COVID-19 – All Sensors | Put the Pressure on Us

Changes in the Forecast for Pressure Sensors?

Welcome to All Sensors “Put the Pressure on Us” blog. This blog brings out pressure sensor aspects in a variety of applications inspired by headlines, consumer and industry requirements, market research, government activities, and you.

Changes in the Forecast for Pressure Sensors?

Similar to many other products, instead of growing in 2020, due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, the pressure sensor market experienced a slight drop according to a recent market report. But recovery is in the forecast. The global MEMS pressure sensor market is expected to grow at US$2.2 billion in 2026 having a 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2019-2026 with the medical portion growing at the same CAGR.

In addition to their extensive use in automobiles, smartphones and industrial applications, the report acknowledges that the miniaturization of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensors has allowed their use in invasive medical applications like blood pressure monitoring. Also, “Other niche medical markets like catheters, inflating device monitoring for cardiovascular applications that are invasive and require high accuracy, low-cost sensors, are fully using the advantages of MEMS technologies and could foster broader use in the medical market.”

The report states that as a mature technology, MEMS pressure sensors currently dominate the low-pressure market segment – under 10 bars (145 psi) – with piezoresistive technology continuing to be the main MEMS technology for the next five years. All Sensors piezoresistive MEMS pressure sensors are poised to take advantage of broader use in medical applications, especially in the ultra-low pressure from 0.1-inch H₂O (0.0036 psi) full scale up to the 25-inch H₂O (0.9 psi) area.

ELV Series digital and analog pressure sensor products.

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A Pressure Shortage?

A Pressure Shortage?

In 2021, a shortage of semiconductors impacted automotive companies’ production, smartphone new product introductions, and more. Also, the Colonial pipeline hack created a fuel shortage for the U.S. southeastern states. While the new outbreak of COVID-19 in India has received global attention since it has reported more than 300,000 daily infections for 22 consecutive days, what is less well known is that the outbreak has caused a shortage in oxygen (O₂) concentrators.

For those COVID patients who do not require intensive care, oxygen concentrators deliver about five to 10 liters of oxygen per minute, typically at about 93% purity. Unlike tanks or other containers supplying oxygen, concentrators use electrical pumps to provide a continuous supply of oxygen by removing the nitrogen from the surrounding air. To monitor the process and safely supply air to the patient, an oxygen concentrator uses differential pressure sensors for flow measurements and gauge pressure sensors for sensing pressure at different points in the process. The low differential pressure measurements for flow are typically only a few kPA. For those addressing the oxygen concentrator shortage, essentially any of All Sensors DLHR, DLVR, ELV, ELVR, MAMP, and MLV series products that have respiratory applications will work in these low pressure applications.

Classic pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen concentrators use two-bed molecular sieves.

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Pressure in HVAC Systems

Pressure in HVAC Systems

While addressing COVID-19 health issues and getting back to normal, one of the major concerns, especially for education, is acceptable ventilation.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, one of the leading conferences in this area, the Michigan Industrial Ventilation Conference, will not be held this year. In its place, a series of webinars facilitated by conference instructors will cover the fundamentals of industrial ventilation.

As noted in the seminar description for the first of the these webinars that will start March 3, pressure, as well as temperature, elevation, and moisture content impacts an airstream’s density and density factor.

Another webinar will specifically address difficult testing situations and detail selection methods for providing the most accurate representation of pressure and airflow possible. Yet another will cover techniques and equipment for monitoring industrial ventilation systems to ensure that the system operates properly.

Those interested in more information on alternatives being offered to the 2021 conference should click here.

Those who are interested in accurate pressure sensors in the low-pressure range to detect clogged filters and airflow in HVAC systems should consider All Sensors MAMP Series of calibrated amplified output that can address 5 to 120 cmH₂O measurements.

Do you have a pressure sensing question? Let us know and we’ll address it in an upcoming blog.
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Getting the Right Medical Room Pressure

Getting the Right Medical Room Pressure

With airborne infectious diseases that can easily spread from one person to another, such as the COVID-19 virus, isolation is critical. In a hospital or clinic, an isolation room needs negative pressure to have airflow into the room and avoid pathogens, or germs, from escaping. In addition to viruses, other undesirable contaminants to keep away from the rest of the population and sterile equipment in a hospital include bacteria, fungi, yeasts, molds, pollens, gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), small particles and chemicals.

The airflow to create and maintain the negative pressure (vacuum) in the room requires a consistent pressure differential of about 0.01 inch water gauge (in. w.g.) or 2.5 Pascals (Pa).

According to the Facility Guidelines Institute’s (FGI’s) most recent 2018 FGI Guidelines ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2017, other rooms that should be negatively pressurized include:

Emergency Department Public Waiting Areas
Emergency Department Decontamination
Radiology Waiting Rooms
Triage
Bathrooms
Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) Rooms
Most Laboratory Work Areas
Autopsy Rooms
Soiled Workrooms or Soiled Holding Rooms
Soiled or Decontamination Rooms in Sterile Processing Department
Soiled Linen Sorting and Storage
Janitors’ Closets

In contrast, protecting the patient and sterile medical and surgical supplies in an operating room requires positive pressure to keep undesirable contaminants outside. The positive pressure room is achieved by pumping in filtered, clean air.

Isolation (Low) vs. operating room (High) pressure.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health

In fact, some portable, headgear-mounted air purifying respirator systems use positive pressure to protect the wearer.

Comments/Questions?
Do you have a pressure sensing question? Let us know and we’ll address it in an upcoming blog.
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