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Performance of zinc oxide single‐crystal semiconductor gas sensors in an experimental mine roadway
Author(s) -
Hurts Nicholas W.,
Jones T. Alwyn,
Mann Brenda
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.810090104
Subject(s) - conveyor belt , coal mining , combustion , coal , zinc , environmental science , materials science , ventilation (architecture) , waste management , chemistry , metallurgy , engineering , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry
The performance of zine oxide gas large‐scale experiments in an experimental underground mine roadway has been investigated. The sensors were in a simple prototype instrument and the response to products evolved from heated coal wood and PVC conveyor belt was determined. The response was measured as a function of sensor distancef from the combustion products, the ventilation rate in the roadway and the mass of coal dust used. Limited analuysis of the roadway air was also carried out. The results are compared with those obtained in laboratory studies 1 and suggest that the sensors respond mainly to inorganic gases, e.g. CO, H 2 , H 2 S, HCl, and in the case of wood, acetic vapour at concentrations of about 1ppm. The experiments confirm the potential of the sensors as a means of detecting heating involving coal, wood and PVC conveyor belt.