A review on interactions between energy performance of the buildings, outdoor air pollution and the indoor air quality

An Indoor-Air-Quality (IAQ) sensor is developed in conformity with ISO/IEEE/IEC 21451 standards. The developed IAQ sensor is suitable to monitor the concentrations of indoor air quality parameters like PM2.5, CO2, O 3 , and CO. The semiconductor and PM 2.5 sensors are used for implement the sensor array. The optical PM2.5 Sensor module has been developed. The sensing part of the developed sensor is controlled through smart devices with GSM network. The machine-to-machine (M2M) data communication is implemented for the air quality sensor and smart devices. The calibration of the developed sensor has also been implemented successfully. The IAQ sensor is portable, easy to operate, low cost, and energy efficient.

Energy efficient and low cost air quality sensor for smart buildings

New construction materials, building and car interiors, and furnishings typically cause air pollution by means of emitting toxic chemical substances indoors. The level of health hazard to the occupants depends on the emission rate of the pollutants, the period of occupant exposure to the pollutants and the concentration of the emitted toxic substances. Typical health effects induced by the indoor air contaminants include symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness, concentration trouble, nausea, epistaxis, eyes, nose and throat irritation, dryness of nose and throat, and decreased mucous flow rate. Traditional offline indoor air detection techniques, namely, mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography (GC) and UV spectroscopy involve collection of indoor air samples from the field followed by laboratory analysis. Because these techniques are slow and time consuming, online indoor air detection and monitoring techniques which are fast, reliable and accurate enough to trigger more extensive analysis are required. In this paper, ion mobility spectrometry for an alternative indoor air detection technique is studied. An aspiration-type ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), in the form of a portable and handheld unit, is employed for the online detection of indoor air contaminants. By means of sniff tests performed on the 62 most commonly occurring indoor air contaminants, the sensitivity of aspiration-type IMS technique towards the indoor air contaminants and hence its suitability for indoor air quality detection is evaluated and demonstrated.

Sniff-testing for indoor air contaminants from new buildings environment detecting by aspiration-type ion mobility spectrometry

A novel approach to analysis of complex gaseous mixtures is presented. The approach is based on the utilization of a compact gas chromatograph in combination with an array of highly integrated and selective metal oxide (MOX) sensors. Thanks to the implementation of a multisensory detector, the device collects multiple chromatograms in a single run. The sensors in the integrated MEMS platform are very distinct in their catalytic properties. Hence, the time separation by chromatographic column is complemented by catalytic separation by a multisensory detector. Furthermore, the device can perform the analysis in a broad range of concentrations, from ppb to hundreds of ppm. Low ppb and even sub-ppb levels of detection for some analytes were achieved. As a part of this effort, nanocomposite gas sensors were synthesized for selective detection of hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, alcohols, ketones, and heavy hydrocarbons.

Multisensory Gas Chromatography for Field Analysis of Complex Gaseous Mixtures

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Artificial olfactory system for multi-component analysis of gas mixtures.

This work looks at monitoring air quality in indoor environments through the integration of several sensing technologies into a single robust, reliable and cheap detection platform, which shares air pre-conditioning and electronics. Target gases and detection limits have been set according to recommendations of different agencies in Europe and the US. The system has reached detection limits stated by the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) for benzene. The pre-conditioning fluidic platform has also been designed, simulated, fabricated and tested with sensors so the gas flow has been optimized. Field tests in real buildings are being carried out to contrast current measurement procedures and results with the obtained using the device under development. The main aim of the system is to control HVAC (Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning) in energy-efficient way while keeping a high air quality standard inside the building.

https://www.research.lancs.ac.uk/portal/services/downloadRegister/50827862/Final_Urban_Climate_INTASENSE.pdf

Helmut Knapp

Papers

System to control indoor air quality in energy efficient buildings