Carbo 520 Optical
A new kind of certainty in beverage production
Anton Paar’s patented* innovations offer you true values: on any beverage – at any time.
With the new Carbo 520 Optical inline sensor you always know the actual CO₂ concentration of all beverages in your process. In addition to process monitoring, the measuring interval of 4 seconds enables a reliable and stable closed-loop control of carbonators.
Get in touch Document FinderKey Features

Save time– ready to measure right out of the box
Benefit from a single measurement method and start measuring immediately after installation without time-consuming adjustments. Due to a unique and patented* model for determining CO₂ concentrations from measured values, the factory adjustment allows direct use of Carbo 520 Optical right out of the box.

Save money – low total costs of ownership (TCO)
Save on running costs: While conventional CO₂ sensors can multiply their price over an entire service life due to recurring maintenance, Carbo 520 Optical is completely maintenance-free.
- Soldered optics without any seals to maintain
- No moving parts with wear
- Self-diagnosis according to NAMUR NE 107

Be flexible – product-independent measurement
Spend your time on production: Carbo 520 Optical measures any kind of beverage without requiring time-consuming product-specific adjustments. Unique and patented* compensation of extract or sugars provides product-independent operation. No matter whether carbonated soft drinks, beer, wine, or sparkling water, Carbo 520 Optical makes your product changes easier.
- Automatic extract compensation due to multichannel measurement
- Recipe-independent CO₂ measurement

Always ready for operation – even right after CIP
Our patented* internal scavenging technology eliminates the risks of incorrect measurements due to residual CO₂. This avoids drifts at any time, also after CIP procedures, where CO₂ is released inside the sensor housing. Carbo 520 Optical is EHEDG-certified hygienic, which reduces the time and effort during the cleaning procedures stated above.

Be continuously connected to your production line
Carbo 520 Optical is part of our well-established Smart Sensor platform. This concept ensures connectivity to Anton Paar's lab systems via Davis 5 and in addition it offers a broad range of communications protocols:
- Digital and analog inputs and outputs
- PROFIBUS
- PROFINET
- EtherNet/IP
- Modbus TCP
Available in the following three configurations:
- Carbo 520 Optical Smart Sensor combined with an mPDS 5 evaluation unit
- Carbo 520 Optical Smart Sensor with Operating Terminal (OT) - measurement values are displayed directly on the instrument, no evaluation unit required
- Carbo 520 Optical Smart Sensor with a Remote Operating Terminal (ROT) - can be mounted at a distance of up to 250 meters from the sensor
* AT 512 375 B1, CN 103 257 125 B, US 9 063 083 B2, AT 512 291 B1
other patents pending
Technical Specifications
Measuring range | 0 to 12 g/L (0 - 6 vol) |
---|---|
Accuracy | ±0.05 g/L (0.025 vol) |
Repeatability | ±0.01 g/L (0.005 vol) |
Resolution | < 0.01 g/L (0.005 vol) |
Measuring temp. range | - 3 °C to 30 °C |
Ambient temp. range | - 10 °C to +55 °C @ T = -3 °C - 10 °C to +45 °C @ T = 30 °C |
Maximum temperature | < 95 °C (max. 4h) |
Pressure | max. 10 bar rel. (145 psi rel.) |
Measuring interval | min. 4 seconds |
Self-diagnosis | Compliant with NAMUR recommendation NE107 |
Degree of protection | IP 67 (NEMA 6), IP 65 (NEMA 4) |
Process connection | Tuchenhagen Varivent® N |
Certifications | EHEDG Type EL Class I |
Power | SELV DC 24 V (DC 20 V to 30 V), max. 25 W |
Fieldbuses (optional) | PROFIBUS |
Dimensions (WxHxD) | 174 mm x 174 mm x 231 mm |
Weight | approx. 4 kg |
Application Reports
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Beverage | Soft Drinks | Online Process Measurement in the Soft Drink Industry Application Reports en