Sensor arrangement with an electrochemical sensor and a temperature sensor and process using such a sensor arrangement

A process for analyzing a gas for a predetermined gas, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement comprising an electrochemical sensor comprising a measuring electrode, a counter electrode, an electrical contact for the measuring electrode, an electrical contact for the counter electrode, and an electrolyte between the measuring electrode and the counter electrode, the sensor arrangement further comprising a temperature sensor unit comprising a temperature sensor and an electrically conductive measuring element, the measuring element comprising a contact segment and a connection segment, wherein the contact segment is in planar contact with a measurement object of the electrochemical sensor such that thermal contact is established between the contact segment and the measurement object, wherein the measurement object is one of the group consisting of the measuring electrode, the counter electrode, the electrical contact for the measuring electrode, and the electrical contact for the counter electrode, wherein the connection segment electrically and/or thermally connects the contact segment to the temperature sensor, the sensor arrangement further comprising a controllable heater, the controllable heater comprising an electrically conductive heating element;
• measuring a detection variable, wherein the measured detection variable correlates with a presence of the gas component and/or a concentration of the gas component;
• with the temperature sensor, measuring at a measuring position a variable that correlates with the temperature of the contact segment, wherein the measuring position is spatially distanced from each of the measuring electrode, the counter electrode, the electrical contact for the measuring electrode, and the electrical contact for the counter electrode;
• with the temperature sensor, measuring an indicator of the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive heating element as the variable correlating with the temperature of the contact segment;
• and
• with the temperature sensor unit, determining an indicator of a temperature of the measuring electrode and/or a temperature of the counter electrode as a function of the measured variable correlating with the contact segment temperature.

A sensor arrangement for analyzing a gas for a gas component, the sensor arrangement comprising:

• an electrochemical sensor, the electrochemical sensor comprising:
• a measuring electrode, a counter electrode, an electrical contact for the measuring electrode, an electrical contact for the counter electrode, and an electrolyte between the measuring electrode and the counter electrode;
• a temperature sensor unit, the temperature sensor unit comprising a temperature sensor and an electrically conductive measuring element, the electrically conductive measuring element comprising a contact segment that is in planar contact with a measurement object of the electrochemical sensor such that thermal contact is established between the contact segment and the measurement object, and a connection segment electrically and/or thermally connecting the contact segment to the temperature sensor;
• and
• a controllable heater;
• wherein the controllable heater comprises an electrically conductive heating element,
• wherein the measurement object is one of the measuring electrode, the counter electrode, the electrical contact for the measuring electrode, and the electrical contact for the counter electrode,
• wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to measure a detection variable of the electrochemical sensor,
• wherein the measurable detection variable correlates with a presence and/or concentration of the gas component,
• wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure at a measuring position a variable that correlates with the temperature of the contact segment,
• wherein the measuring position is spatially distanced from each of the measuring electrode, the counter electrode, the electrical contact for the measuring electrode, and the electrical contact for the counter electrode, and
• wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure an indicator of the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive heating element as the variable correlating with the temperature of the contact segment.