Pressure sensors play an important role in today’s automated HVAC systems. Building automation integrates heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration (HVACR) into a single system. As the population grows and necessitates increasingly larger buildings, it drives growth in the need for pressure sensors in the HVAC systems.

The pressure sensor market for HVAC is considered to be a part of the industrial pressure sensor market. This market is expected to have a CAGR of 9.2% through 2026. Another reason for this growth is increasing government regulations for cleaner air and better monitoring inside buildings.

The growth of the IoT and connected HVAC systems also continue to drive growth in this sector. An increase in the growth of smart thermostats is another reason for the promise of this market in the near future. These factors are expected to cause the HVAC sensors market to surpass $2,047.41 million by 2023. These trends reflect end users that include residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC applications.

Some of the major companies that make pressure sensors for the HVAC industry include Siemens, Schneider, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and Sensata Technologies. These companies must maintain ISO 9001:2015 HVAC & Refrigeration accreditation and ISO 91.114.30 Ventilation and Air Conditioning accreditation. Companies that make products for cleanroom environments must meet US FED STD 209E or ISO 14644-1 standards. Designers and researchers in the HVAC industry might also maintain ASHRAE certification. Some applications require that individual products have an NIST Traceable Certificate of Calibration.

The most common technology used in this industry is piezoresistive sensors. However, there is also a need for capacitive pressure sensors. The average range needed for most commercial systems is between 100-5,000 psi. In some applications, they must be able to detect and respond to minute changes in the pressure of the system. 

Pressure sensors are used in boilers, heat recovery systems, coolers, burner control, and variable air volume systems. The pressure sensors used in HVAC systems must be rugged and able to withstand harsh environments yet still retain their reliability with little drift or variation in accuracy. They are exposed to high heat, cold, dust, and high-vibration conditions throughout their working life.

The industry requires both wired and wireless technologies. The most common type of pressure sensors in the HVAC industry is differential pressure sensors and gauge pressure sensors. Differential pressure sensors are used to control the ventilation dampers by monitoring the pressure in the ducts to adjust the fan power. This allows the room to have a steady flow of air. Differential pressure sensors will help maintain even pressure throughout the room.

Differential pressure sensors also monitor the drop in pressure when a filter needs to be changed. It will also provide information when a filter has become torn. These pressure sensors also help to monitor the environment and help to maintain negative pressure in a cleanroom. Together, these pressure sensors help maintain HVAC system efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

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