CARBOTEC NIR, Optical Inline CO₂ Sensor, Centec

The CARBOTEC NIR is an optical inline CO₂ sensor from Centec, representing the latest generation of dissolved carbon dioxide measurement technology for beverage production. It is based on Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) with Near-Infrared (NIR) light: NIR radiation passes through a sapphire crystal, reflecting multiple times off its internal surfaces while the outer surfaces are in contact with the carbonated liquid. CO₂ molecules absorb a specific wavelength of the NIR light at each reflection point, and the resulting attenuation of the light signal is used to determine CO₂ content precisely. Because the measurement is purely optical and molecule-specific, the result is unaffected by other dissolved gases, product colour, turbidity, or viscosity — delivering reliable "pure CO₂" readings in complex production conditions. Automatic temperature compensation is provided by an integrated Pt100 sensor. The instrument is fully CIP-compatible and available as a standalone inline sensor or as part of integrated Centec process solutions including CARBOTEC TR-PT, Carbonator, DeCarbonator, and CarboBlender.

Key Features CARBOTEC NIR

• ATR/NIR optical measurement via sapphire crystal — "pure CO₂" result, unaffected by other gases, colour, turbidity, or viscosity of the product.
• High accuracy ±0.1 g/L and excellent reproducibility ±0.02 g/L across the full 0–10 g/L range.
• Fast response time ≤3 s — real-time process feedback for dynamic carbonation control.
• Automatic temperature compensation via integrated Pt100 sensor.
• Hygienic design; fully CIP-compatible; wetted materials 1.4404 / AISI 316L, sapphire crystal, EPDM FDA, PTFE FDA.
• Compatible with Varivent inline housings DN65–DN150; other connections available on request.
• I/O: 6 digital inputs (24 V DC); 3 digital outputs (24 V DC); 2 analogue outputs (4–20 mA); Profibus DP optional.
• Modular integration with CARBOTEC TR-PT, Carbonator, DeCarbonator, and CarboBlender systems.
• IP65; 24 V DC; long-term measurement stability; low maintenance design.

Applications

The CARBOTEC NIR is suited to continuous inline CO₂ monitoring and control in soft drink production and mineral water carbonation, where accurate dissolved CO₂ measurement directly in the process stream is critical for product quality consistency, taste reproducibility, and carbonation level compliance.

Installation and Safety Notes

Install inline using Varivent DN65–DN150 housings or alternative connections as specified. Power: 24 V DC. Fully CIP-compatible — no removal required during cleaning cycles. Working pressure max. 10 bar; operating temperature −10 to +85 °C. Profibus DP communication is available as an option. Consult the technical datasheet for full wiring and installation specifications.

Technical Specifications