SAN JOSE, California, United States, 3 November 2019: Posifa Technologies on October 31 introduced the PAV3000 series of what it described as economical, high-performance air velocity sensors with digital I2C output and a surface-mount footprint for thermal management and filter monitoring in even the most space-constrained locations. Unlike thermistor-based solutions, the company claimed through a Press release, PAV3000 has a MEMS sensor core that is minimally affected by ambient temperature changes and which provides instant real-time feedback on proper air flow at critical locations.

According to the company, the air velocity data from the sensors perfectly complements temperature information to provide the best insight into thermal efficiency. Since the PAV3000 helps identify areas that require unusually high air flow to maintain stable temperatures, layouts for rack enclosures with air cooling — such as those found in data centres — can be modified to reduce cooling demands for increased energy savings, the company said through the release. In applications such as HVAC systems, air velocity measurements can be used to determine when filters need to be replaced. This ensures hardware is adequately protected during heavy use, and it allows customers with light usage requirements to benefit from extended change intervals, the company said.

PAV3000 series devices feature Posifa’s third-generation thermal flow die, which uses a pair of thermopiles to detect changes in temperature gradient caused by mass flow, the company claimed. The result is excellent repeatability of 1% FS and accuracy of 5% FS. The solid-state thermal isolation structure on the sensor die eliminates the need for a surface cavity or the fragile membrane used in competing technologies, making the sensor resistant to clogging and pressure shock, the release said.

Measuring air velocity at 7 m/s (PAV3005V) and 15 m/s (PAV3015V), the PAV3000 series devices offer extremely fast response times of 125 ms typical in a compact, robust package, the company said, adding that the air velocity sensors feature a 12-bit digital output, 3.3 V supply voltage, and supply current of 13 mA.