NDIR-Sensor Detects Carbon Monoxide

The smartMODUL-FLOW from smartGAS Mikrosensorik GmbH (Germany) is now available for the detection of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in concentrations between 0 an 2,000 ppm. The no odour gas is toxic and can be fatal in higher concentrations; the TLV in industrial environments is 30 ppm.

CO can be formed in various processes for example during incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Monitoring of CO in exhaust systems gives information about the process and can be used for optimisation of the combustion process. The electro-chemical sensors, which are often used in these kind of applications, have various disadvantages. Besides the ageing of these sensors, a concentration of CO above a certain limit can eventually destroy the electro-chemical sensor. The new smartMODUL CO sensor utilises infrared (NDIR) absorption and therefore doesn't have this disadvantage. The sensor is very stable and requires almost no maintenance or additional calibrations resulting in lower operating costs. An additional optical filter can reduce the influence of CO2. The OEM sensor is available with many standard interfaces like Modbus ASCII with RS485, UART or 4…20 mA enabling an easy integration into existing control architectures.