Experimental evaluation of a thermopile detector with SU-8 membrane, in a carbon dioxide meter setup

• Continuous control of the carbon dioxide levels in the ventilation systems in office buildings and public schools has been shown to increase productivity and save money. However, these measurement systems require further developments in order to be more cost effective. This paper presents an evaluation of an Al/Bi thermopile detector with a 4 µm thin SiO2/SU-8 membrane in a CO2 meter application using the NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared Technology). The system consists of an 11 cm aluminum tube, used as the sample chamber and in which a light source and a thermopile detector with a 4.26 µm optical bandpass filter are positioned on its opposite sides. The light source is pulsed with a frequency of 0.5 Hz. The voltage response of the Al/Bi thermopile is measured for different CO2 concentrations, and, as expected according to the Lambert-Beer law, there is an exponential decrease in the measured intensity. The absolute response is about 50 % lower than for a commercial HMS J21 thermopile from Heimann Sensor GmbH. In relative terms, on the other hand, the Al/Bi thermopile is more sensitive for changes in the CO2 concentration. At 7500 ppm, the voltage response has decreased to 40 % of the reference response measured in the nitrogen atmosphere.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Annan elektroteknik och elektronik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering (hsv//eng)

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Electronics

Elektronik

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