Oxygen Sensor Testing for Automotive Applications

During the operation of internal combustion engines the air-fuel ratio (A/F) is an important parameter which affects fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The automotive oxygen sensor (Lambda) measures the quantity of residual oxygen in the combustion gases. Sensor degradation in time due to the exposure to high temperatures causes a distortion in controlling the A/F with the increase in gas emissions. In this paper an experimental stand is designed to test oxygen sensor degradation in laboratory condition. Four oxygen sensors were tested function of temperature and time recording their variation in resistance and voltage. The results showed similar values in the curves for all sensors tested.