The GOW sensor functions on the principle of thermal conductivity. Two rhenium-tungsten resistors are used as a measuring element, where the comparison element is subjected to normal ambient air and the measuring element is subjected to the test gas. Any change in the concentration of gas at the measurement element causes a change in temperature, which is due to the variation of conductivity.
The resultant change in resistance is a direct measure of the gas concentration.
1 = Disffusion filter
2 = Test resistor
3 = Comparison resistor