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CO₂ probe

Dissolved CO₂ sensor for in situ measurement

The measurement of dissolved carbon dioxide in water is one of the most important parameters in the field of aquaculture and in industry. Until now, the sampling method presented numerous disadvantages such as inaccuracies due to sampling or the influence of the measurement by other compounds acting on the pH. Moreover, a direct reading sensor is necessary to control other parameters in the water that influence this measurement, such as temperature and atmospheric pressure.

The CO₂ probe then allows the measurement of dissolved carbon dioxide directly in the water and continuously.

You simply need to immerse the CO₂ probe directly into the environment you want to monitor, whether it's a fish farm pond, a lake, the open sea, in a bioreactor, or a manufacturing process. The sensor then provides a continuous measurement of the partial pressure of dissolved CO₂ in water (%VOL CO₂).

This partial pressure measurement can be converted into a CO₂ concentration value in water in mg/L using a provided calculation formula and the simultaneous measurement of temperature.

The CO₂ probe has an analog (4-20 mA or 0-5 Vdc) or digital (RS485) output for connection to your acquisition system. We also produce an integrated all-in-one module facilitating the integration of the sensor, the msBox.

This controller allows for the display and recording of CO₂ concentrations in mg/L, while offering practical options for data extraction via a USB key or 4-20 mA signals. It also enables the connection of multiple sensors, including other CO₂ probes, as well as our dissolved H₂S or H₂ probes, making the system versatile and suitable for a wide variety of monitoring applications.

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Measurement principle

separation membrane and absorption NDIR sensor :

The probe is equipped with a silicone membrane making it possible to isolate the volume of the measuring chamber from the liquid medium in which the probe is immersed. Only the gases pass through the side walls, so once the sensor is immersed, the partial pressures of CO₂ equalize between the middle and the internal volume of the sensor.
An optical sensor is placed inside, it uses the principle of non-dispersive infrared absorption (NDIR). The CO₂ molecules present in the measurement chamber absorb some of the infrared radiation emitted by the sensor. The radiation attenuation is therefore directly proportional to the amount of CO₂. This partial pressure measurement must be coupled by the values of temperature and atmospheric pressure to calculate the concentration of dissolved CO₂ in mg/l (formulas provided).

Applications

Monitoring of fish ponds
Determination of CO2 in food industry
Carbon balance studies in lakes and rivers
Management and optimization of industrial processes
In situ measurements in oceanography

Advantages

No disturbances due to silicates, phosphates, HCO3- et CO32-
RS485 digital output, or analog 4-20 mA / 0-5VDC possible wit- hout additional external transmitter
Stability of measurements < 1% drift of measurement per year
Measuring chamber heated to prevent condensation

Principle of measurement	silicone membrane NDIR dual-beam infrared single beam optical sensor absorption by attenuation measurement
Measurement ranges	- type I : 0 ... 15 mg/l CO₂ - type II : 0 ... 30 mg/l CO₂ - type III : 0 ... 340 mg/l CO₂ (other on request)
Accuracy	0 à 5 mg/l CO2 ..... +/- 0,06 mg/l 5 à 15 mg/l CO2 ..... +/- 2 % of the measuring value 15 à 50 mg/l CO2 ..... +/- 3,5 % of the measuring value 50 à 80 mg/l CO2 ..... +/- 1,5 mg/l 80 à 340 mg/l CO2 ..... +/- 6 mg/l
Dependence on temperature	compensation calculations delivered with the sensor (adapted to the range and the output signal)
Dependence on pressure	0.15% of the measured value per hPa
No linearity	Less than +/- 1 FS
Probe Body Materials	titanium
Dimensions (L x d)	225 mm x 33 mm
Connector	SubConn MCBH4M
Power supply	12...30 VCC (with digital output or 0-5 VCC) - 20...30 VCC (with 4-20 mA output)
Consumption	< 0,5 W
Output signal	- analog 4-20 mA - analog 0-5 VCC - digital RS-485
Compensation	automatic in case of moisture in the membrane
Maintenance	<0.1h / week (standard use - membrane cleaning)
Calibration interval	24 months - drift <1% of the measure per year
Maximum pressure of use	1,000 meters / 1,000 dbar
Temperature of the medium / sample	+ 0 ... + 60 °C