Pressure Sensors Ensure Dangerous Chemicals Don’t Leak into the Air

Monitoring Dangerous Chemicals

Dangerous chemicals, such as ammonia, are used in various industrial and HVAC systems. While useful for their specific applications, they can be dangerous if exposed to humans. Being able to detect leaks, no matter how small, is crucial for safety and health. Differential pressure sensors are a common way to measure the flow of dangerous chemicals to ensure systems operate as intended.

Example: Ammonia

Ammonia is commonly used as a coolant in refrigeration and HVAC systems. However, ammonia is a chemical that can cause significant health damage in the event of a leak. Exposure to breathing air with ammonia is hazardous.

Pressure sensors, specifically differential pressure sensors, can be effectively used to monitor the pressure of ammonia as it flows through the refrigeration or HVAC system. By measuring the ammonia flowing through the system, the sensor can detect if there is a drop in pressure from one point to another. A drop can signify either a leak (health hazard) or a clog (safety hazard). In either case, the problem needs to be addressed immediately. The more precise the differential pressure sensor can measure the change in flow, the earlier it can warn system operators of the hazard.

The NimbleSense^TM Architecture

Incorporated into all our differential pressure sensors, Superior Sensor Technology’s NimbleSense architecture is a fully integrated sub-system that combines processing intelligence with signal path integration and proprietary algorithms to create modular building blocks that are easily selectable to support a wide array of applications.

Using the NimbleSense architecture enables product designers to create highly differentiated advanced pressure sensing systems from a technology toolbox. This methodology greatly improves system performance in the end application, while providing enhanced features and cost-optimized manufacturing solutions.

The NimbleSense architecture was developed with the overarching goal to knock out every bit of noise before reaching the customer’s system. We broadly define noise as anything that is not the ideal sensor response, and this approach includes mixing noise, long-term drift, thermal errors, and thermal or pressure hysteresis. This is extremely important when being used for a safety application, such as monitoring for exposure to dangerous chemicals.

Choosing from a wide array of proven and tested building blocks, product designers integrate the appropriate modules to create a differential pressure system optimized for their specific chemical monitoring application.

HV Series and ND Series

Superior Sensor Technology offers two product series that are ideally suited for chemical monitoring: The HV Series and the ND Series.

The HV Series has been designed specifically for HVAC and other air handling applications. With up to 8 pressure ranges available in one device, an integrated 50/60 Hz notch filter and optional integrated pressure switch, advanced digital filtering and closed loop control, the HV Series supports pressures as low as ±0.1 inH2O (±25 Pa) with accuracy as close as 0.05% of the selected range. Being able to detect changes at such low pressures is crucial for chemical monitoring.

The ND Series has an extended temperature range and has been designed to support a wide-array of industrial applications. The ND Series supports up to 7 pressure ranges in one device with accuracy within 0.05% of the selected range. Like the HV Series, the ND Series has an integrated 50/60 Hz notch filter and optional integrated pressure switch, advanced digital filtering and closed loop control. Along with the extended temperature range, the ND Series supports pressures as low as ±0.25 inH2O to as high as ±150 psi. For those applications where operation is needed at more extreme temperatures, the ND Series is the perfect solution.

Benefits

The HV and ND Series of differential pressure sensors have a long list of benefits for monitoring chemical leaks, including:

1. Highly integrated sensors with ADC and DSP
2. Support from pressures from as low at ±0.1 inH₂O to as high as ±150 psi
3. Up to 8 calibrated pressure ranges in one device
4. Industry leading accuracy to within 0.05% of the selected pressure range
5. Exceptional zero stability
6. Integrated 50/60 Hz notch filter
7. Selectable bandwidth filter
8. Optional closed loop control integration
9. Optional advanced digital filtering
10. Optional 3-mode integrated pressure switch

Availability

Both the HV Series and ND Series are in production and available through Digi-Key and Mouser.