Bacharach offers a variety of replacement sensors for the MGS-550. Sensors are available for many different gases, concentrations, and sensor types. For a complete list of part numbers, please click here.

Electrochemical Sensors

Electrochemical sensors measure the partial pressure of gases under atmospheric conditions. The monitored ambient air diffuses through a membrane into the liquid electrolyte in the sensor. The electrolyte contains a measuring electrode, a counter-electrode, and a reference electrode. An electronic "potentiostat" circuit ensures a constant electrical voltage between the measuring electrode and the reference electrode. Voltage, electrolyte, and electrode material are selected to suit the gas being monitored so that it is transformed electrochemically on the measuring electrode, and a current flows through the sensor. This current is proportional to the gas concentration. At the same time, oxygen from the ambient air reacts at the counter electrode electrochemically. The current flowing through the sensor is amplified electronically, digitized, and corrected for several parameters (e.g., the ambient temperature).

Catalytic Bead Sensors

A catalytic bead sensor measures the partial pressure of combustible gases and vapors in ambient air. It uses the heat-of-combustion principle. The monitored air diffuses through the sintered metal disc into the sensor. The mixture of combustible gases, vapors, and air is catalytically combusted at a heated detector element (called a pellistor). The oxygen content in the air must be greater than 12 Vol%. Due to the resulting heat-of-combustion, the temperature of the detector element rises. This increase in temperature causes a change of resistance in the detector element, which is proportional to the concentration of the mixture of combustible gases and vapors in the monitored air. In addition to the catalytically active detector element, there is a compensator element. Both elements are parts of a Wheatstone bridge. Thus environmental effects like changes in ambient temperature or humidity are almost entirely compensated.

Semiconductor Sensors

Semiconductor or metallic oxide sensors (MOSs) are among the most versatile of all broad-range sensors. They can be used to detect a variety of gases and vapors in low ppm or even combustible ranges. The sensor is made up of a mixture of metallic oxides. They are heated to a temperature between 150° and 300° C depending on the gas(es) to be detected. The temperature of operation, as well as the "recipe" of mixed oxides, determines the sensor selectivity to various toxic gases, vapors, and refrigerants. Electrical conductivity greatly increases as soon as a diffusion process allows the gas or vapor molecules to come in contact with the sensor surface. Water vapor, high ambient humidity, temperature fluctuations, and low oxygen levels can result in higher readings.

Infrared Sensors

The infrared (IR) gas sensor is designed to measure the concentration of combustible gases and vapors in the ambient air. The sensor principle is based on the concentration-dependent absorption of infrared radiation in measured gases. The monitored ambient air diffuses through a sintered metal material into the housing of an optical "bench." The broadband light emitted by an IR source passes through the gas in the optical bench and is reflected by the walls from where it is directed towards a dual-element detector. One channel of the detector measures the gas-dependent light transmission, while the other channel is used as a reference. The ratio between measurement and reference signal is used to determine the gas concentration. Internal electronics and software calculate the concentration and produce an output signal.