
122
/ TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
Vaisala CARBOCAP® Sensor for Measuring
Carbon Dioxide
Box headline here
CARBOCAP in Brief
▪
A silicon-based infrared (IR)
absorption sensor
▪
Continuous internal reference
measurement
▪
Both ppm and percentage-
level CO
2
measurement
▪
Providing accurate
measurements for over 15 years
First launched in 1997, the Vaisala CARBOCAP
®
carbon
dioxide (CO
2
) sensor features a groundbreaking innovation
– the micromachined, electrically tunable Fabry-Perot
Interferometer (FPI) filter for built-in reference measurement.
This reliable and stable sensor has been delivering accurate
CO
2
measurements for over 15 years across a wide range of
industries and applications, from building automation and
safety to life sciences and ecological research.
How It Works
Carbon dioxide has a characteristic
absorbance band in the infrared (IR)
region at a wavelength of 4.26 µm.
This means that when IR radiation
is passed through a gas containing
CO
2
, part of the radiation is absorbed.
Therefore, the amount of radiation
passing through the gas depends on
the amount of CO
2
present, and this
can be detected with an IR detector.
The Vaisala CARBOCAP sensor
features an electrically tunable
FPI filter located in front of the IR
detector. In addition to measuring
CO
2
absorption, the micromechanical
FPI filter enables a reference
measurement at a wavelength where
no absorption occurs. When taking
the reference measurement, the
FPI filter is electrically adjusted to
switch the bypass band from the
absorption wavelength to a non-
CARBOCAP’s Unique Benefits
▪
Superior stability enabled by
built-in reference measurement
▪
Minimal maintenance and
calibration requirements
▪
Insensitive to dust, water vapor,
and most chemicals
▪
Insensitive to changing air flow
absorption wavelength. The reference
measurement compensates for any
potential changes in the light source
intensity, as well as for contamination
and dirt accumulation in the optical
path. This feature means that
CARBOCAP sensor operation is
highly stable over time.
Instruments measuring at both
the absorption and the reference
wavelength with a single light
source are known as single-beam
dual-wavelength instruments.
The technology is widely applied
in costly analyzers. The unique
feature of the CARBOCAP sensor
is its micromachined FPI filter,
which performs a dual-wavelength
measurement using a single detector.
The compact size of the sensor
means that this advanced technology
can be incorporated into small
probes, modules, and transmitters.
Both absorption and reference are
measured with the CARBOCAP sensor.
4.26 µm
Carbon Dioxide
Comentários a estes Manuais