Suitability Evaluation of Multipoint Simultaneous CO2 Sampling Wireless Sensors for Livestock Buildings

Sensors

Salvador Calvet¹  José Carlos Campelo²  Fernando Estellés¹  Angel Perles²  Ricardo Mercado² 

[1] Institute of Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, 46022 Valencia, Spain; E-Mails:;Institute for the Applications of Advanced Information and Communications Technologies (ITACA), Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, 46022 Valencia, Spain; E-Mails:

关键词: carbon dioxide;    livestock;    ventilation;    wireless sensor network;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s140610479

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The environment in livestock buildings must be controlled to ensure the health and welfare of both workers and animals, as well as to restrict the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere. Among the pollutants generated inside these premises, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is of great interest in terms of animal welfare and ventilation control. The use of inexpensive sensors means that complete systems can be designed with a number of sensors located around the building. This paper describes a study of the suitability of multipoint simultaneous CO₂ sensors operating in a wireless sensor network, which was found to operate satisfactorily under laboratory conditions and was found to be the best alternative for these applications. The sensors showed a highly linear response to CO₂ concentrations, ranging from 500 to 5000 ppm. However, individual sensor response was found to differ, which made it necessary to calibrate each one separately. Sensor precision ranged between 80 and 110 ppm CO₂, and sensor response to register a 95% change in concentration was estimated at around 5 min. These features mean this type of sensor network can be used to monitor animal welfare and also for environmental control in poorly ventilated livestock premises. According to the tests conducted in this study, a temporal drift may occur and therefore a regular calibration of sensors would be needed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.