This paper deals with the electrical investigation of various sand mixtures used in foundries for mold and core production. It is possible to classify various molding sand mixtures reproducibly on the basis of their electrical characteristics. This knowledge can now be used to develop measurement systems for processes in the foundry industry and thus increase product quality. In addition, resources can be conserved, and functioning closed-loop systems can be integrated into foundry processes.

In this work we present a cost- and energy-efficient measurement system for the spatial detection of gas phases in liquid fluids with a low permittivity value. We showed that we can simulate the system and its environment and use the calculated results to interpret the results originating from measurements of the electrical capacitance between different electrodes. The proposed system can be modified for, e.g., observation of fluid behaviour in cryogenic tanks for reigniteable space propulsion.

We have analyzed the requirements of a smart heating system and, in particular, the necessary sensors and their integration in a control system. The system comprises temperature and localization sensors as measuring elements and heating foils as actuators. The system components were studied in a demonstrator room, and the entire heterogeneous system has now been deployed in an apartment for further field studies during the heating season of 2016/2017.

The current contribution reports on the substrate influence in multilayer metal-oxide chemical sensors. Measurements of the impedance are used to discuss the sensor performance with quartz substrates, (laboratory) glass substrates and substrates covered by silicon-dioxide insulating layers. Numerical experiments based on previous measurement results show that inexpensive glass substrates contribute up to 97% to the overall sensor responses.