A study on the performance of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors for VOC measurement in residential setting

This study investigated the performance of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) sensors for measuring Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in a residential environment. Previous research indicates that MOS VOC sensors can detect pollution events, making them potentially suitable for ventilation control. Our objective was to examine several MOS VOC sensors and determine their properties-sensitivity and hysteresis. We evaluated the cross-correlation among the sensors. We measured in a row house occupied by a family of four. We used a Photo Ionization Detector as a reference measurement. The tested sensors differed significantly in their sensitivity, meaning that they would not be directly interchangeable when used to control of mechanical ventilation airflow. The investigated sensors had small hysteresis, which is preferable. The cross-correlation between the CO2 equivalent MOS VOC signal provided by one of the sensors and CO2 measurements was weak, suggesting that the CO2 equivalent cannot substitute the CO2 signal. The results show that in ventilation control, a MOS VOC sensor can be utilized for detection of sudden VOC emissions related to human activities steering the airflow-boost signals. The control strategy must be adjusted according to the characteristics of the output signal provided by concrete sensor used.