Sensor for distinguishing fuel vapors

摘要

A method for identifying a single fuel vapor in an atmosphere of interest that is selected from the group consisting of at least two fuels and that is the sole fuel component of the atmosphere, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of measuring means that are at least equal in number to the types of fuels that compose the fuel group and which have different sensitivities to the respective fuel vapors; presetting the relationship between the magnitudes of the outputs from the respective measuring means at various fuel vapor concentrations in such a manner that it differs from one fuel vapor to another; placing said measuring means in the atmosphere of interest containing said single fuel vapor as the sole fuel component; measuring the concentration of that fuel vapor; determining the relationship between the magnitudes of outputs as obtained from the respective measuring means; and comparing the thus determined relationship with the preset relationships, thereby identifying the fuel vapor in the atmosphere of interest. This method enables positive identification of a particular fuel vapor without errors. An apparatus for implementing this method is also provided.