FEATURE TEST & MEASUREMENT MEASURING hazardous compounds
FTIR gas analysers from Gasmet are being used by a Wisconsin- based occupational health specialist to identify and quantify known and unknown gas species in a range of applications
N
orth Shore Environmental Construction (NSEC)
specializes in hazardous materials response and clean-up, and field-based environmental construction. The company often employs specialist consultants for the more technically complex investigations, with Michael McCoy from GZA GeoEnvironmental providing a high level of expertise in these applications. A lot of GZA’s work involves site investigation to characterize levels of environmental contamination and human exposure to potentially hazardous or toxic substances. In some cases, such as a chemical spill, the contaminant is known, while in others it may not be – such as where land may have become contaminated by a number of different industrial sources over many years, or from waterborne pollution from unknown sources. So, to help identify and quantify both known and unknown gas species, the portable DX4040 FTIR gas analyser from Gasmet is being used. According to the company, this effectively enables laboratory grade analysis onsite,
increasing the speed with which contamination can be assessed and avoiding the problems, costs and delays associated with transporting samples to a laboratory. McCoy explained that the DX4040 is able to measure up to 25 individual compounds simultaneously, which it achieves by producing a spectrum for the measured compounds. This means the instrument can be set to display almost live readings for the compounds of potential interest. Of additional benefit, the analyser is capable of identifying unknown compounds. Calcmet software facilitates the
The DX4040 FTIR gas analyser effectively enables laboratory grade analysis onsite, increasing the speed with which contamination can be assessed
identification of unknown peaks in a spectrum by comparison with Gasmet’s vast library of stored spectra. “The ability of the FTIR to analyse
multiple compounds is a major advantage; firstly because it enables us to analyse complex mixtures and secondly because it also facilitates the measurement of breakdown products. Once the contaminant profile and concentrations are known, my job is to compare these with internationally accepted safe
levels, taking into account the effects of gas mixtures and to advise on any potential health and environmental effects,” explained McCoy.
VALIDATING ACTIVITIES The DX4040 was purchased from Gasmet in October 2015 and since then has helped validate clean-up activities and provide confirmation of safe working conditions during remediation work. So far, the instrument has been used
in a wide range of applications. For example, it was deployed in a health and safety investigation to measure fumes and breakdown products following a nitric acid leak. It has also been used to characterise the emissions profile of different processes within a specialist paint factory, analysing a variety of VOCs in the evaporative emissions. In another application, the instrument was used to characterise the emissions from a ceramics manufacturer. In line with the USEPA’s approach to pollution monitoring, such investigations help manufacturers to identify the fate of different chemical species. Prior to the purchase of the DX4040, a demonstration was provided by Gasmet’s Jim Cornish at a coffee roasting factory in Wisconsin. Articles in the media had raised concern about lung disease caused by high levels of diacetyl in popcorn manufacturing facilities and coffee roasters. As a result, NSEC and GZA were asked to investigate and this provided an opportunity to evaluate the benefits of portable FTIR. As a result of this investigation, it was possible to list the components of the emissions from coffee roasting and to provide reassurance to the factory’s workers that they were not at risk.
Gasmet Technologies
www.gasmet.com
TESTER ENSURES ENGINE SYSTEM CONTROL PANELS COMPLY WITH STANDARDS
A Seaward HAL 104 multi-function electrical safety tester has been purchased by the North East manufacturing operations of CMR UK, a specialist manufacturer of electrical wiring harnesses and control panels for diesel engine applications. The tester is primarily being used to provide HV dielectric testing and insulation resistance measurement on panel assemblies to ensure electrical safety standards compliance with both BIS and IEC requirements, as well as Marine Classification Society regulations. The HAL 104 combines the performance of a multi-function
production line safety tester with load and power factor measurement for component and assembly energy consumption and ratings assessments. It features AC/DC Hipot (flash/dielectric strength) and can perform load and power functional tests, insulation, ground/earth bond testing to 40A, load testing to 16A with leakage measurement to 20mA. The tester incorporates special ‘SwitchSmart’ technology that combines conventional testing with a dedicated switching matrix to cater for 3-phase circuits. At CMR this enables the instrument to connect to pairs of conductors successively in a three phase system (L1, L2, L3 and Earth).
28 MARCH 2016 | INSTRUMENTATION
The software then follows an automatic procedure of testing for both dielectric withstand and insulation resistance using the SwitchSmart to channel the test voltage between different conductors to ensure good insulation between all phases and earth. The complete HAL package is driven by specialist Safety e-Base Pro
software, enabling fully customisable test sequences to be set up and operated via a PC from any safe and convenient location. Rick Charles, technical projects manager at CMR, said: “The new test
instrumentation and expanded test capability provides exceptional levels of flexibility and functionality, which has dramatically improved the quality and efficiency of the panel assembly testing undertaken by the CMR technical team.”
Seaward
www.seaward.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56