Gas Sensor System Differentiating Ethylene and 1-MCP via Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Differentiating between ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in an environment is challenging due to their similar properties, which complicates the inhibition of ethylene-induced processes in harvested fruits and flowers.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor system comprising multiple sensors with varying electrode spacings, where each sensor type measures resistance changes to distinguish between ethylene and 1-MCP based on contact and semiconducting region resistance alterations, allowing for the determination of gas presence and concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single gas sensor is used to detect gases in an environment, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to differentiate between similar gases (ethylene and 1-MCP) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple sensors with different electrode spacings (first sensor with spacing d1, second sensor with spacing d2 where d1 ≠ d2). Each sensor responds differently to the same gas mixture due to the spacing variation, enabling differentiation between ethylene and 1-MCP through comparative analysis of the sensor responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode spacing parameter is deliberately changed between sensors to create distinct response characteristics. By varying this physical parameter (distance between electrodes), the system achieves different sensitivity profiles for ethylene and 1-MCP, allowing precise gas identification without requiring complex sensor materials or structures.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors with different electrode spacings are used to differentiate gases, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors perform the same basic function (detecting gas-induced resistance changes) but with different electrode spacings. This universal design allows the system to detect both ethylene and 1-MCP concentrations simultaneously using identical sensor technology, avoiding the need for different sensor types or materials while achieving multi-gas differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensors with known different spacings to resolve the ambiguity in gas identification. By comparing the resistance change responses from sensors with different spacings, the processing unit can determine whether the observed resistance change is due to ethylene or 1-MCP, providing accurate gas concentration measurements through comparative feedback analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate differentiation and monitoring of ethylene and 1-MCP concentrations, facilitating the inhibition of ethylene-induced processes in fruits and flowers by effectively distinguishing between the two gases through resistance measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The semiconductor layer is configured to undergo an electronic interaction with a gas to be detected
Implementation Method 2
a measurement unit configured to measure a resistance of each one of the plurality of sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A gas sensor system for measuring a plurality of gases in an environment. The gas sensors system comprises multiple gas sensors where each of the gas sensors includes a pair of electrodes separated by a semiconducting material. The gas pairs of electrodes of the gas sensors are separated by different distances in each of the gas sensors. Resistivity of the semiconducting material of the gas sensors changes in the presence of a first gas and a contact resistivity between the electrodes and the semiconducting material of gas sensors changes in the presence of a second gas. From measurements of total resistivity of each of the gas sensors the presence and/or the concentration of both the first and the second gas sensors can be determined.