(Revised November 20, 1995)

USER'S MANUAL
HOT-WIRE TYPE GAS SENSOR NAP-55A & 50A
(For All Combustible Gases, Low Power Consumption)

CONTENTS

1. Features & applications

2. Specifications

3. Gas sensitivity characteristics

4. Response characteristics

5. Voltage dependency characteristics

6. Temperature characteristics

7. Humidity characteristics

8. Evaluation on sensor

9. Drawings
1. General

Nemoto's NAP-55A & 50A are miniature-sized hot-wire type gas sensors for every
combustible gases. These new sensors are smaller than our NAP-2A sensor and consume
much less power. (Approx. half a wattage of NAP-2A). These sensors respond 30% quicker
than NAP-2A.
NAP-55A is sensitive to all combustible gases, while NAP-50A has lower
sensitivity only to alcohol. NAP-55A would be suitable for general applications,
and NAP-50A would be the best for residential gas detectors which should not be affected
by noise gases other than fuel gases.

1) Features

* Excellent stability.
* Remarkable reproducibility and accuracy.
* Linear output signal for natural (city) gas concentration.
* Superior response characteristics.
* Miniature size for flexibility in the design of detectors.

2) Applications

* Gas densitometers
* City gas leakage detectors

2. Specifications

1) Voltage supplied to sensor bridge ; D.C. ; 2.50 +/- 0.25 V

A.C. ; 2.50 +/- 0.25 V
(r.m.s. 50 - 60 Hz)

2) Current (when 2.50 V is supplied) ; D.C. ; 160 to 180 mA

A.C. ; 160 to 180 mA
(r.m.s. 50 - 60 Hz)
3) Ambient temperature &
humidity during operation ; Temperature ; -10oC to +50oC
Humidity ; Less than 95% RH

4) Ambient temperature &

humidity during storage ; Temperature ; -20oC to +60oC
Humidity ; Less than 95% RH
3. Gas sensitivity
iso-C 4H 10 H 2 iso-C 4H 10 H2

30 30
C 2H 5OH
CH 4

CH 4

20 20

10 10
C 2H 5OH

0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Gas Concentration (vol%) Gas Concentration (vol%)

Fig. 1 Gas sensitivity of NAP-55A Fig. 2 Gas sensitivity of NAP-50A

4. Response characteristics
(Measurement example ; Comparison to NAP-2A)

5m V

NAP-55A 10 mV
NAP-50A
5.2sec . 6.2sec .

in air in methane 3000ppm in air

NAP-2A
7.6sec . 8.9sec .

Fig. 3
The times are ones to be required for 90% response
5. Voltage dependency characteristics

Voltage dependency on NAP-55A & 50A gas sensitivity

Gas：CH 4 3000ppm
20

10

deviation

0
2.25 2.5 2.75
Supply Voltage (V)
Fig. 4

Voltage dependency on output in air

deviation
-2

2.25 2.5 2.75

Supply Voltage (V)
Fig. 5
Voltage dependency on theoretical alarm concentration

4000

3500

3000
deviation

2500

2000
2.25 2.5 2.75
Supply Voltage (V)

Fig. 6
6. Temperature characteristics

20
Relative Humidity ; 60%

2
15

10
-2
deviation

5
-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Temperature (℃) Temperature (℃)

Fig. 7

7. Humidity characteristics

20
Temperature ; 25℃

2
15

10
-2
deviation

5
30 60 90 30 60 90
Relative Humidity (%) Relative Humidity (%)

Fig. 8
8. Evaluation of sensors

(1) Testing equipment

The following is and outline of a test system.

Fig. 9

Remarks:

1) Test chamber ;

* Metal or glass which does not generate or absorb gases is desirable as test
chamber material.

* The volume of the chamber should be larger than 1 liter / sensor.

2) Gas densitometer ;

* An infrared gas densitometer is recommended for measuring gas concentration.

3) Air agitation ;

* The air inside the chamber should be agitated, but not so as to directly blow
on the sensor. Air flow should be less than 0.5m/sec.

4) Power supply ;

* Sensors can be operated using either D.C. or A.C., but for optimal measurement
accuracy, use of a D.C. voltage stabilizer is recommended.
 5) Voltmeter ;

* A voltmeter with greater than 100K ohm impedance is sufficient for measuring
sensor bridge out put voltage.

6) Ventilation ;

* Before proceeding with a subsequent test, the air inside the test chamber should
be ventilated using a ventilator which has a capacity of more than 10 times the volume
of the chamber per minute.

7) Placement of sensors in a test chamber ;

* Sensors should be placed in a chamber in a same attitude. (Normally horizontal).

Changing the attitude creates different thermal convection, and may cause
inaccurate measurement results.

(2) Adjustment of gas concentration

Gas concentration in a test chamber is usually adjusted by a volumetric method

injecting iso-butane gas using a syringe, or by monitoring with an infrared gas
densitometer.
Gas concentration adjustment by a volume method can be calculated according
to the following formula.

2 73 + T r
V ( m ) = V i × C × 1 0 -6
2 73 + T c

V ; Volume of gas to be injected

Vi ; Inside volume of a chamber (ml)
C ; Gas concentration to be adjusted
Tr ; Room temperature (oC)
Tc ; Temperature inside a chamber (oC)
(3) Measurement

1) Preparatory aging;

* Before measurement, sensors should be supplied with the specified voltage at

least for more than 1 hour.

2) Measurement;

* After confirming that the output voltage level has stabilized, the output value
in air (Va) is measured.

* A test gas is injected into the test chamber and wait for an even dispersion
of the gas inside the chamber. (Usually 1 min. or more)

* Output voltage in gas (Vg) is measured.

* Thoroughly ventilate the test chamber with a fresh air from outside.

(4) Other remarks

* Sensors should not be dropped or subjected to strong shocks.

* Refrain from use in an atmosphere that may contain poisonous or corrosive gases.

* Do not soak sensors in water.

9. Drawings

± 0 1
.

Fig. 10