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Friday, 15 November 2013

Gas Sensor

Overview
            A gas detector is a device which detects the presence of  gases within an area, usually as part of a safety system. This type of equipment is used to detect a gas leak and interface with a control system so a process can be automatically shut down.


Gas Sensor




Features

  • High sensitivity to LPG, natural gas , town gas
  •  Small sensitivity to alcohol, smoke.
  •  Fast response .
  • Stable and long life
  • Simple drive circuit

Applications
  • Detection of harmful gases in mines.
  • Home safety

Using The Sensor

  •  Connect regulated DC power supply of 5 Volts to pin 3 and GND to pin2. 
  •  When gas is detected LED is ON or else it is OFF. 
  •  The output from pin1 can be given directly to microcontroller for interfacing applications.

Working

       The  MQ-7  gas  sensor  is  shown  as (Configuration  A  or  B),  sensor  composed  by  micro  AL2O3  ceramic  tube,  Tin  Dioxide  (SnO2)  sensitive  layer,  measuring electrode  and  heater  are  fixed  into  a  crust  made  by  plastic  and  stainless  steel  net.  The heater  provides necessary work conditions for work of sensitive components. The enveloped MQ-7 have 6 pin, 4 of them are used to fetch signals, and other 2 are used for providing heating current.




As  shown  in,  standard  measuring  circuit  of   MQ-7 sensitive components consists of 2 parts. one  is  heating  circuit  having  time  control  function  (the  high  voltage  and  the  low  voltage  work   circularly ). The second is the signal output circuit,  it  can  accurately  respond  changes  of  surface  resistance of the sensor.

operation  principle: 
 The surface resistance of the sensor Rs is obtained through effected voltage signal output of the  load resistance RL which series-wound. The relationship between them is described:
                                        Rs\RL = (Vc-VRL) / VRL
below fig shows alterable situation of RL signal output measured by using above circuit output
signal  when  the  sensor  is  shifted  from  clean  air  to  carbon  monoxide  (CO)  ,  output  signal  measurement is made within    one or two complete heating period (2.5 minute from high voltage  to low voltage ). Sensitive layer of MQ-7 gas sensitive components is made of SnO2   with stability, So, it has  excellent long term stability. Its service life can reach 5 years under using condition.
ATMEL Schematic:
ATMEL Code:
For Code Click Here.


ARM Schematic:
ARM Code:
For Code Click Here.


PIC Schematic:
PIC Code:
For Code Click Here.