The development of automotive exhaust sensors is generally based on a time and resources consuming empirical approach. Building numerical models to study the behavior of the sensors is therefore an important key to reduce the development time and improve sensor quality. Zirconia sensor accuracy and response are dependent from temperature, so temperature is generally controlled in the desired range through a heating element. In the present study an electro-thermo-mechanical model of a heated zirconia oxygen sensor with planar structure has been provided. The numerical model has been used as a tool to study and compare different geometries of heaters. Several heater configurations have been modelled and compared in terms of: temperature rise in different points on the surface of the sensor both on the electrode side and heater side, average and maximum temperature, thermal stress and time for the sensor to be considered functional. The improved heater provided a lower peak temperature, but higher average temperature, more uniform temperature distribution, lower thermal stress and lower time than the base heater to reach the prescribed operational conditions.

汽车尾气传感器的开发通常基于耗费时间和资源的经验方法。因此，建立数值模型来研究传感器的行为是缩短开发时间和提高传感器质量的重要关键。氧化锆传感器的精度和响应取决于温度，因此通常通过加热元件将温度控制在所需范围内。在本研究中，提供了具有平面结构的加热氧化锆氧传感器的电热机械模型。数值模型已被用作研究和比较不同几何形状加热器的工具。对几种加热器配置进行了建模和比较： 电极侧和加热器侧的传感器表面不同点的温升，传感器被视为正常工作的平均和最高温度、热应力和时间。与基础加热器相比，改进的加热器提供了更低的峰值温度，但更高的平均温度、更均匀的温度分布、更低的热应力和更短的时间达到规定的操作条件。