Infrared NDIR CO2 Sensor for HVAC Application

Control CO2 Level and Energy Savings

Why should we measure CO2?

◆According to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), concentrations of 40000ppm or higher should be regarded as immediately dangerous to life and health.

◆Exposure to very high concentrations (eg. Exposure to 6% volume CO2 for several minutes or 30% volume CO2 for 20-30 seconds), has been linked to permanent heart damage. Concentrations greater than 10% are capable of causing loss of consciousness within 15 minutes or less. 

American ASHRAE recommends that CO2 level not exceed 1000ppm inside buildings. And exposure may lead to serious oxygen deprivation resulting in permanent brain damage, coma, even death when CO2 level is above 40000ppm.

CO2 sensor application in HVAC system

A ventilation system is a mechanical structure that is mainly used to control indoor(commonlyhomes and offices) air quality. Its main function is to introduce a constant supply of fresh air,usually from the outside. Managing the fresh air brought into the house and polluted air removed outside to realize proper ventilation rates is the key point.

CO2 levels above 1000ppm in a room with numbers of people are quite normal and maximum concentration may occasionally happen from time to time. Ventilation system can use CO2 sensor to monitor the carbon dioxide concentration of indoor air and start when the carbon dioxide concentration exceeds a certain standard, thus to keep the carbon dioxide concentration of indoor air below 1000ppm.

How do CO2 sensors help to balance the CO2 concentration between indoor andoutside through its ventilation system performance?

It is important to use an affordable and stable sensor technology to measure carbon dioxide concentration to determine the correct level of fresh air in a zone. NDIR CO2 sensors continuously monitor CO2 levels of indoor air, which providing an indication of the amount CO2 concentration between indoor and outside. And the CO2 readings will be sent to the ventilation controls.

Benefits of CO2 measurement-based ventilation system

Improved IAQ:

Poor indoor air quality may cause major health problems, such as allergies and respiratorydiseases. When the CO2 levels in our house rise to an unacceptable level, ventilation system can control CO2 high level to the normal.

Energy savings:

The energy saving for ventilation system can be achieved because CO2 sensor can help to provide recommended ventilation rates to avoid excess heating, or cooling.

Comfortable:

Normally, we spend approximately 60% of our time inside including home, office. So acomfortable environment with fresh air is very important for our health.

Highlights of Cubic NDIR CO2 sensor:

The effectiveness of CO2 ventilation system relies upon the performance of CO2 sensors. A poor ventilation system can result in high CO2 level in the home or building. As ventilation system requirements become more strict, so do the performance of CO2 sensors.

◆High accuracy

Temperature calibration within whole measurement range.

◆High stability

Advanced auto-calibration at background.

◆Both single beam and dual beam available

Suitable for lots of applications: IAQ monitor, ventilation system, air purifier, agricultural IoT, automotive, etc.

◆Multi-choices of dimensions

Small size and compact structure, easy to install, minimum size is 33*19.7*8.9mm(L*W*H).