Ammonia (NH3) sensors

Ammonia is a colorless, pungent gas that is widely used in many industrial applications and found in agricultural production. It is a critical component in the manufacture of fertilizers, plastics, and explosives, among other things. However, ammonia can be hazardous to human and animal health and the environment when it is released into the atmosphere. As such, the need for accurate and reliable ammonia measurement sensors has become increasingly important in recent years.

Types of Ammonia Measurement Sensors

There are several types of ammonia measurement sensors available in the market, and each one operates on a different principle. Some of the most common ammonia measurement sensors include:

1. Electrochemical sensors
2. Metal-oxide sensors
3. Photoionization detectors
4. Infrared sensors
5. Catalytic sensors

Electrochemical Ammonia Sensors

Electrochemical sensors are among the most widely used ammonia measurement sensors. These sensors operate by measuring the current produced when ammonia reacts with a sensing electrode. The magnitude of the current is proportional to the concentration of ammonia in the air. The sensor’s sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the composition of the sensing electrode, and the measurement range can be customized to meet specific application requirements.

Metal-Oxide Sensors

Metal-oxide sensors operate by detecting changes in the electrical conductivity of a metal oxide film when it comes into contact with ammonia. The metal oxide film is typically made of tin oxide, and the sensor’s sensitivity can be adjusted by varying the thickness of the film or the operating temperature. Metal-oxide sensors are highly sensitive and can detect ammonia at concentrations as low as a few parts per billion.

The Impact of Ammonia on Poultry Production

It is well-proven that air polution due to high ammonia levels in broiler production results in a higher FCR, lower gain, and poorer animal welfare. Birds being exposed to high levels of ammonia can suffer from respiratory diseases, ammonia blindness, infections with Newcastle, the bronchitis virus and parasites, burned skin and feed, nutritional stress, suffocation, and even death. These sufferings will of course decrease production and increase breeding costs.

Why Continuous Ammonia Monitoring Matters

Early action benefits the productivity of the broilers as well as animal welfare. Thus, constantly monitoring the level of ammonia is essential for the poultry production. Furthermore, monitoring the level of humidity is also important, since a too high level of humidity in the livestock house can cause formation of ammonia.

There are different ways to minimize the level of ammonia in a poultry production. One is ensuring a good quality of litter, air flow and ventilation in the house, a low level of humidity, and keeping the temperature down. Minimizing the level of ammonia have a major impact on the financial yield of the production. In fact, studies* have shown that ammonia concentrations as low as 25 ppm can reduce bird weights at 28 days of age by 2-7% while 50 ppm ammonia has been shown to reduce bird weights from 16-19%. An increased ammonia concentration can cut profits by $3,000 or more per batch in a livestock house with 25,000 broilers.

With dol-sensors’ ammonia sensors you can continuously monitor ammonia levels with great accuracy. Combined with a farm controller, the ammonia sensors can help ensuring automation of the ventilation system.

*Source: “Ammonia in the Atmosphere during Brooding Affects Performance of Broiler Chickens”, F. N. REECE, B. D. LOTT, and J. W. DEATON and “Poultry Housing Tips”, Volume 32, No. 1, University of Georgia

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In many countries around the world, environmental regulations are made in the poultry industry. According to The Poultry Site, poultry producers in Australia must offer environmental enrichment for meat chicken breeders. The guidelines also include changes to the minimum light intensity and required periods of darkness, ventilation, and temperature parameters for all species.

To ensure the required environmental enrichments, farmers and farm managers can take advantage of climate sensors for poultry. These are sensors that are specially designed to with-stand the harsh environment in livestock production, where dust, high humidity, temperature swings, as well as high levels of ammonia can harm the sensors and affect their performance.

Climate sensors for poultry comes in various versions, and can monitor the light intensity, level of humidity, CO2, and ammonia, and the temperature. In combination with a farm controller these climate sensors can help the farmer and farm manager controlling the ventilation system and the amount of light automatically. Furthermore, the data from the sensors can be shared with others for documentation purposes or for analysis.

Vital data from climate sensors in poultry

The data from the sensors is vital to the production. By controlling the ventilation system and light intensity automatically, the farmer or farm manager has full control of the environment and thus the animals’ welfare. In poultry, the light intensity can have a huge impact on how the animals grow, the FCR (Feed Consumption Rate), and egg laying.

The temperature is also an important factor in poultry production. A too low temperature will increase the mortality and make the birds clutch together to keep warm. They will most likely start eating more without gaining any weight due to the energy they use to keep warm.

During their life cycle, chickens require different temperatures. This is why an automatic regulation of the temperature is crusial.