Sensor system for detection of harmful environments for pipe organs (SENSORGAN)

The European heritage of the organ is preserved in numerous historical instruments. A major threat to this heritage are harmful indoor environments. Organic acids, also in combination with condensation phenomena, create pipe corrosion causing serious damage to the pipes. Harmful humidity conditions can create cracks in the wooden parts of the organ, making the instrument unplayable. The EC funded SENSORGAN project (contract 022695) objectives were to make available new instrumentation for monitoring and detection of harmful environments for organs through development of sensors for real time measurement. The system contains three different sensors to detect: (i) levels of organic acids harmful to organ pipes, (ii) environments damaging to wooden parts of organs, (iii) possible dew formation inside organ pipes. The sensors were designed in order to be placed in the organ without disturbing playing or affecting the sound. The sensors were applied in the historical organ in the Minor Basilica of St. Andrew the Apostle, Olkusz, Poland. Data collected from the sensors was analysed and conclusions were drawn for publications and mitigation strategies.