CO2 Gas Sensors for HVAC Systems

The most common gas sensors used in HVAC systems are oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are broadly used worldwide to monitor and regulate the environmental conditions in every type of property and practically all vehicles on the road. Despite the apparent interrelation between these three primary functions, HVAC systems are based on multidisciplinary technologies with distinct operating principles. Ventilation units, for example, are primarily used to modulate the particulate concentration and gaseous composition of indoor air, based on continuous measurements carried out using ultra-sensitive gas sensors.

The most common gas sensors used in HVAC systems are oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors. Ambient air is comprised of roughly 21% O2 and just 0.03% CO2, but a lack of indoor air circulation can dramatically skew the gas composition towards O2 depletion and CO2 enrichment.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical factor for our health and wellbeing, and variations in the gas composition of indoor air can be unpleasant and potentially hazardous. Respiratory and pulmonary irritation are comparatively mild symptoms that can precede more severe conditions if individuals are exposed to poor quality air for extended periods.

CO2 Gas Sensors for HVAC Systems

CO2 gas sensors are commonly used to measure the air composition in ventilation units to monitor the performance of HVAC systems in offices and commercial buildings. IAQ concentration levels of >450 parts per million (ppm) CO2 are associated with decreased activity, headaches, and drowsiness, particularly in working environments.

Process Sensing Technologies supplies a broad range of industry-leading CO2 gas sensors based on infrared optical detection technology with expansive measurement ranges, for rapid detection of CO2 at up to 100% concentration levels. These have demonstrated exceptional performance for HVAC quality control (QC) and performance monitoring for a broad range of end-use applications.

Gas Sensors from Process Sensing Technologies

PST is a leading authority in the field of gas sensor technology for a broad range of applications, including IAQ monitoring; transportation; industrial gas sensing; and much more. Our CO2 gas sensors represent the cutting edge of gas sensing technology for HVAC applications with rapid response times and sampling refresh rates.