Electronics (Dec 2016)
Simulation and performance analysis of Multiple PCS sensors system
Abstract
In this paper, a novel circuit is presented which overcome a serious limitation found in case of multiple sensors system. In this novel system design only one reference electrode and few active components used that makes the implementation of a low-cost system for the supervision of water quality. Photo Catalytic Sensor (PCS) estimates the parameter BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) which is generally used to estimate quality of water. The system proposed in this paper involves a balanced bridge approach using few electronic components that provides a correlation in the input - output signals of low-cost sensors. The main reason of employing a readout circuit to PCS circuitry, is the fact that the fluctuation of O2 influences the threshold voltage, which is internal parameter of the FET and can manifest itself as a voltage signal at output but as a function of the transconductance gain. The trans-conductance is a passive parameter and in order to derive voltage or current signal from its fluctuations the sensor has to be attached to readout circuit. This circuit provides high sensitivity to the changes in percentage of O2 in the solution.
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