Gas sensing

ABB has signed a framework agreement with Samsung Engineering in Saudi Arabia to collaborate in engineering and procurement activities in the Kingdom. With this agreement, ABB becomes a single-source vendor for gas analyzer system integration for Samsung in Saudi Arabia.

Together, the two companies plan to explore business opportunities and provide complete analytical solutions to the Saudi oil & gas market. Effective measurement of gas quality is key to safety and reliability, decreasing the environmental footprint and increasing profitability of the production process. ABB’s solutions support the most demanding applications.

“ABB is committed to helping customers in the energy transition. Between ABB and Samsung Engineering, we have an impressive portfolio that demonstrates technology expertise and technical capability. With this agreement, we are capable and ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia,” said Javier Suárez Díez, Global System Integration Manager at ABB.

ABB’s analytical systems portfolio includes direct-read continuous gas analyzers, online gas analyzers using laser analytical techniques, rapid response process gas chromatographs and more. In addition to analytical systems, ABB provides gas analyzer system integration with fully customized analytical systems and solutions – from initial engineering through fabrication, testing, field start-up, and support.

ABB’s 10,000 square meter world-class integration facility for analytical systems, which the company is building in Dammam, will support the collaboration. The factory is expected to become a leader in the production of analytical systems in the region.

ABB and Samsung Engineering have worked together on several occasions, including on the Aramco Jafurah phase 1 project. With this agreement, they are ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia.

Signal Group’s Managing Director, James Clements believes that it should be possible to remove the screens of all gas analysers, and connect with them wirelessly. “It no longer makes sense to fix the screen into the analyser,” he explains. “Everyone is completely comfortable with portable keypads and screens, and analysers are often in inconvenient or even unsafe locations, so we have designed detachable screens into all of our latest instruments.

“For many of our customers, it was either inconvenient or impossible to be physically next to their analysers to view readings and manage their instruments, so we integrated detachable tablets into the designs, and have been delighted with how popular this has been.”

The detachable tablets in Signal’s analysers are rugged with an IP67 rating, which means that they can even be used outdoors. Typically, customers find them most useful when it is necessary to install the analyser in a location with difficult access – such as: in vehicle exhaust gas test cells; in an ATEX enclosure; with a raised gantry on a stack; in a combustion test rig, or on any site where the location of analysis is not an ideal or safe working space.

With inbuilt 802.11 Wi-Fi, Signal’s tablet connects wirelessly to the analyser from a distance of up to 50 metres. This provides users with the ability to view live data in a different location, and even manage datalogging, alarms and calibration from a distance.

In addition to wireless connectivity between the analyser and the display, all Series IV instruments have their own IP address, and are compatible with 3G, 4G, 5G, GPRS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and satellite communications. This provides users with simple and secure access to their analysers at any time, from anywhere.

The removable tablets are supplied as standard with all Series IV gas analysers, including the new SOLAR XPLORE, and James says: “The most exciting thing about this new technology is that it all comes at no extra cost!”

Levels of uncertainty in gas measurements can be increased, for example, by calibration gases that offer poor levels of accuracy. For this reason, Signal Group manufactures gas handling and calibration equipment as well as gas analysers. “The linearity check is particularly important,” explains Managing Director James Clements. “Our Model 821S Gas Divider, for example, has been tested independently against our main competitor globally, and found to be dramatically superior.”

Conducted in North Carolina, USA, the trial found the slope accuracy for the Signal 821S to be just 0.25% for a NO/N₂ gas mixture, whereas the competitor gas divider offered 1.6% slope accuracy. Similarly, for a SO₂/N₂ mixture Signal’s slope accuracy was 0.74% and the competitor’s was a disappointing 2.5%.

“Sources of uncertainty are incremental,” James explains, “so it makes no sense to introduce extra error unnecessarily, which is why the 821S Gas Divider is popular with both our customers and with other gas analyser manufacturers.”

The European standard EN14181 describes the quality assurance procedures for Automated Measurement Systems (AMS) installed to measure emissions to air. Under this standard, an analyser’s linearity must be checked using five different reference concentrations, including zero. The reference concentrations should be approximately 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the range of two times the emission limit, and the test concentrations should be applied in a randomised sequence.

It is common practice to employ a gas divider to create the different reference concentrations, however, it is of course also necessary to be able to validate the gas divider. To protect accuracy and reliability, the Signal Group Model 821S Gas Divider does not use mass flow controllers. A manifold block with ten identical capillaries and a precision pressure balance regulator ensure the high levels of accuracy demonstrated in the USA trial.

The procedure for checking the accuracy of the 821S Gas Divider is simple. Users connect the zero and calibration gas to the opposite connections and repeat the test, and if the gas divider is operating correctly, the gas analyser will show exactly the same readings.

Summarising, James Clements says: “Bottles of calibration gas have a fixed ‘use-by’ date and can be expensive to purchase and store, so it makes sense to employ a gas divider to conduct multi-point calibrations. However, purchased calibration gas itself incurs a level of uncertainty, so we designed the 821S Gas Divider to minimise increases in uncertainty, and I am grateful to the researchers in North Carolina for highlighting this technical superiority.”

Gas measurement and control system experts, Chell Instruments, have launched a new improved website as they look to support even more companies in 2023.

As market-leaders in pressure, vacuum and gas flow measurement and control solutions, Chell have updated their website to give visitors a better understanding of the products and service they provide.

“We are proud to be launching our brand-new website. We want to give engineers even greater ability to explore our products, so they can discover the most adaptive and accurate solutions for their needs” says Nick Broadley, Managing Director at Chell Instruments.

Chell Instruments have been a supplier and manufacturer of pressure and flow instrumentation for more than 40 years. Their products are used for high accuracy pressure, temperature and flow testing within sectors including motorsport, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and energy.

The new website was designed with the support of Full Mix Marketing who have helped deliver strategic, digital and creative marketing for Chell Instruments for almost five years.

It was designed to significantly improve the user journey and ensure it provides the same experience on desktop and mobile devices. One of the other key changes is new sector-specific pages which detail their tailored products and solutions for key industries.

“As our technology advances, we need a website which better reflects our innovation. Our new site makes it easier to access the options engineers need to continually enhance the performance and flexibility of the gas measurement and control systems they use in their sector” adds Nick Broadley.

In 2022, Chell Instruments launched a number of innovations from their microDAQ3 to further enhancements to their Quick Disconnect range.

One industry Chell Instruments are extensively involved in is aerospace and the development of conventional jet engines, particularly making them more efficient in global efforts to boost sustainability.

They have also supported ground-breaking projects including helping German company, Lilium, trailblaze the development of electric aircraft.

Amidst global supply change challenges, Chell have also been increasingly involved in the pharmaceutical industry, where gases are frequently used to create a dry and inert atmosphere around ingredients or products.

In Formula 1 racing, the option to exploit ground effect returned in 2022. As their technology is used widely by leading teams, Chell have developed a manifold-mounted pressure scanner which enables teams to capture a comprehensive air pressure map.

“Our new website was designed to help a variety of industries effectively find products that could assist their efforts in improving efficiency. The more engineers that are able to find the relevant information to their needs, the more we can help with exciting developments” concludes Nick Broadley.

For more information on Chell Instruments products and to see the new website, visit www.chell.co.uk

Responding to a demand for short-term monitoring, Signal Group has established a fleet of gas measurement instruments that are available for hire.

“Some of our customers only need the equipment for a specific project or for a short-term investigation,” explains MD James Clements. “In these circumstances it would not be sensible to purchase the equipment, because it may not be required at the end of the project, and the capital cost may be preclusive. We have therefore established a small range of our more popular instruments, which are now available for rent.”

The rental equipment includes Signal analysers employing FID for VOC and non-methane hydrocarbons; chemiluminescent analysers for NO/NOx; NDIR for multiple species such as CO, CO2, CH4, NO, N2O, SO2 and HCl. In addition to reference method gas analysers, Signal Group also manufactures a comprehensive range of ancillary instruments including heated lines, sample conditioners, filters, cooler/dryers, methane cutters, NOx converters, sample dividers and calibration equipment. These instruments are all available for hire on a first-come, first-served basis.

Is there a standout gas detection product that you think deserves to be recognised with an award? If the answer is yes, then now is the time to nominate that product for an Instrumentation Excellence Award. The Instrumentation Excellence Awards (IEAs) celebrate the very best from the world of test, measurement, sensing and control.

The success of the inaugural award ceremony in 2022 has cemented it as a must attend event and an Instrumentation Excellence Awards trophy now represents a truly unique stamp of approval, opening doors for new business opportunities. The winner of the 2022 Gas Detection Product of the Year award was Vaisala’s CARBOCAP MGP261 Multigas Probe. 

The CARBOCAP MGP261 Multigas Probe for Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Humidity helps in improving your process and in protecting the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engine. The MGP261 probe is compact in size, Ex certified, and can be installed directly into the gas line without the need for sample treatment. The measurement probe is suitable for applications such as anaerobic digestion of landfill, industrial and municipal waste, wastewater treatment, CHP engine monitoring, as well as active carbon filter monitoring. 

If you think there is a gas detection product that deserves to share the success of Vaisala’s CARBOCAP MGP261 Multigas Probe at the 2023 IEAs then you only have a few weeks left to enter your nomination via the online portal: www.instrumentationawards.co.uk. 

Entering the Awards is quick, easy and completely free of charge – so there’s no need to delay! To make your entry really stand out from the crowd, it is recommended that you try to include a comprehensive overview of the product or company that you have nominated. There is even the option to include supplementary documents like data sheets and images alongside your nomination.  

Nominations close at the end of this month so visit www.instrumentationawards.co.uk to make your nomination and to find out more about the Instrumentation Excellence Awards. 

To support the growing demand for building energy efficiency and sustainability, Vaisala, a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurements, expands its product portfolio for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) products by launching the new Vaisala GMD110 carbon dioxide transmitter.

The Vaisala GMD110 is designed for measuring carbon dioxide in air-handling systems and ventilation ducts in industrial and commercial environments. The GMD110 has unique capabilities in terms of precision and measurement stability, which support precise and reliable control of HVAC systems even in demanding conditions or sites. The GMD110 is the perfect choice for demand-controlled ventilation systems and duct-mounted CO2 monitoring in industrial settings.

This IP65-rated transmitter is equipped with the renowned Vaisala CARBOCAP sensor: Its structure and reference measurement capabilities make this single-beam, dual-wavelength NDIR sensor extremely reliable with low maintenance needs. Measurement accuracy is not affected by dust, water vapour or chemicals.

The new carbon dioxide Vaisala GMD110 Carbon Dioxide Transmitter has an excellent response time, and is supplied with a calibration certificate. The product will be available during the second quarter of 2023.

Visitors to Sensor + Test 2023 in Nürnberg, Germany (9 – 11^th May) can see the world’s leading sensors for the measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Particulate Matter (PM) at the ION Science booth 512 in Hall 1.

“The designers of gas detection instrumentation, systems and process control equipment will already know ION Science as a manufacturer of the market’s best PID sensors,” explains Peter Morris, Head of Sensors at ION Science Ltd. “However, they will be delighted to learn that the Next-PM high-performance Particulate Matter sensor, is now also available, and will feature prominently on our stand.”

“When customers integrate our sensors into their equipment, they know that having ‘ION inside’ enhances both their performance capability and reliability, which builds trust in their brands. We therefore look forward to welcoming all visitors, including developers, designers, engineers, technicians and product managers to speak with us at the show, so that we can explain the benefits of the unique patented technology behind the performance superiorities that ION sensors deliver.”

With global organisations looking to lower safety risks and improve their environmental performance, the demand for VOC monitoring technologies is growing. Typically, ION Science customers are developing portable, wearable and fixed measurement instrumentation solutions for applications such as environmental monitoring, industrial health and safety, air quality, facility/site monitoring and fugitive emissions. Photoionisation Detection (PID) is the recommended technology for VOC detection in these applications.

One of the unique features of ION’s MiniPIDs is a patent-protected design with a third electrode that overcomes humidity interference (that plagues competitors’ sensors), delivering a stable signal from 0 – 99% RH.

The sensitivity of PID sensors is extremely important in many applications; particularly where the sensors are deployed in the measurement of trace VOCs. Again, ION leads the field, offering MiniPIDs with ten times the sensitivity of other PID manufacturers.

“We encourage anyone with an interest in developing a monitoring solution for VOCs, to view our gas response table” explains Peter Morris. “This document includes the response factors for over 900+ VOCs, as well as a small number of inorganic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, so it’s really helpful in deciding which PID variant is most appropriate to the OEM application or need.”

The NextPM sensor was recently added to the ION Science portfolio following hugely successful field trials at South Coast AQMD in the USA. The NextPM sensors showed strong to very strong correlations for both PM_1.0 and PM_2.5 with reference instruments costing several hundred times the cost of the sensors. “These results were incredibly good for such a low-cost sensor,” explains Peter Morris, “the NextPM, therefore, fits well with our philosophy of offering the best sensors to the market.”

Thanks to its patented airflow control technology, Next-PM ensures years of maintenance-free measurements, even in polluted and humid atmospheres. These sensors are therefore ideal for inclusion in instruments and systems that monitor industrial processes or air quality; both indoors and outdoors.

Fine particulates are a particular health concern, and the requirement for monitoring equipment is growing rapidly alongside tightening regulations. In 2021, the WHO halved its yearly average guideline limit for PM_2.5 from 10 to 5 µg/m³. In the UK, under the Environment Act 2021, a maximum annual mean concentration of 10 µg/m³ by 2040 has been set as the PM_2.5 target.  The EU Commission has proposed a reduction in the PM_2.5 target to 10 µg/m³ by 2030, and the US Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering recommendations from its independent particulate matter review panel to lower its target from 12 to between 8 and 10 µg/m³.

Sensor + Test visitors can see ION’s latest sensing technology and discuss their applications with the technical experts on the stand. They may also wish to take advantage of ION’s sensor development kit which helps reduce development time and cost.

https://bit.ly/3ITQRo9

Q.E.D. Environmental Systems is set to debut a new range of modular portable gas analysers at the World Biogas Expo 2023 on stand B305.

The new series – which will be officially unveiled in a matter of weeks – will be the culmination of 25 years of R&D in the field of portable gas analysis technology for the biogas and waste management industries.

The World Biogas Expo will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the unit first hand. The new instrument will be displayed on the QED stand alongside the manufacturer’s GEOTECH BIOGAS 3000 and BIOMETHANE 3000 fixed gas analysers.

Built on field-proven gas analysis technology, the compact self-contained BIOGAS 3000 system offers cost-effective online monitoring that is ideal for anaerobic digestion, biogas monitoring, and landfill gas monitoring applications. The unit can be configured for up to four sampling points to monitor methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and oxygen (O2), with optional monitoring of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), hydrogen gas (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) levels – operators can choose up to five gases to monitor.

The unit is also available with a continuous monitoring option for CH4, CO2 and O2. By incorporating external H2S sensors in ranges from 50 to 40,000 parts per million (ppm), it can be manufactured to monitor before and after desulphurization.

The BIOMETHANE 3000 is designed for the high-accuracy methane and oxygen readings for a broad range of biomethane production applications, including gas-to-grid, biogas upgrading, and anaerobic digestion for agricultural and mixed food waste. The fixed unit is able to provide detailed readings about the 95% methane level and below 1% oxygen level at first stage production.

Both units are ATEX and IECEx-certified and can be configured to provide a remote data access via a secure, cloud-based remote access portal.

Adam Taylor, Product Manager – Gas Analysis & Detection at QED Environmental Systems, comments: “To date, the UK’s biogas production potential has largely remained untapped. However, the growing pressure to decarbonize and diversify our energy supply chain is resulting in more and more stakeholders investing and expanding in anaerobic digestion infrastructure.

“Through the development of our new series of modular gas analysers, we now have comprehensive suite of portable and fixed solutions to help stakeholders with efficient and accurate end-to-end monitoring capabilities throughout the entire production process. We are very much looking forward to demonstrating these products to our customers at the World Biogas Expo.”

For more information on QED Environmental Systems, visit: https://www.qedenv.com/

Two of the world’s leading companies in VOC detection have launched an informative on-demand (free) webinar that is available now. Speakers from both ION Science and Industrial Scientific describe what VOCs are, why they should be monitored, what detection techniques are suitable, and where and when measurements should be undertaken.

The webinar speakers are Ilaria Tramelli, Business Development Director for PID, at Industrial Scientific, and Peter Morris, Head of Sensors at ION Science. “This webinar will be an ideal learning opportunity for anyone with responsibility for health, safety or the environment in almost any industry,” explained the webinar host, Emily Lane, Marketing Manager at ION Science Ltd, “VOCs occur in most industrial sectors, but their relative toxicity varies widely, and there are a number of ways in which they can be detected, so this webinar has been designed to provide the core knowledge that is necessary for VOCs to be managed effectively.”

The on-demand webinar lasts for around 30 minutes and can be accessed, free of charge, by visiting https://bit.ly/3j7RUI0

The main objective of the webinar is to provide educational content that contributes to the professional development of viewers. Whilst explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different detection technologies, the speakers also describe the unique aspects of the ION Science MiniPIDs that make them ideal for OEM integration for accurate and reliable VOC detection.

The speakers also describe the most common applications for VOC detection; providing insights into the factors which can lead to potentially dangerous concentrations of VOCs. Pete also describes the increasing use of PIDs in low-cost, (sometimes mobile) spatially dense ambient air quality monitoring networks and in indoor air quality monitoring; an area of growing concern post-Covid. In addition, Ilaria explains the requirement for first responders to be able to quickly assess the levels of danger following an incident or accident involving hazardous materials.

Given the fast response, sensitivity and wide range of VOCs detected by ION’s MiniPID, their inclusion in the Industrial Scientific products is a major benefit. Laura Faust, Product Manager at Industrial Scientific commented: “The Ventis Pro 5 multi-gas monitor gives you the power to monitor up to five gases simultaneously and with multiple connectivity options, you can manager worker safety anytime, anywhere. Now with the addition of the PID sensor, you can protect workers from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with the same compact personal monitor. This valuable addition brings us one step closer to our vision of ending workplace deaths by 2050.”

After viewing the webinar, attendees should have a better understanding of what VOCs are, what their acute and chronic health effects are, and how they affect the environment. They will also be aware of the different detection techniques that are available, and their relative advantages and disadvantages. This should include an understanding of the reasons why PID is the most commonly accepted method for VOC detection.