PSoC Based Instrumentation for H2 Sensor in the Context of Fast Breeder Reactors

To monitor very low levels of hydrogen in cover gas plenum of fast breeder reactors, thin film sensors based on tin oxide doped with palladium are developed in IGCAR. The sensor patterns are integrated on a miniature alumina substrate and necessary electrical leads are incorporated in it. The conductivity of the sensor varies with H2 concentration. The useful range of the sensor is 5 ppm to 80 ppm and the base line resistance of the sensor is around 2.5MΩ. This paper gives an outline of the PSoC based electronics developed to measure the H2 concentration and associated signal processing. Low component count and feasibility of locating the sensor conditioning components remotely are emphasized in the design. The laboratory studies on the linearity performance of the various blocks of the system are discussed