Jul 18, 2025
Ethylene (C2H4) is a colorless, flammable gas widely present in industrial production and agricultural environments. It is not only an important chemical raw material, but also a key plant hormone that affects the ripening of fruits and vegetables. To ensure industrial safety, optimize agricultural storage, and meet environmental requirements, ethylene sensors have become an indispensable monitoring tool. This article will delve into the working principle, main application scenarios, and how to choose suitable equipment for ethylene sensors.
1. Working principle of ethylene sensor
The core function of an ethylene sensor is to detect the concentration of ethylene gas in the environment, and its technical principles are mainly divided into the following types:
(1) Electrochemical sensor
Principle: Utilizing the oxidation-reduction reaction between ethylene and electrodes to generate an electric current, the magnitude of which is proportional to the gas concentration.
Advantages: High sensitivity (able to detect ppm level), fast response, low power consumption.
Disadvantages: Short lifespan (usually 1-3 years), greatly affected by temperature and humidity.
Applicable scenarios: laboratory, cold storage, chemical process monitoring.
(2) Infrared Sensor (NDIR)
Principle: Based on the absorption characteristics of ethylene molecules towards specific wavelengths of infrared light, the concentration is calculated by measuring the attenuation of light intensity.
Advantages: Strong anti-interference ability, long lifespan (over 5 years), high stability.
Disadvantages: High cost and large size.
Applicable scenarios: industrial safety monitoring, environmental emission testing.
(3) Semiconductor sensors
Principle: Ethylene gas reacts with metal oxide semiconductor, causing a change in resistance and detecting concentration.
Advantages: Low cost, fast response, and good portability.
Disadvantage: susceptible to interference from other gases, requiring regular calibration.
Applicable scenarios: logistics transportation, warehousing management.
2. Key application areas of ethylene sensors
(1) Agriculture and Food Preservation
Problem: Ethylene accelerates the ripening and spoilage of fruits such as bananas and apples.
Solution: Install ethylene sensors in cold storage, packaging workshops, and transportation vehicles to monitor and regulate ethylene concentration in real-time and extend shelf life.
(2) Chemical Industry and Industrial Safety
Problem: Ethylene is a flammable and explosive gas (with an explosion limit of 2.7% -36%), and petrochemical companies need to strictly prevent leaks.
Solution: Deploy explosion-proof ethylene sensors and linked alarm systems in reaction vessels, pipelines, and storage areas.
(3) Environmental monitoring
Problem: Ethylene is a volatile organic compound (VOCs), and some industrial emissions must comply with EU environmental regulations.
Solution: Adopt high-precision NDIR sensors to monitor the air quality in the factory area and surrounding areas.
3. How to choose a suitable ethylene sensor?
(1) Clearly define testing requirements
Range: Agriculture typically requires 0-100ppm, while industrial safety requires 0-100% LEL (lower explosive limit).
Accuracy: Laboratory grade requires ± 1ppm, industrial grade ± 5% FS is sufficient.
(2) Focus on key performance indicators
Parameter
Recommended value
Response time
<30 seconds (electrochemical/semiconductor)
Operation temperature
-20 ℃~50 ℃ (wide temperature type is better)
Protection grade
IP65 (dustproof and waterproof)
Communication interface
4-20mA、RS485、 Wireless LoRa
(3) Certification and Compliance
Industrial explosion-proof: ATEX, IECEx certification (applicable to petrochemical plants).
Environmental standards: CE, RoHS, REACH (essential for the EU market)
4. Future Trends
Intelligence: Integrated IoT module, supporting cloud data analysis and remote alarm.
Miniaturization: MEMS technology makes sensors more compact and suitable for portable devices.
Multi gas detection: Composite sensors can simultaneously monitor gases such as ethylene and CO ₂.
5. Conclusion
Ethylene sensors play a crucial role in agricultural preservation, industrial safety, and environmental monitoring. Users should choose the appropriate technology (electrochemical, NDIR, or semiconductor) based on their actual needs, with a focus on range, accuracy, and environmental adaptability. With the advancement of technology, intelligence, low power consumption, and multifunctional integration will become the future development direction.
Tip: Regularly calibrating and maintaining sensors can significantly improve detection accuracy and equipment lifespan. If you need further consultation, please feel free to contact professional suppliers for customized solutions!
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