Senseair, a Swedish subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM), has released the Sunlight R290, a gas sensor designed to detect propane (R290) gas leaks.
The Sunlight R290 uses non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology, minimizing heat generation while maintaining high measurement accuracy. The sensor is compliant with the IEC 60335-2-40 safety standard and offers a detection range of 0–100% of the lower flammability limit (LFL). It can be integrated into refrigeration systems and is also available as a part of a standalone product, the RDS R290.
Design details: The gas sensor is designed to operate at temperatures from −40 to 70°C (−40 to 158°F) and in relative humidity levels of up to 95%. According to Senseair, its compact design – 34 × 21 × 12mm (1.3 × 0.8 × 0.4in) – and low power consumption of 94μA make it suitable for a wide range of HVAC applications, including air-conditioning units, heat pumps and dehumidifiers.
- The sensor’s measurement accuracy is ±2.5% LFL.
- It’s equipped with Senseair’s proprietary Automatic Baseline Correction (ABC) technology, which is designed to continuously track measurement deviations to ensure long-term accuracy without the need for external maintenance. According to Senseair, this allows for maintenance-free operation over a service life of more than 15 years.
CO2 sensor: In addition to the Sunlight R290, Senseair launched the S88 earlier this year, a CO2 (R744) sensor specifically designed for indoor air-quality monitoring and building automation systems. Like the sunlight R290, the S88 employs NDIR and ABC tech.
- The S88 sensor has a compact design, measuring 8.7 × 33.9 × 19.8mm (0.3 × 1.3 × 0.7in). Its lifespan is also estimated at 15 years.
- The company said it is pin-compatible with other Senseair products and some competing solutions, allowing for easy integration without major redesigns.
- The sensor operates across a wide measurement range from 400 to 10,000ppm and supports applications that require high precision.
- The S88’s operating temperature is below 50°C (122°F), and it can handle relative humidity levels of up to 85%. It aligns with the latest ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022 Addendum ab and meets requirements set by the well building standard (WELL v2) and RESET grade B.
Quotable: “To ensure safe operation with this highly flammable refrigerant [propane], Senseair has developed ‘Sunlight R290,’ a gas sensor featuring high measurement accuracy and operating range, while minimizing heat generation, packaging space and power consumption,” said Senseair.
