Application Note
Broadcom Spectrometers and
Pyroelectric Detectors
Continuous Emission Monitoring with
Broadcom Optical Sensors
Introduction
Continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) are critical for environmental protection and play a crucial role in human
life and public health. These systems are used to reach compliance and ensure safety by monitoring pollution and controlling
and reporting emissions in industrial sites.
Optical sensors, such as spectrometers and pyroelectric detectors that target individual gases, play an important role in
emission measurement.
Broadcom CEMS-AN100
July 24, 2024
Broadcom Spectrometers and Pyroelectric Detectors Application Note Continuous Emission Monitoring with Broadcom Optical Sensors
Typical CEMS Use Cases
Gas Analytics: Sensors can identify and measure specific pollutants and their concentrations. With many wavelength
configurations, Broadcom spectrometers are available for deep UV measurements starting at 185 nm up to short-wave NIR
at 1700 nm. For mid-infrared (MIR) and far-infrared (FIR) sensing, Broadcom offers a wide range of pyroelectric detectors.
Pollution Wavelengths Product Part Number
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 200 nm – 350 nm Qmini deepUV: 185 nm – 375 nm, res. 0.5 nm AFBR-S20M2DUV
Qmini UV: 220 nm – 400 nm, res. 0.5 nm AFBR-S20M2UV
Qmini WIDE UV: 220 nm – 1000 nm, res. 1.5 nm AFBR-S20M2WU
Qwave UV: 220 nm – 390 nm, res. 0.3 nm AFBR-S20W2UV
7.3 μm Pyroelectric single-channel sensor with a 5-μm AFBR-S6PY2214
longpass filter and system application filter
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) NO: 200 nm – 300 nm Qmini deepUV: 185 nm – 375 nm, res. 0.5 nm AFBR-S20M2DUV
Qmini UV: 220 nm – 400 nm, res. 0.5 nm AFBR-S20M2UV
Qmini WIDE UV: 220 nm – 1000 nm, res. 1.5 nm AFBR-S20M2WU
Qwave UV: 220 nm – 390 nm, res. 0.3 nm AFBR-S20W2UV
5.3 μm Pyroelectric single-channel sensor with a 5-μm AFBR-S6PY2214
longpass filter and system application filter
NO2: 400 nm – 600 nm Qmini VIS: 370 nm – 750 nm, res. 0.8 nm AFBR-S20M2VI
Qmini WIDE UV: 220 nm – 1000 nm, res. 1.5 nm AFBR-S20M2WV
Qmini WIDE VIS: 220 nm – 1000 nm, res. 1.5 nm AFBR-S20M2WU
Qwave VIS: 350 nm – 880 nm, res. 0.6 nm AFBR-S20W2VI
6.2 μm Pyroelectric single-channel sensor with a 5-μm AFBR-S6PY2214
longpass filter and system application filter
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 4.6 μm Analog pyroelectric single-channel sensor: AFBR-S6PY0211
4.64 μm/180 nm
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 2.0, 4.3, and 15 μm Analog pyroelectric dual-channel sensor: AFBR-S6PY0234
3.91 μm/90 nm and 4.24 μm/180 nm
Digital ezPyro® SMD pyroelectric sensor: AFBR-S6EPY12231R
4.26 μm/180 nm
Methane (CH4) 3.3 μm and 7.7 μm Analog pyroelectric dual-channel sensor: AFBR-S6PY2626
3.91 μm/90 nm and 3.30 μm/160 nm
Volatile Organic These pollutants can vary widely Qmini platform: AFBR-S20M2xx
Compounds (VOCs) based on their specific Seven configurations from: 185 nm – 1100 nm
compounds; therefore UV, VIS,
and infrared spectrometers are Qwave platform: AFBR-S20W2xx
used to detect the VOCs of Three configurations from: 220 nm – 1030 nm
interest.
QtubeSpectrometer: 190 nm – 1000 nm AFBR-S20T1WU
Qneo: 950 nm – 1700 nm AFBR-S20N1N256
Particulate Matter (PM) Particulate matter is often Qmini VIS: 370 nm – 750 nm, res. 0.8 nm AFBR-S20M2VI
measured using light-scattering Qmini VIS/NIR: 480 nm – 1100 nm, res. 1.5 nm AFBR-S20M2VN
techniques. In some special Qmini WIDE: 220 nm – 1000 nm, res. 1.5 nm AFBR-S20M2WU
cases, laser-light scattering at Qwave VIS: 350 nm – 880 nm, res. 0.6 nm AFBR-S20W2VI
450 nm – 650 nm is employed for
real-time monitoring.
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Broadcom Spectrometers and Pyroelectric Detectors Application Note Continuous Emission Monitoring with Broadcom Optical Sensors
Why Spectroscopy?
The following features use Broadcom spectrometers in CEMS:
Real-time Monitoring: Broadcom spectrometers offer online analytics with very fast readout times to ensure real-time
monitoring.
Reliable Monitoring: Broadcom spectrometers are highly sensitive instruments that are capable of detecting the
smallest amounts of pollution in emissions with high resolution, starting with 0.3 nm (FWHM). This sensitivity is
important to ensure compliance and meet environmental regulations.
Multicomponent Analytics: A spectrometer can simultaneously analyze multiple components in gas mixtures within
one fast measurement.
Fast Communication with Remote Access to Data: The various digital interfaces (USB, SPI, UART) help to ensure
fast and easy communication between the spectrometer and the control system. In addition, the small dimensions of
the Qseries make it possible to place the spectrometers inside of process probes in harsh industrial surroundings,
enabling remote and live monitoring of processes.
Why Pyroelectric Sensors?
Broadcom pyroelectric sensors offer the following benefits:
Fast Response: Broadcom pyroelectric detectors have fast-responding thin-film sensing elements that enable NDIR
system power consumption reduction and increase time resolution.
High Sensitivity: Broadcom pyroelectric detectors have built-in amplification, reducing the readout system complexity
and protecting the sensitive parts of the circuit from EMI.
Digital Interface: Broadcom ezPyro SMD digital pyroelectric sensors further increase the signal readout integration,
offering I2C communication to the system microcontroller.
Why Is CEMS So Important?
Continuous emission monitoring systems ensure that industrial companies meet national and international emission
standards and guidelines. Broadcom sensor solutions can easily integrate in CEMS, enhancing these systems in terms of
reliable, reproducible, real-time, and especially accurate monitoring.
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