Sensirion Nubo sphere User manual

User Manual for

Nubo Sphere

Sensor Node (LTE MOx) & Wind Meter

Continuous Methane Leakage Monitoring

System

Revision 0.2 from June 1, 2022

Nubo Sphere

User Manual

IMPORTANT Safety Information

Throughout the manual, you will find caution and warning statements that require you to take cautionary measures

when working with the device to avoid damage to the device or injury. Please read the manual carefully and follow

the procedures of operation as prescribed.

Caution

Caution means that incorrect use might break the device. Failure to follow the

procedures explained and prescribed in this manual might result in irreversible

damage to the device.

Warning

Warning means that unsafe use of the device can result in injury or cause damage to

the device or its surroundings. Follow the procedures prescribed.

 
© Sensirion Connected Solutions AG, CH Rev. 0.2 –D1 - Jun 22 3/21 
Contents 
1Introduction 4 
2System description 5 
2.1 System operation overview 5 
2.2 Nubo Sphere system components and accessories 6 
3Handling & mounting instructions 7 
3.1 General safety instructions 7 
3.2 Installation instructions 8 
3.2.1 Node placement 8 
3.2.2 Installing pole mounts 9 
3.2.3 Node without wind meter 10 
3.2.4 Node with wind meter 12 
3.3 Registering device to cloud 14 
3.4 Before leaving the site 15 
4Maintenance 15 
4.1 General 15 
4.2 Cartridge replacement 15 
5General handling 16 
5.1 Powering up the device 16 
5.2 Depowering the device 16 
5.3 Storage 16 
5.4 Shipment 17 
6Conformity information 18 
6.1 European conformity information 18 
6.2 FCC notice 18 
6.3 Frequency band(s) and maximum radio-frequency power transmitted 19 
7Important legal notices 20 
8Revision history 21 
9Contact 21 
 
 
 

1Introduction

The Nubo Sphere methane (CH4) emission monitoring system based on the rugged and reliable Nubo sensor node

is an end-to-end solution for real-time detection, localization and quantification of methane emissions. Relying on

Sensirion's market-leading environmental and air quality sensing know-how paired with our expertise in high-

volume scaling solutions, the Nubo Sphere system offers high performance at low total cost of ownership. The

robust system design enables the acquisition of reliable and highly accurate data at any time. It is rapidly deployed

and easy to use, and the two sensor cartridges ensure low maintenance expenses and provide a future-proof,

sustainable setup.

Nubo Sphere changes the state of the art in methane emissions monitoring. Detecting, locating and quantifying

fugitive methane emissions have never been easier. The deployment of consistent ground-based methane data

logging enables emission detection much earlier than was previously possible through human detection, ensuring

fast, accurate and cost-saving damage control through rapid incident response actions for increased safety and

reduced financial losses.

The forward-thinking system design with two exchangeable sensor cartridges allows easy maintenance and

sustainable upgrades to the latest sensor technology. In cases of customer-specific sensing needs or changing

regulatory requirements, parameters can be added in a very flexible manner and on an as-needed basis without

the need to exchange the entire system.

2System description

2.1 System operation overview

The Nubo Sphere monitoring system consists of multiple Nubo sensor nodes, a cloud-based data analytics system

and a user- and mobile-friendly web interface. The node has two slots for sensing cartridges. The cartridges can

be easily exchanged for maintenance or upgrading. At the current stage, a methane (CH4) sensing cartridge based

on metal-oxide (MOx) technology is available. In the future, we plan to offer improved cartridges for faster and more

precise methane emission detection. The currently unused second cartridge slot could be used to extend the

parameter space once other cartridges become available.

Because of the solar panel, the low-power electronics and the state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, the nodes

operate fully autonomously even under the most adverse conditions and without the need to deploy electric power

cables. The compact size ensures easy deployment wherever needed. At least one of the nodes is equipped with

a wind meter in addition to the methane sensor to enable measurement of the local wind speed and direction at

any time.

The nodes transmit the data constantly to the cloud platform via LTE-M or 2G (GPRS). Every node has its own

connectivity to ensure maximum redundancy, simple and rapid setup and flexibility. At the cloud level, the signals

are refined to exclude artifacts and ensure maximal data fidelity. The algorithms have been developed on the basis

of Sensirion’s extensive know-how with the employed sensor technologies and their application in the field.

Our advanced analytics system continuously applies algorithms based on physical modelling to the refined data to

detect any emission as early as possible. The models allow for automatic and reliable localization and quantification

of most leaks. The models and their output are continuously improved and supervised by our dedicated team of

data scientists to improve accuracy and avoid false positives.

The status of all your sites can be easily monitored on the intuitive dashboard in any web browser or smartphone.

Sites where action is most urgently required can be easily identified, and their status can be tracked during the

repair process. The best mitigation action can be easily determined on the basis of the intuitive data visualization

of the location and size of any emission event. If critical emission events are detected, you will receive notifications

to enable your team to react rapidly.

2.2 Nubo Sphere system components and accessories

Each Nubo Sphere sensor node package contains:

•1 sensor node that includes a preinstalled methane sensing cartridge (1)

•1 solar panel with mount and cable (2)

•2 pole mounts (5)

•4 band ties for the pole mounts (6)

Each Nubo Sphere wind meter package contains:

•1 wind meter, including cable (3)

•1 wind meter mounting adapter (4)

•1 pole mount (5)

•2 band ties for the pole mount (6)

For a typical installation, multiple sensor nodes (4 to 12 depending on conditions and goals for a 150 x 150 m2(500

x 500 ft.2) site) and at least one wind meter are required. The exact numbers depend on the specifics of the

installation site (e.g. the size), the installed equipment and the performance requirements. For additional details,

please contact our support team or your point of sales. Our experts can help you determine the optimum number

of devices for your project.

Package contents of one Nubo Sphere sensor node and one Nubo Sphere wind meter:

3Handling & mounting instructions

3.1 General safety instructions

Warning

•Do not open the device. Do not modify the device in any way, including, but not

limited to, exchanging the included antenna, replacing the included modem and

modifying the power supply or circuit board.

•Nubo sensor nodes are to be operated only with compatible sensor cartridges

provided by Sensirion Connected Solutions AG. Do not modify the cartridge

and/or install components not supplied by Sensirion Connected Solutions AG or

components not explicitly marketed to be used with Nubo sensor nodes.

•The device is to be installed in a clean and dry environment. Do not install in rainy

conditions.

•The device is to be operated with the supplied powering options only. Do not

attach any other power supplies. Do not use the supplied powering options for

any purpose other than powering the device.

•The device contains a lithium-ion battery. Do not store or operate the device or

battery in temperature conditions outside the specified range. Do not crush the

device or its battery. Do not dispose of the device or battery into fire or a hot oven.

Do not expose the device or the battery to extremely low air pressures. Do not

replace the battery with any other type.

Caution

•The device is to be installed with the sensor cartridges facing toward the ground.

Do not install and/or operate the system in any other orientation.

•The system is designed to be water resistant to rain or spray. It is not designed

to be waterproof when immersed. Do not immerse the device in water.

3.2 Installation instructions

The device comes pre-assembled with an MOx-based methane sensor cartridge and a blind cover to seal the

second slot. No further configurations or steps are needed to prepare the Nubo sensor nodes. They can be

deployed directly in the field, as described below. A video tutorial showing the installation steps is available on our

website.

3.2.1 Node placement

For the entire system to operate correctly, it is important to ensure that the Nubo Sphere sensor nodes are placed

at the correct positions on your site. Please check with your point of sales before installation to determine exactly

where the Nubo Sphere units and the wind meter should be placed.

All elements of the system must not be placed within hazardous zones. Nubo Sphere sensor nodes should be

placed approximately 20 to 60 m (66 to 197 ft.) downwind of potential emission sources.

The units can be installed either on new poles or on existing infrastructure. In the latter case, ensure that no other

equipment that might influence the wind patterns is in close proximity to the units, especially the devices equipped

with a wind meter. In any case, ensure that the pole is fixed properly and cannot be moved or rotated by wind or

other external influences.

To avoid insufficient charging of the internal batteries, please also ensure that the solar panels are not shaded by

buildings or trees at any time of the day.

Warning

The Nubo Sphere sensor nodes are not rated for operation in hazardous zones. It is

in your responsibility to verify whether installation of the device is permissible by local

laws and/or the owner of the infrastructure.

3.2.2 Installing pole mounts

All physical components of the Nubo Sphere system can be easily installed on a pole

using the supplied pole-mount adapter. The Nubo sensor node, the solar panel and

the wind meter all use the same pole-mount adapter (compare (5) in section 2.2).

You can use any commercially available pole with a diameter between 50 and 300

mm (1.95–12 in.). The pole should have a height of approximately 2–3 m (6.5–10 ft.)

and be manufactured of a suitable material that can support the system weight

(compare specifications in section Error! Reference source not found.) and

expected wind forces.

Always use two band ties to fix a pole mount to the pole. Use the slits on the mount

that fit best the actual pole diameter. Always tighten the band ties well. After

tightening the band ties, carefully shorten protruding parts of the band ties using a strong wire cutter. Please be

careful; the cut surfaces can have sharp edges. Wear protective gloves and smooth out the edge with a file.

Warning

•Using the pole-mount adapters may result in scratch marks or abrasion on the

chosen pole. By installing and using this mounting kit, you accept that Sensirion

Connected Solutions AG is not liable for any damage resulting from the

installation and use of the pole-mount adapters.

•Plastic zip ties might age and/or break because of environmental influences. Only

use metal bands or similarly reliable mounting bands.

•Cut surfaces can have sharp edges. Always wear gloves and safety glasses when

cutting metal band ties and use a file to smoothen the edges.

There are two installation variants, depending on the actual location. All sensor nodes are installed in conjunction

with a solar panel. The necessary components are included in the Nubo Sphere sensor node package. In most

situations, one node per site is equipped with an additional wind meter, which requires a Nubo Sphere wind meter

package.

Two pole mounts are usually required: one for the sensor and one for the solar panel. Alternatively, a third pole

mount is needed if a wind meter is to be connected to the node.

3.2.3 Node without wind meter

1. Fix two mounting plates to the pole with 30–50 cm (12–20 in.)

distance between the plates. The lower plate should have at

least 1.5 m (5 ft.) of clearance from the ground.

All plates should face the orientation of the sun at noon. The

plates should face south in the Northern Hemisphere and

north in the Southern Hemisphere.

2. Once the mounting plates are installed, you can simply attach

the sensor node and the solar panel by sliding the

corresponding backplate into the mounting plate.

3. Mount the sensor node to the lower plate and the solar panel

to the upper plate.

4. For ease of installation, the mounts are designed so that the

node and the accessories remain in place without the screws

being tightened. However, it is important to tighten both

screws on each side of every mount to ensure safe and

secure fixation of the system under all weather conditions. Do

not overtighten the screws.

5. Connect the solar panel to the cable power plug of the sensor

node. Connecting the cable turns the device on automatically.

Always tighten the union nut to ensure proper protection from

water ingress.

6. Once powered, the device will power up automatically,

perform a self-test and then establish communication with the

cloud. During this time, the LED will blink yellow.

Once the device is working correctly, the LED will turn solid

green for as long as 1 min. Afterwards, it will turn off to save

power. If any error occurs, the LED will flash red.

Warning

•It is in your responsibility to verify whether installation of the device is permissible

by local laws and/or by the owner of the infrastructure.

•It is the responsibility of the person installing the device to ensure secure and safe

installation. Sensirion Connected Solutions AG cannot be held liable for damages

and/or injuries due to improper placement or installation.

•Do not install and/or operate the device or any accessories without tightening the

lateral mounting screws. Always check that the device and accessories cannot

be removed. Failing to do so may result in injury and/or damage to the device.

Caution

Do not install the power connector without tightening the union nut.

3.2.4 Node with wind meter

1. Fix three mounting plates to the pole with 30–50 cm (12–20

in.) distance between the two lower plates and 20–40 cm (8–

16 in.) distance between the upper two plates. The lowest

plate should have at least 1.5 m (5 ft.) clearance from the

ground.

All plates should face the orientation of the sun at noon. The

plates should face south in the Northern Hemisphere and

north in the Southern Hemisphere.

2. Once the mounting plates are installed, you can simply attach

the sensor node and the solar panel by sliding the

corresponding backplate into the mounting plate.

3. Mount the sensor node to the bottom plate, the solar panel to

the middle plate and the wind meter arm to the upper plate.

4. For ease of installation, the mounts are designed so that the

node and the accessories remain in place without the screws

being tightened. However, it is important to tighten the screws

on the side to ensure safe and secure fixation of the system

under all weather conditions. Do not overtighten the screws.

5. Connect the wind meter cable to the wind meter. Ensure that

you hear a "click," then thread the cable through the hole at

the wind meter mount.

Place the wind meter on the adapter and orient it

approximately (the red mark on the wind meter should point

toward another sensor node installed on the site). Fix the wind

meter with the two supplied screws.

6. Connect the other end of the wind meter cable to the

connector on the cartridge at the bottom of the Nubo Sphere

sensor node.

7. Finely align the wind meter (for correct alignment, the arrow

and the red mark on the wind meter must point exactly toward

another sensor node on the site). Secure its orientation by

tightening the three screws on the bottom of the mounting

adapter.

Please either directly enter the ID of the unit in the web

application or note it for later configuration.

8. Connect the solar panel to the cable power plug of the sensor

node.

Always tighten the union nut to ensure proper protection from

water ingress.

8. Connecting the cable turns the device on automatically,

resulting in the device emitting a sound sequence. It will then

perform a self-test and establish communication with the

cloud. During this time, the LED will blink orange.

Once the device is correctly working, the LED will turn solid

green for as long as 1 min. Afterwards, it turns off to save

power. If any error occurs, the LED will flash red.

Warning

•It is in your responsibility to verify whether installation of the device is permissible

by local laws and/or the owner of the infrastructure.

•It is the responsibility of the person installing the device to ensure secure and safe

installation. Sensirion Connected Solutions AG cannot be held liable for damages

and/or injuries due to improper placement or installation.

•Do not install and/or operate the device or any accessories without tightening the

lateral mounting screws. Always check that the device and accessories cannot

be removed. Failing to do so may result in injury and/or damage to the device.

Caution

Do not install the power connector without tightening the union nut.

3.3 Registering device to cloud

After hardware installation, please register the device to the cloud. For the complete solution to work properly, you

must register all installed devices. You will have received an invitation to create an account by your admin or sales

contact. All necessary steps are plainly explained within the web application. You can either register your devices

using a computer with a normal web browser, or you can use your smartphone to register devices directly in the

field.

To register a device in the field with a smartphone, simply

1. Go to https://cloud.nubo-sphere.com

2. Login in using your personal credentials

3. Select "New device registration" from the menu

4. In case your smartphone asks you, please allow use of your camera; you can select "Remember decision

for this site" to avoid this question next time

5. Verify or change to which site and which organization the device should be registered

6. Scan the QR code located on the label of the device:

7. Click on "Register Nubo"

If you cannot scan the device, you can alternatively enter the "Device ID" and the "Registration Key"

manually by clicking on "Register Nubo Manually."

3.4 Before leaving the site

Note the installation height above the ground and the orientation of the wind meter, either on the cloud or on paper

to add afterwards.

Before leaving the site, ensure that all the devices are visible on the cloud and green and that connected wind

meters are also shown.

4Maintenance

4.1 General

The device requires minimal maintenance. The currently provided MOx sensor technology does, however, have a

limited lifetime. When required to exchange the cartridge with a new factory calibrated spare, please follow the

steps below. Otherwise, the system does not require regular maintenance.

4.2 Cartridge replacement

Turn off the device before removing any cartridge. Ensure that the cable of the power source at the device side is

disconnected.

Using a Torx T7 screwdriver, unscrew the four screws securing the cartridge; then remove the cartridge in a clean

and dry space by pulling on the small plastic handles on the cartridge. While removing the cartridge, ensure that

the internal contacts of the device remain clean and dry. Loosen all four cartridge screws before attempting to

remove the cartridge. Afterwards, grab the external parts of the cartridge and pull the cartridge in the direction

opposite the direction of installation.

Insert the replacement cartridge into the now-empty slot. Insert the cartridge until you hear and feel it snap into

place. Fix the cartridge inside the device by tightening the integrated screws. These screws are intended to prevent

unwanted removal of the cartridge and to secure it in place.

Note: New cartridges do not require any extra calibration or configuration. The device and/or system will configure

the new cartridge automatically.

Caution

•Always use the supplied blind cover to protect unused cartridge slots from

environmental influences.

•Always disconnect the device from its power source before removing or installing

a cartridge to avoid damage to the device. It is important to disconnect the cable

from the device to power down the device correctly.

•It is not necessary to tighten the screws of the cartridge strongly. Only tighten

the screws by hand and without excessive force to avoid wearing of the threads.

•When removing the cartridge, only pull on the plastic parts. Never pull on the

connector as doing so might adversely influence the water ingress protection.

5General handling

5.1 Powering up the device

The power connector of the device functions as an on/off switch. To power up the device, simply connect the power

cord from your power source. Please always tighten the union nut to ensure proper protection from water ingress.

5.2 Depowering the device

To power down the device, unscrew the nut and unplug the cable at the device side.

Unplugging the cable will turn off the device and disconnect the battery for transport. After the device has been

depowered, be certain to correctly install the protective cap to protect the pin’s connector and avoid corrosion or

dirt build-up.

5.3 Storage

The system operates whenever a power plug is connected. Please always disconnect the cable of the power source

from the device as described in section 5.2 when storing it. This procedure ensures that the system is turned off,

avoiding deep discharge of the battery. Only store the device when you are confident that the battery was well

charged.

When storing the device, please always ensure that the protective cap is securely placed on the power connector

to protect the pins and avoid corrosion.

Warning

The device contains batteries. Store the device within the specified temperature

range: −20 to 60°C. Store in a noncondensing environment.

When the device is stored for an extended period, be certain to reconnect it to an

external power source every 6 months to prevent battery damage

Caution

Always place the protective cap on the power socket of the device whenever no plug

is connected to avoid corrosion of the contacts.

5.4 Shipment

Note that the device includes a large buffer battery and will continue to run unless the device-side connector of the

power cord is disconnected. Before transporting or shipping the device, powering down the device as described in

section 5.2 is critical. The device contains batteries; please ensure correct handling and labelling when shipping

the device.

Warning

•The device contains batteries. Store the device within the specified temperature

range: −20 to 60°C. Store in a noncondensing environment.

•When the device stored for an extended period, be certain to reconnect it to an

external power source every 6 months to prevent battery damage

•Do not ship if damage to the battery is suspected. Ensure that the box is

properly labelled to comply with international law.

6Conformity information

6.1 European conformity information

Hereby, Sensirion Connected Solutions AG declares that this radio equipment is compliant with Directive

2014/53/EU. The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at https://cloud.nubo-sphere.com/docs/eu-

doc.

6.2 FCC notice

Warning

Do not open the device. Do not modify the device in any way, including, but not limited

to, exchanging the included antenna, replacing the included modem and modifying

the power supply or circuit board.

Contains FCC IDs: XMR201707BG96

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant

to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference

in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio-frequency energy and, if not

installed and used in accordance with the instructions, can cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does

cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off

and on, the user is encouraged to attempt to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;

•Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver;

•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected;

•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance.

6.3 Frequency band(s) and maximum radio-frequency power transmitted

This product includes the following features and characteristics:

▪BDS

▪Operating frequency range: 1559–1610 MHz

▪GLONASS receiver

▪Operating frequency range: 1559–1610 MHz

▪GPS receiver

▪Operating frequency range: 1559–1610 MHz

▪GSM 900

▪Operating frequency range: 880–915, 925–960 MHz

▪Maximum output power: 33 dBm rated

▪GSM 1800

▪Operating frequency range: 1710–1785, 1805–1880 MHz

▪Maximum output power: 30 dBm rated

▪LTE FDD Band 1

▪Operating frequency range: 1920–1980, 2110–2170 MHz