Page 18 - Climate Control News magazine February 2022

Indoor Air Quality
in a small size
LEFT: The solution is ideal for building automation applications.
BELOW: Infineon’s XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor.
High performance
grates a PAS transducer, a microcontroller, and a MOSFET on the PCB.
There are three CO2 sensor types including PAS (photoacoustic spectroscopy) CO2 sensors, NDIR (non-dispersive infrared) CO2 sensors, and EC (electrochemical) CO2 sensors.
Infineon’s XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor matches the performance of NDIR and EC CO2 sensors, while being more affordable and compact, mak- ing it the ideal solution for smart home and building automation applications.
Along with size and cost advantages, the sensor delivers superior accuracy, providing a direct read- out of the real CO2 level, not simply a correlation.
CO2 measurement and monitoring of indoor air quality, allows users to take control of their environmental conditions and experience im- provements in health, productivity, and overall well-being.
INCREASINGLY EFFICIENT BUILDING INSULATION CAN HELP TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT HEAVILY INSULATED BUILDINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS GOOD FOR HUMAN HEALTH.
POOR VENTILATION CAN result in lower oxygen levels and a build-up of carbon dioxide (CO2). Even moder- ate levels of CO2 can have a negative impact on health and productivity.
Even at 1000ppm, people begin to experience drowsiness and have difficulty concentrating.
Consequently, CO2 sensor module manufac- turers are facing a growing demand for smart in-
“ALONG WITH SIZE AND COST ADVANTAGES, THE SENSOR DELIVERS SUPERIOR ACCURACY.”
door air quality sensors that can “smell” rising levels of CO2 and either alert the user or trigger a system response.
Smart home CO2 sensors enable real-time CO2 monitoring for demand-controlled ventila- tion systems, air purifiers, and thermostats while allowing users to accurately measure and adjust indoor air quality.
With the recent pandemic, awareness of in- door air quality is rising, making accurate, af- fordable monitoring solutions such as the XEN-
SIV PAS CO2 sensor more important than ever. Research shows a correlation exists between the concentration of CO2 and aerosols, one of the transmission pathways of viruses (like COV- ID-19 or influenza). Therefore, measuring CO2 levels indoors can help manage the risk of virus
transmission.
Widespread adoption of CO2 sensors has so
far been hampered by size, performance, and cost constraints. T
The XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor from Infineon leverages photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) technology to provide an exceptionally small, real CO2 sensor, overcoming the challenges of existing carbon dioxide gas detectors.
Its small form factor in SMD (Surface Mount- ed Device) package allows for smooth high-vol- ume assembly and easy system integration.
The unique CO2 sensor intuitively under- stands its environment, using disruptive and highly accurate CO2 sensor technology when measuring carbon dioxide detector levels.
As a global leader in sensor technology, Infine- on has developed a CO2 sensor chip that pro- vides accurate, real-time CO2 measurement thanks to superior MEMS technology.
The MEMS-based CO2 sensor uses Infineon’s MEMS microphone which acts as a pressure sensor and is optimised for low frequency opera- tion. The XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor module inte-
AIR CIRCULATION
A lack of proper air circulation can dramatically alter the gas concentrations indoors from being balanced and healthy to unbalanced and harmful resulting in physical ailments from airborne contaminants – including elevated CO2 levels.
Poor indoor air can seal in mould, bacteria, and potentially harmful gases like CO2, VOCs and radon. Carbon dioxide sensors are a great way to manage this problem.
When enough people enter a room, the CO2 level rises because of the CO2 from their exhaled breath. This is when the HVAC system begins to bring in more fresh air. When people leave, the CO2 level drops because they are no longer breathing in the room, and the fresh air controls close. This system of using CO2 monitoring devices to trigger/ control HVAC systems is continuing to grow.
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
18