Sensor system and method for detection of fluids with a certain material composition

A sensor arrangement for detecting fluids having a certain material composition, the sensor arrangement comprising:

• a flow channel for conducting a fluid flow, the flow channel being at least partially confined by a channel wall;
• at least one high voltage electrode arranged at the inner surface of the channel wall for generating charge carriers forming an emitter current;
• a plurality of measurement electrodes spaced part from each other and arranged in the flow channel for collecting the charge carriers;
• at least one high voltage source configured to provide a high voltage for the at least one high voltage electrode, the voltage being that high that the fluid in the flow channel is at least partially ionized;
• and
• a measurement and evaluation unit electrically connected to the measurement electrodes and configured to measure electrical quantities at the measurement electrodes, to determine the spatial distribution of the measured electrical quantities, to compare this with at least one reference distribution, and to provide an output signal which indicates whether the spatial distribution of the measured electrical quantities corresponds at least partially with a reference distribution.