New Sensor Device for Air Monitoring

As the elementary and secondary school classrooms are ready to welcome around 55 million students, school staff and teachers, a new hand-held sensor ideal for a wide range of applications was introduced by researchers. The sensors are capable of maintaining fresh air within classrooms, making the kids more active and bright.

Researchers reported the device this week, during the 244^th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. The sensor is capable enough to detect the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) present in classroom air. An average person with normal breathing practice exhales approximately 2 lb of colorless, odorless CO₂ gas per day.

According to Jack N. Driscoll, Ph.D., who led the research, besides air quality, energy conservation is also a major concern for school owners as new school buildings are tightly sealed against drafts. There are however more chances for stale air to get trapped in classrooms and it can be avoided by proper ventilation of heating and air-conditioning systems. Previously, typical school classroom had its air refreshed 4-6 times an hour, but energy-efficient classrooms may require just 1-2 exchanges per hour.

The professed new "dual-beam" sensor is less complex and more affordable compared to the earlier CO₂ monitors and have more stability than so-called "single-beam sensors." Calibration for ensuring precision is carried out only once or twice annually unlike existing devices that require weekly calibrations.

Driscoll further stated that the new sensor is simple and easy to operate. It can collect data for around 450 h. This approach serves to be a cost-effective and simple solution for poor classroom air quality. Replacement of dirty air filters or regulation of speed of blowers in the heating or air conditioning system typically solves the problem.

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