate the use of space technology for non-space applications.The TTPO is also responsible for the funding of such start-up companies that will aid in the initiative.

 

As a result three IRS employees, together with thw former head of the IRS institute founded the Germany-based company ESCUBE Space Sensor system GmbH in 2000 to further develop and market the sensor for use in the field of modern gas analysis.

 

ACCURATE HUMAN BREATH ANALYSIS

 

Its very easy to find terrestrial apllication for this miniaturised gas sensor.It reacts very fast and this is useful in many cases where you need to measure ambient conditions on Earth.

 

"One application where the sensor is particularly useful is measurement of the human breath.With this sensor we can measure oxygen ,carbon dioxide and obtain the results immediately something which is impossible with conventional systems"."The very quick time makes it possible to obtain a very accurate breath -by-breath analysis.As the sensor is light and very small it can be incorporated in the mask and used for instance in hospitals and clinics or by top athletes during extrame strain conditions.Further development could even lead to a special mask for monitoring and evaluating the health of astronauts undertaking space mission.

 

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

 

Another terrestrial applications for the sensor the researcher says that is the control of exhaust gases in heating systems for home and industry.The majority of the man produced pollutants on the Earth originate from burning processing in automotive industrial and domestic applications and the sensor can be used to control and optimise these combustion processes."If you place the sensor in the exhaust gases you can control the heaters in real time by using a special algorithm and ensure that the burner operates at an optimum level "says Baumann

 

"This system can reduce the exhaust gases that are harmful for the environment and at the same time-by ensuring the heating system works at an optimum level -it can also reduse fuel consumption by about 10 to 15%

 

SPOTTING HYDROGEN LEAKAGE

 

Another terrestrial application for the miniature sensor is the development of handy easy-to-use portable system to test for hydrocarbon leakage in industrial installations such as the ones used for manufacturing fuel cells."Technology Transfer is not a one way street "for more info www.future2technology.blogspot.com