Carbon dioxide sensor NDIR CO2

CO2NDIRinfrared

NDIR CO2 Sensors have evolved over the years from mercury-based manometers to large, bulky NDIR technology to the smaller, much more suitable CO2 sensors for modern solutions. This article explores what an NDIR Sensor is, why they are needed and in which industries they are useful as well as suggesting Edinburgh Sensor products to meet your CO2 sensor requirements. Detecting carbon dioxide became a challenge as soon as the gas was discovered in the mid-18th century. For early CO2 detection, mercury manometers were accurate and reliable, but samples could take hours to analyse. As the need to monitor CO2 concentrations became more apparent, the first NDIR CO2 Sensors were designed. These gave almost instant results. Over time, technology has allowed CO2 sensors to decrease in size, making them much more compact and convenient for use in a number of different industries. NDIR (non-dispersive infra-red) CO2 detectors work based on CO2 absorbing infra-red light at a specific wavelength, so it is easy to distinguish from other gases (many commonly detected gases have unique infrared wavelength absorption wavelengths). A light source emits infra-red light which is passed through a sample chamber where the air sample enters. An IR sensor is placed at the opposite side of the chamber with an optical filter in front of the sensor so only the desired wavelength is detected. As more CO2 gas molecules enter the sample chamber, absorbing the light, less IR light is detected by the sensor.