CO2 concentration in transport

Filling the passenger cabin of a vehicle can quickly lead to a dangerous increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the air. Excess CO₂ can cause drowsiness, physical fatigue, and decreased concentration. This problem is relevant for train cars, bus cabins, airplanes, and many other types of transport. To solve it, there are special climate control sensors that can monitor the CO₂ concentration in the air. Data collected by the sensor can help increase the efficiency of the air conditioning system, which in turn will reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle.

Why measure the CO₂ level in the cabin?

A bus, subway car, airplane – the designs of these vehicles are becoming increasingly airtight. And the more passengers in the cabin, the higher the carbon dioxide concentration. Compared to an empty cabin, the CO₂ level in a crowded one can quickly reach critical values. This means that a ventilation system is necessary.

High carbon dioxide concentration in the air can cause noticeable fatigue and serious attention disorders, which can be extremely dangerous for the driver. Also, the lack of ventilation in the cabin increases the likelihood of spreading viral and bacterial infections.

Currently, most cooling systems in transport use freon or ammonia. But every year, the share of systems operating on CO₂ is growing due to the environmental friendliness and non-flammability of this gas. Therefore, CO₂ sensors are also relevant for monitoring leaks in cooling systems.

Due to the design features of vehicles, special requirements may be imposed on the CO₂ sensors used in them. Due to the lack of free space, the dimensions of all ventilation system components, including pressure sensors, must be quite small. Also, in the case of a train or car, the environment may not be sufficiently clean, so the CO₂ sensor must have a high protection class to prevent dust from entering the housing. The eSENSE Slim sensor perfectly meets these conditions, featuring miniature dimensions and having an IP50 protection class.

How does the climate control system work? (How does it work?)

The carbon dioxide concentration in an empty vehicle is about 400 ppm, which is a normal outdoor level. As mentioned earlier, the CO₂ concentration in the cabin increases with the number of passengers. The optimal solution in this case is to use adaptive ventilation systems. The system sensors will continuously measure and evaluate the carbon dioxide content, allowing the ventilation complex to maintain the required level of air freshness.

Cost savings

According to research by SenseAir engineers, using adaptive ventilation systems can save up to 10% of fuel, even in maximum cooling mode. The use of such systems is environmentally friendly and economical.

Also, proper ventilation reduces the risk of many diseases among the staff and passengers of the vehicle, which eliminates costs associated with illnesses.

Clean air in the cabin significantly reduces the number of traffic accidents related to drowsiness and decreased driver concentration. The likelihood of related costs also decreases.

Key advantages

• Cabin atmosphere favorable to health
• Energy saving
• Environmental friendliness
• Reduction of traffic accident risks