iAQ-core K, kitchen hood or DCV system
Supports automatic control of fan rotation speed

On the 15th, ams announced the latest version of the ams iAQ-core module, a low-power gas sensor for detecting steam, odors, and gases in the kitchen.
iAQ-core K is the latest model in the ams iAQ-core family of MEMS gas sensing modules, and like existing products, it is supplied in a compact yet robust package of 18mm x 15mm.

The new product features protection against airborne water vapor, dust, and grease contamination, and maintains reliable operating performance even when intensively exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and moisture commonly found in kitchens.

This latest module in the iAQ-core product family combines the features provided by previous versions with a new algorithm that detects kitchen odors, including steam, gases generated during cooking, and food smells. The new iAQ-core K provides relative concentration measurements of VOCs and water vapor to the host controller, and this architecture enables kitchen hoods or demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) systems to automatically control fan rotation speeds.

In each application, this sensor reliably detects rapid changes in humidity and gas mixture ratios characteristic of the cooking process. The module's new algorithm features a fast response speed, allowing kitchen hoods or DCV systems to automatically maintain good indoor air quality at all times and contributing to energy savings by controlling ventilation fans to operate only when necessary.

“With the launch of the iAQ-core K module, kitchen hood manufacturers can now easily integrate reliable gas detection devices into their products with minimal development effort, as well as significantly increase product value through automatic control functions,” said Nat Edington, General Manager of ams’ environmental sensors. “When a user steps away from the gas range to do other things, if the kitchen hood detects humidity or odors, the system can automatically increase or decrease the fan speed.”