Safety in the Plant
Fig. 1. Endress+Hauser has strengthened its analytics business through the acquisition of Spectrasensors, a US company pioneering laser measurement technology for gas analysis.
the air flow continues into a steam jet aerosol collector (SJAC) in which aerosols present are collected in water. The whole MARGA system runs autonomously, generating aerosol and gas concentrations every hour and only requiring user intervention once per week to supply new solutions. The system can operated in the field in remote places. The sensitivity of the ion chromatographs is sufficient to reach detection limits below 0.1µg/m3
at a 1m3 /h air
sampling flow. The detection system is continuously calibrated by the use of an internal standard of LiBr, containing anions and cations normally not present in ambient air.
FTIR solutions In Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a gas analyser detects gaseous compounds by their absorbance of infrared radiation. Gasmet’s FTIR gas analyser collects a complete infrared
spectrum 10 times/second. Multiple spectra are co-added together according to selected measurement time (improving signal-to-noise ratio). The actual concentrations of gases are
calculated from the resulting sample spectrum using patented modified classical least squares analysis algorithm. The analyser includes: signal processing electronics
with digital signal processor technology for high speed data collection; a GICCORTM interferometer. During the manufacturing process, each interferometer must pass extensive shock and temperature stability tests (±20°C) without any decreases in modulation. In business news, with the acquisition of the US company SpectraSensors, Endress+Hauser is tapping into the market for gas analysis. This further reinforces the position of the Swiss group in the area of analytical measurements. With headquarters in Houston, Texas, and production
facilities in Rancho Cucamonga, California, SpectraSensors develops, manufactures and distributes laser-based gas analytical instrumentation (Fig. 1). The devices are used in natural gas pipelines and plants, petrochemical refineries and chemical plants as well as for atmospheric monitoring. The company employs about 90 people and generates annual sales of approximately $US30m (€23m). ■
M
Speed and accuracy key for oxygen analyses The XTP601 is configurable to suit specific
ichell Instruments has released details of the XTP601, the latest addition to its range of oxygen analysers.
Based on the highly stable thermo-paramagnetic sensor, the XTP601 provides fast, accurate measurements of oxygen levels in various background gases. Capable of measuring oxygen from 0-1 per cent
up to 0-25 per cent and suppressed zero ranges, such as 90-100 per cent, the analyser provides solutions for applications ranging from biogas plants to monitoring blanketing gases in oil tankers.
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applications and budgets with three options: blind transmitter version (settings, controls and readings accessible via application software); transmitter with status LEDs (settings, controls and readings accessible via application software); and full display analyser (settings and readings are accessible with on-screen controls or via application software). All of these options may be rated for either safe or hazardous area use. Hazardous area classifications are available for ATEX, IEC Ex with CCSAUS pending approval.
The full display version of the XTP601 has a touch screen interface to enable easy operation without needing to remove the lid. This means that users can calibrate, change settings and interrogate the instrument in the hazardous area without the need for a hot permit. Menus allow easy access to information such as: oxygen concentration; analyser status; a graph showing oxygen trends over a user-defined time period; alarm history; minimum and maximum concentrations and other parameters to aid diagnosis of plant conditions. ■
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