Modern Multigas Detection Instrument for Tough Industrial Use
Dräger Safety AG & Co KGaA presents the Dräger X-am 7000, a portable multigas warning instrument that can be fitted with three electrochemical and two infrared optical or catalytic sensors or a smart PID sensor for the continuous measurement of up to five gases
simultaneously.The Dräger X-am 7000 is particularly well-suited to use for monitoring purposes in the chemicals industry, the oil and natural gas industry, the offshore industry, by local waste water disposal companies and by fire brigades.
All-clear measurements
for confined spaces Gas detection instruments are often used to check waste water sewers, tank facilities, silos, pipeline and cable ducts, and other confined spaces, before they are given the all-clear. Before personnel are allowed to enter, the gas atmosphere must be monitored – for the lack of oxygen, toxic hazards or explosion hazards, depending on the type of confined space.
The Dräger X-am 7000 multigas detector, with its integrated pump which can be easily retrofitted and replaced, is ideal for such all-clear measurements. The instrument draws in the sample gas through an extension hose for up to 45 m in length. If pump delivery is too low or blocked, a flow alarm is triggered to warn the user. Different probes are available for selection which allows the instrument to be adapted to individual needs.
tough industrial environments. In addition, this type of sensor offers long calibration intervals (six months), and comes with a five-year manufacturer guarantee. Unlike catalytic Ex sensors, infrared Ex sensors can detect potentially explosive atmospheres regardless of the oxygen content of the analysed air. Organic gases and vapours are absorbed by infrared light (Figure 2). In areas where explosion hazards are likely as a result of hydrogen and acetylene, however, there are limitations to the use of infrared Ex sensors, as these substances are not absorbed by infrared light, so this is a typical application for catalytic Ex sensors.
Figure 2. Water-tight instrument
In tough industrial settings, gas detectors which personnel carry around with them are often subjected to knocks and harsh ambient conditions, so robust and sturdy equipment is increasingly in demand. The Dräger X- am 7000 is not only dust and splash-proof, but also completely water-resistant according to the ingress protection rate IP67 (Figure 3). Water-repellent membranes protect the sensors if they are dropped into water.
Personal and area monitoring
During all types of maintenance work in chemical plants and refineries, personal monitoring for explosive and toxic substances is essential. What is more, gas detection instruments are often also used for area monitoring – a bit like watchtowers – during work in industrial plants. The X-am 7000 can be flexibly adapted to individual measurement tasks, with a choice of over 25 sensors available for the detection of more than 100 gases and vapours. All the sensors used in this instrument – including the PID, Catalytic and Infrared sensor types – are of the plug and play variety. The smart Electrochemical (Figure 1), PID, Catalytic and Infrared sensors allow many different types of data (calibration data, gas identification, alarm limits, measurement data, temperature correction etc.) to be stored in the EEPROM inside the sensor. The sensors are pre- calibrated and are therefore very easy to replace. Just plug in the required sensors and this universal detector is ready for all kinds of applications, with no complex instrument calibration or config- uration required.
Figure 1.
Trend towards economical infrared optical sensor
In all industries, cutting operational costs are increasingly an issue which has to be taken into account when purchasing gas detection instruments, so it is of little or no surprise that a clear trend towards non-contaminable infrared sensors is now evident. These sensors can be used both for measuring explosion hazards and for detecting carbon dioxide. Infrared sensors have no moving parts and featured a gold-protected sensor optics which are resistant to poisoning even in
A protective rubber housing, which comes as standard, protects the instrument even if it is dropped from a height of 1.5 metres. Since the sensors are not sensitive to shock, their measurement function will not be impaired if knocked. In other words, accurate measurement results are guaranteed whatever the conditions.
Figure 3.
Where works cannot be finished in one shift, the number of operating hours and the time needed to recharge batteries are to be taken into serious considerations when purchasing a gas detector. A long battery life with a high number of charge cycles will helps reduce the costs of ownership, and an intelligent battery management concept ensures that these requirements are met. The X-am 7000 incorporated an intelligent battery management features that informs the user of the remaining operating time and the available remaining capacity (as a percentage). In addition, the battery capacity is displayed in [Ah]. A key feature of the unique charge/discharge strategy is that the supply units are discharged in blocks. The six-hour battery contains 16 cells which are connected in four blocks of four cells (1.5 Ah). The blocks are discharged individually, one after another. As a result, the batteries are discharged fully, which prolongs their use. In addition, a precise calculation of the remaining battery capacity is possible. The instrument is charged at a current of 1 A, which means that the supply units can be recharged very quickly. The high charge currents also prevent dendrites from forming, thereby increasing the lifetime of the rechargeable batteries.
The three key menu operation of the Dräger X-am 7000 is intuitive and easy to learn. The user can individually configure the password-free quick menu with those functions which are most important for the application in question. To make work easier, the control keys can be easily operated even when wearing heavy protective gloves. All messages appear in plain text and measured values are displayed permanently. In alarm situations, the instrument sounds a warning with a very loud audible multi-tone alarm. An additional visual alarm can be
October/November 2008 AET
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