Product
NOx Sensor Wins Ceramic Society of Japan's Technology Award
June 04, 2013
NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (President: Taro Kato; Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan) has developed a built-in automobile sensor capable of highly precise measurement of nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations. The subsequent commercialization of this sensor has earned it a strong reputation, and now it has won the Technology Award at The Ceramic Society of Japan's 67th Japan Ceramic Society Awards Ceremony.
With this award, The Ceramic Society of Japan has highly evaluated the substantial contribution that the performance of NGK's NOx sensor has made to bringing about a "clean diesel automobile." The award is bestowed on people of excellence who achieve academic or technological results that contribute to the development of the industrial field, science or technology of ceramics. The Awards Ceremony will be held in Tokyo on June 7.
Overview of Award
Award name:
Technology Award, 67th Japan Ceramic Society Awards Ceremony
Organization name:
The Ceramic Society of Japan
Details of commendation:
Development and commercialization of thick-film multi-layered zirconia NOx sensor
Award winners:
unihiko Nakagaki, Sangje Ri and Takeya Miyashita of NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
NOx sensors are mounted in the exhaust pipes of automobiles. These sensors can measure the concentrations of NOx found in the vehicle exhaust in real time with high precision at the ppm level (one part per million). The detected values of the NOx concentration in the exhaust are then used in controlling the exhaust gas purifier and in its failure diagnosis.
Automobile exhaust gas regulations are being strengthened worldwide. With regard to diesel vehicles in particular, the regulations for NOx emissions, in addition to particulate matter (PM) emissions, are being further strengthened. Following the regulations currently in effect such as the United States' US10 emission standard, the European Euro 5 regulations and Japan's post new long-term regulations, the European Union will introduce Euro 6 after 2014. In China, Euro 5-based regulations are scheduled to take effect by the end of 2017. NGK has skillfully applied its accumulated ceramics technology, formed the shape of its own original zirconia ceramics, and used multi-layered elements to develop and commercialize the world's first automobile built-in NOx sensor. NGK is delivering more than 3 million annually of these components that are indispensable in the control of diesel vehicles' exhaust gas purifiers.
NGK expects to see an expansion in demand for NOx sensors against the backdrop of a worldwide tightening of diesel exhaust gas regulations, and winning this award will be the impetus for a greater increase in sales.