Oi,
I am using rather temperature-sensitive NO2 gas sensors for air pollution measurements. Thing is, I am in Houston, TX, and it's pretty darn hot down here. Collecting data over a period of 24 hours showed that at high temperatures (more than 32°C or 90°F) the sensor's accuracy plummets, the readings also get significantly offset, and all of that is non-linear. Calibration is pretty tough, and I'd rather just cool it down.
The gas sensor comes with a noise-reducing board; therefore two things might be suffering from the heat: the sensor itself and the noise board. Albeit the ICs on the board don't seem to heat up too much.
Hence I am trying to figure out how to cool both of these devices (and the surrounding air) down. I am looking for a portable solution.
Fans and heatsinks are of no use - the ambient temperature is already too hot. I am in the process of trying thermoelectric coolers - peltier; though they seem to be useful only when in contact with a chip, which in my case is impossible; is it even feasible to cool down a small volume of air with peltier coolers?
I could also put the sensor in a small chamber and then keep the air cool inside (thermally isolating box + peltier), and then pump external air into the chamber.
I am just kind of stuck on this one; I would really appreciate any insights, suggestions, and advice Are peltier coolers appropriate in my case? Any suggestions for thermally isolating tapes/materials for a chamber? Is there a better way to solve this one in the first place?
Cheers.
// datasheet for the sensors: https://aqicn.org/air/view/sensor/spec/no2.alphasense-no2-b43f.pdf
// and for noise reducing board: http://www.alphasense.com/WEB1213/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ISB.pdf
I am using rather temperature-sensitive NO2 gas sensors for air pollution measurements. Thing is, I am in Houston, TX, and it's pretty darn hot down here. Collecting data over a period of 24 hours showed that at high temperatures (more than 32°C or 90°F) the sensor's accuracy plummets, the readings also get significantly offset, and all of that is non-linear. Calibration is pretty tough, and I'd rather just cool it down.
The gas sensor comes with a noise-reducing board; therefore two things might be suffering from the heat: the sensor itself and the noise board. Albeit the ICs on the board don't seem to heat up too much.
Hence I am trying to figure out how to cool both of these devices (and the surrounding air) down. I am looking for a portable solution.
Fans and heatsinks are of no use - the ambient temperature is already too hot. I am in the process of trying thermoelectric coolers - peltier; though they seem to be useful only when in contact with a chip, which in my case is impossible; is it even feasible to cool down a small volume of air with peltier coolers?
I could also put the sensor in a small chamber and then keep the air cool inside (thermally isolating box + peltier), and then pump external air into the chamber.
I am just kind of stuck on this one; I would really appreciate any insights, suggestions, and advice Are peltier coolers appropriate in my case? Any suggestions for thermally isolating tapes/materials for a chamber? Is there a better way to solve this one in the first place?
Cheers.
// datasheet for the sensors: https://aqicn.org/air/view/sensor/spec/no2.alphasense-no2-b43f.pdf
// and for noise reducing board: http://www.alphasense.com/WEB1213/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ISB.pdf