Explosion proof analysis.

AMETEK Process Instruments has expanded its 993X series of gas analyzers – including both 993X and 9933 models - with new explosion proof (Ex d) enclosures certified for ATEX and IECEx Zone 1 hazardous locations. The new design enables reliable analyzer installation in applications where purge gas is unavailable or impractical, addressing a common challenge in remote and utility-limited facilities.

The explosion proof 993X enclosure is rated IP66 and NEMA 4X, allowing outdoor installation and operation in minimally temperature-controlled environments. By eliminating the need for a continuous inert purge gas supply, the design helps reduce installation complexity, operating costs, and overall system infrastructure requirements.

“Many customers rely on purge-protected analyzers, but those systems are not practical in every Zone 1 location,” said Michael Gaura, senior product manager at AMETEK Process Instruments. “The explosion proof 993X gives users a robust alternative that maintains measurement performance.”

The 993X series primarily uses ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy to provide continuous measurement of sulfur compounds and other key components in natural gas and biomethane streams, including hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and methyl mercaptan. The analyzers are also widely used in sulfur recovery and removal processes to measure sulfur-containing species such as sulfur dioxide and carbon disulfide, supporting process control, emissions compliance, and product quality. Other technologies can also be integrated to measure the concentrations of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in these end user applications, when required.

With the addition of explosion proof certifications, the 993X series offers greater flexibility for operators designing analyzer shelters and hazardous area installations across oil and gas production, processing, and renewable gas applications.

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@AMETEKPI @AMETEKInc @codacomms  #PAuto #EX

Rack-mountable FTIR gas analyser.

The GT7000 Tellus, a rack-mountable FTIR gas analyzer for multi-gas analysis has been introduced by Gasmet Technologies.

GT7000 Tellus supports reliable gas analysis in conditions where stability, repeatability, and integration are essential. The analyser is suited for changing process conditions, and continuous or repeated measurement requirements. Typical applications include process gas analysis, emissions monitoring, laboratory testing and validation, combustion research, carbon capture and CO₂ purity monitoring, as well as air quality monitoring.

“GT7000 Tellus is designed for applications where gas analysis must operate reliably as part of a defined system and measurement workflow. The rack-mountable format supports integration into measurement systems, and the analyser can be configured for different setups where continuous or repeated gas analysis is required” says Jyrki Korpela, Director of Product Management, Gasmet Technologies.

This analyser enables simultaneous measurement of up to 50 gases from a wide gas library, including 500 quantifiable and 5000 identifiable gases. Combined with Calcmet 16 software, it supports analysis of complex gas mixtures with instant gas concentration results, data connectivity and identification of unknown gases. Measurement setups can be configured through software without hardware changes.

The rack-mountable format enables installation alongside other instruments as part of a broader measurement setup. Measurement conditions can be configured with selectable temperatures, optical path lengths, and pressure compensation options.

The measurement capability is based on Gasmet FTIR technology, with performance validated through EN15267‑4 QAL1 certification of the GT6000 Mobilis platform. GT7000 Tellus builds on 35 years of in‑house FTIR development and application expertise, with over 7 000 analysers delivered worldwide. The same measurement approach is used across laboratory testing, process applications, research, and environmental monitoring.

“It is great to see how we can respond to customer needs across different applications with the same core technology. GT7000 Tellus builds on proven FTIR technology and continues the next generation product family defined by GT5000 Terra and GT6000 Mobilis, supporting the use of FTIR-based gas analysis in the field, in testing, and in fixed system setups” says Nenne Nordström, CEO, Gasmet Technologies.

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@Gasmet_Tech @Nederman #PAuto

Analyser combines laser and paramagnetic detection methods.

Improved regulatory compliance and emissions control.

The Rosemount™ QX1000 Continuous Gas Analyzer, ideally suited for use in continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), but also a good fit in many other types of applications has been released by Emerson. The QX1000 uses paramagnetic detection for O₂ and quantum cascade laser direct absorption spectroscopy for all other gases to meet stringent performance requirements. This integration of different technologies and a modular approach provide a flexible, single-system solution tailored to diverse application needs. The QX1000’s robust design with low maintenance requirements also reduces lifecycle cost and downtime.

The QX1000 uses cold/dry technology, with a sample conditioning system transporting gas extracted from the process to the analyser through a thermoelectric chiller to reduce the temperature to about 4 degrees Celsius (39 Fahrenheit), so most moisture condenses and drops out. Users can easily integrate the QX1000 into existing plant infrastructure, or it can be provided as part of an integrated Emerson system solution, including the sample conditioning system.

“A major differentiator of the QX1000 is the integration of multiple advanced technologies within a single device, providing the best-fit solution for each measurement need,” said Beth Livingstone, global product manager, process gas, Emerson. “The QX1000 is not only the first of its kind, but it also marks the beginning of a portfolio of analysers designed to set new gas analysis standards.”

Measurements made by the QX1000 are ideal for CEMS applications due to the analyser’s high selectivity and accuracy. CEMS are required at most sites with a stack emitting gases to atmosphere, and they are widely used in chemical, oil and gas, power generation, pulp and paper, refining, water/wastewater and other industries.

Leveraging the intrinsic high selectivity of laser-based measurement, this new analyser provides precise monitoring of complex gas streams while delivering continuous, real-time data. Off the shelf, it supports measurement of key regulatory gases, including CO, CO₂, O2, NO, NO₂, and SO₂, with different configurations typically offering detection of one to four gases. Measurement of additional gases, such as CH₄ and N₂O, is also available.

Designed with reliability in mind, the QX1000 eliminates moving parts that are prone to failure and frequent replacement, minimising maintenance and reducing total cost of ownership. Its low-consumable technology is especially critical in the CEMS market, where ongoing operational costs can be a barrier. By reducing system downtime and maintenance needs, the analyser helps end users avoid costly penalties associated with taking systems offline, ensuring continuous compliance with regulatory requirements.

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@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @Rosemount_News @HHC_Lewis #PAuto

Gas analysers not for Christmas.

James Clements, MD at Signal Group, explains how businesses can extract maximum value from an investment in gas analysis. Using total organic carbon (TOC) measurements at thermal processes as an example, he will argue that the same analysers can also be utilised for process control and for checking the performance of abatement equipment.

James Clements, Signal Group

Just as a puppy is not just for Christmas, a gas analyser is not just for regulatory compliance. Process managers generally install a continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) because they have to, by law.

Background.
By the time a CEMS measures a process stream for compliance, the process work is done, and the analysers are simply providing proof that the process is complying with its permit. However, the efficiency with which that compliance is achieved can be substantially improved by monitoring at earlier stages in the process stream. This principle applies to almost all regulated processes with emissions to air, and for a variety of measurement parameters. For the purposes of this article we will take a closer look at thermal oxidation processes such as VOC abatement and incineration.

Incineration is a widely adopted method for dealing with materials such as municipal waste, sewage sludge, clinical and hazardous waste, and animal by-products. The advantages of incineration over other waste disposal methods include significant volume reduction, hazardous material neutralization and energy recovery. However, the process of incineration converts much of the solid waste into gases, so tight regulatory limits apply to air emissions.

Under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) incinerators are normally required to continuously monitor emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF,) nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), total organic carbon (TOC) and total particulate matter. Under certain circumstances, continuous monitoring of HCl, HF and SO₂ may not be required, and periodic monitoring may be applicable. The specific requirements for continuous or periodic monitoring are detailed in a site’s EPR (Environmental Permitting Regulations) permit. The permit also specifies periodic monitoring frequencies for dioxins and furans, dioxin-like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), heavy metals and poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Following the withdrawal of the Britain from the EU (BREXIT), the requirements of the IED have been maintained in British law through the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Seeking to minimise the impact of pollution on people’s health and the environment by reducing harmful industrial and intensive livestock emissions across the EU, the revised Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU or ‘IED 2.0’) entered into force on 4 August 2024. A key feature of IED 2.0 is the mandate for national authorities to set Emissions Limit Values (ELVs) at the "strictest achievable" level within the BAT-AEL range for a specific installation, unless the operator demonstrates that this is disproportionately costly. As a consequence, ELVs will become tighter.

Thermal oxidation.
Incinerators employ high temperatures to break down complex organic chemicals into simpler forms - ideally water and carbon dioxide. The measurement of TOC emissions is necessary, not just to demonstrate compliance with the site’s permit, but also to help to identify incomplete combustion, which reduces efficiency and increases the risk of non-compliance. The incomplete combustion of some materials, such as plastics, can also result in the production of toxic gases, which emphasises the need for monitoring and feedback control.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are worthy of mention in this context because nitrogen and oxygen are abundant in air but do not react in ambient conditions. At higher temperatures, the gases react to form nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which have serious health and environmental effects, and are therefore tightly regulated. There is a direct connection between combustion process temperature and NOx emissions, so Signal supplies NOx analysers to inform process control. Offering higher levels of accuracy, Chemiluminescence is the preferred measurement method for development engineers at manufacturer laboratories working on new technologies to reduce NOx emissions in the combustion of fossil fuels. For regulatory compliance monitoring, NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) is less costly and more commonly employed.

Process managers seek to avoid incomplete combustion by optimising temperature, residence time and the air/fuel mixture. This process is informed by the continuous measurement of parameters such as oxygen, carbon monoxide and VOCs.

VOC abatement
Thermal oxidation is generally more effective at higher temperatures and with longer residency times, but both of these involve a higher energy requirement, increasing costs and reducing sustainability in the face of rising climate concerns.

In a catalytic combustion system, VOCs are decomposed by thermal oxidization at lower combustion temperatures, which reduces the amount of auxiliary fuel required and can reduce NOx generation. However, there is a risk that the efficacy of the catalyst may be lost due to catalytic poisoning.

VOC monitoring before and after abatement is essential for the optimization of abatement efficiency, and for the rapid detection of potential problems.

Multiplexed gas analysers.
Signal’s extractive gas analysers can be multiplexed, which means that they can be connected to a multipoint sampling system so that one gas analyser can sequentially take measurements from multiple points – before and after abatement for example. To achieve this, Signal has developed a range of ancillary equipment to facilitate sampling from multiple points. For example, Signal's Model 362 splits a single heated sample line into two filtered streams, allowing for parallel analysis of two different sample points. It includes a heated pump, gas distribution manifold, and multiple outputs, including one for a cooler/dryer. This facility to use one analyser for multiple sample points dramatically lowers the cost per measurement location.

Signal MCERTS approved 363SM heated pre-filter
with heated line

Monitoring technology.
Process managers are of course free to select the most appropriate gas analysis technique for process control, but where data are required for compliance purposes, it is likely that a certified standard reference method gas analyser is deployed. For example, the standard reference method for the measurement of TOC is flame ionisation detection (FID).

Signal’s latest FID, the SOLAR CEMNEX, recently passed a rigorous program of tests at TÜV in Germany. As a consequence, this monitor has MCERTS approval verifying compliance with the performance and uncertainty requirements specified in the UK’s Environment Agency Guidance: MCERTS for stack emissions monitoring equipment at industrial installations - Continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) Updated 28 August 2024, EN 15267-1:2023, EN15267-2:2023, EN 15267-3:2007 and QAL 1 as defined in EN 14181: 2014.

Summary.
Process managers know and understand the measurement parameters that can help them to optimise their processes, but they may not be fully aware of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to implement a monitoring system. With over 40 years of experience in designing gas analysis systems, Signal’s in-house experts are able to provide help and advice in the key issues. These include:

• Measurement technique
• Sampling points and sample conditioning
• Multiplexing
• Calibration
• Communication, including Wi-Fi & web-enabled

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@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #Packaging #PAuto #Manufacturing #Mcerts

Defeating the ‘whack-a-mole’* that is sustainable packaging!

Gas analysers are performing a vital role for packaging manufacturers looking to check the environmental performance of their latest products as they seek new ways to develop sustainable packaging.

Signal Group has seen a particular increase in demand for its continuous VOC measurement instruments in the packaging sector. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are emitted during the manufacture of many packaging production processes, but these harmful pollutants are tightly regulated so continuous monitoring is necessary. In addition, it would not be possible, for example, to label a recyclable product as more sustainable if it caused an increase in VOC emissions.

“The packaging industry is currently under enormous pressure,” explains Signal MD James Clements. “Firstly, most of the major players have made commitments under their ESG policies to improve the sustainability of their products. They are doing this because their customers demand it, consumers want it, and of course it’s the right thing to do, but sustainability means different things to different people,” he says. “Secondly, new regulations such as the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are strongly encouraging packaging manufacturers to increase the use of recycled materials and to develop recyclable and reusable products.”

According to a recent McKinsey report: “The global packaging sector continues to be attractive and is expected to grow faster than global GDP. Industry demand for—or at least interest in piloting—sustainable packaging is also rising as a result of pledges by companies across the value chain to reduce material use, increase circularity, and make more use of recycled materials.”

However, as James Clements explains: “It’s not as simple as that. Yes, waste reduction is enormously important, but the development of new packaging products can be a bit like ‘whack-a-mole’ because sustainability objectives also include other important factors such as carbon footprint and environmental emissions.

“Whilst seeking to develop new, more sustainable and recyclable products, packaging companies are also looking to ensure that they do not inadvertently increase their emissions of pollutants such as VOCs, and this where we are seeing a large increase in demand for continuous analysers,” he adds.

VOC Sources.
VOCs are released by a variety of packaging manufacture processes. Plastics, resins, fibres, textiles, elastomers, solvents, pigments, adhesives and many other products can be manufactured from fossil fuels, chemicals, catalysts and recycled materials, but many of the processes by which these materials are transformed into packaging result in VOC emissions. During polymerisation, for example, unreacted monomers and residual catalysts can be released as VOCs. In addition, the chemicals that are added to the polymers can also be volatile and become VOCs, and during processing at high temperatures, polymers can degrade into smaller, volatile compounds, which are also VOCs.

The manufacture of some food packaging involves the application of a plastic membrane (PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP etc.) to cardboard or paper. This is a good example of a process that releases VOCs which have to be abated. Typically, a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is used to destroy the VOCs and other industrial pollutants in exhaust gases by oxidizing them into harmless substances like carbon dioxide and water vapour. RTO abatement systems have to be controlled by a gas analyser. For example, a Signal FID can take samples from both ends of the RTO to check abatement performance and demonstrate regulatory performance. This can be achieved with two FIDs or with one FID and a switched sampling system.

Monitoring technology.
The standard reference method for the analysis of VOC emissions is by a Flame Ionisation Detector (FID), which for many years has been at the heart of Signal’s VOC analysers. The FID method is specifically designed to detect carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, making it highly selective for VOCs.

Signal manufactures two main types of FID – fixed and portable. The fixed analysers are permanently deployed to measure VOC emissions in one location, and the portable analysers can be used at multiple sites, where discontinuous monitoring is permissible. These are generally sites with lower emissions where periodic measurements suffice.

In many countries, the monitoring of VOCs for regulatory compliance requires certification to specific performance standards. For example, Signal’s latest FID, the SOLAR CEMNEX, recently passed a rigorous program of tests at TÜV in Germany. As a consequence, this monitor has MCERTS approval verifying that it complies with the performance and uncertainty requirements specified in the UK’s Environment Agency Guidance: MCERTS for stack emissions monitoring equipment at industrial installations - Continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) Updated 28 August 2024, EN 15267-1:2023, EN15267-2:2023, EN 15267-3:2007 and QAL 1 as defined in EN 14181: 2014.

Summary.
It is possible to claim that a product is more sustainable if it has a lower carbon footprint, produces less environmentally harmful emissions, uses less energy and/or water, or if it results in less waste. However, if it only achieves one of these admirable goals, it is important to check that it is not doing so at the expense of the others, and that is why packaging manufacturers are using more VOC analysers.

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* ‘whack-a-mole’ = situation characterized by a series of futile, Sisyphean tasks, where the successful completion of one just yields another popping up elsewhere.

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #Packaging #OPAuto #Manufacturing #Mcerts 

Final effluent monitors enable substantial efficiencies.

Here Tim Wilson,  from Meteor Communications, explains how, in addition to providing visibility of water quality, final effluent monitors known as ESNET are also delivering substantial benefits for Scottish Water through enhanced process control. For example, the ESNET units are dramatically reducing the use of dosing chemicals by introducing automatic monitoring and control.

Background
Typically, the mains-powered water quality analysers that are used for process monitoring at wastewater treatment works (WwTW) deliver accurate, high-quality data, but they have a significant footprint and are costly to install and operate. As a consequence, they only tend to be deployed at larger sites. However, in recent years it has become evident that final effluent can also be monitored with the same technologies that are used to monitor rivers. These ESNET systems are particularly advantageous for final effluent monitoring for a number of reasons. A single ESNET system, for example, is able to monitor multiple parameters simultaneously, providing almost real-time data from even the most remote sites. Importantly, in comparison with traditional final effluent monitors, ESNETs are quick, easy and low-cost to install and operate. However, as this article explains, the connectivity of the ESNET units can be exploited to dramatically enhance process control.

ESNET deployments at Scottish Water.
In 2021, Scottish Water started to install ESNET remote water quality monitors at some of its urban WwTWs. 

“The ESNET systems have dramatically improved our visibility of final effluent water quality data, without having to implement significant capital works,” explains Jamie Hesketh, Process Science Leader at Scottish Water. “Since 2021, we have installed 67 of the kiosk-based ESNET systems as final effluent monitors, and they have been so successful that we now plan to install around 113 more systems over the next few years.”

The kiosk-based systems have been installed at urban WwTW sites with a population equivalent of 2000 or above, but this may be expanded to PE>1000 as the rollout takes place. An automatic sampler was previously deployed at most of these sites, collecting final effluent samples that are stored and collected for subsequent analysis in a laboratory. The advantage of this method is that the samples can be tested for a wide variety of parameters, but the major disadvantage is the delay incurred by this procedure, which prevents automation and severely limits opportunities for process control. Consequently, processes such as dosing tend to operate 24/7 rather than on an ‘as required’ basis.

What is an ESNET?
Developed and manufactured by Meteor Communications, ESNET systems are complete, stand-alone, multi-parameter remote water quality monitors. Originally designed for installation at sites with limited or no services, there are now hundreds of ESNET stations operating all over the UK, delivering almost real-time data from a wide range of diverse locations.

ESNETs are available in two formats - kiosk and portable. The kiosks are designed for permanent installation and the portable units are used for short-term deployment. Scottish Water, for example, have 7 portable ESNETS that are used primarily for process investigations.

Each of the Scottish Water ESNETs has a multiparameter water quality sonde fitted with sensors for measuring dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and ammonium. Each sonde is located within an integrated flow chamber, through which sampled water is pumped. Water quality data is automatically transferred to the MeteorCloud® platform, which provides secure data visualisation, analysis and alarms.

One of the most important features of ESNETs is the ease with which they can be installed, usually requiring no capital works or pre-existing communications infrastructure. They are also designed to run with a very low power requirement, and are able to operate from a solar charged battery – even in Scotland.

Meteor Communications initially trained Scottish Water staff on how to install, service and calibrate ESNET systems, and this team of trained individuals now manages the network themselves. Their work involves routine visits to each site every 4-6 weeks to clean the pump and sample line, and to swap in a pre-calibrated sonde. Jamie’s team also log in to MeteorCloud every morning to check for any data anomalies that might mean swapping a sonde before its allotted date.

Enabling process efficiency.
The wastewater process team at Scottish Water are able to log in to the MeteorCloud platform to view both historical and live water quality data, and to set up text alarms and email alerts to inform wastewater operations.

One of the most remarkable benefits to be gained from the ESNET systems is their ability to control dosing units. “We have started to hardwire some of the ESNETs to our dosing units, so that set points for, say, turbidity, can trigger coagulant dosing with PAC,” Jamie Hesketh explains. “In this example, the ESNET measures final effluent turbidity and transmits the data to MeteorCloud, and if the value is too high, MeteorCloud sends an instruction to the dosing unit via the ESNET. Similarly, when turbidity is low, dosing is unnecessary and therefore halted.”

The same mechanism is applied for other dosing mechanisms. For example, pH measurements are used to control the dosing of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). It has been suggested that final effluent monitoring might be too late for dosing control, but in Jamie’s experience the key is the judicious selection of the set-point.

By automating dosing control, Scottish Water is negating the need for the installation and maintenance of additional process management hardware, all of which improves the sustainability of operations.

Looking forward.
In addition to the water quality sonde, it is also possible to connect other sensors to ESNETs. For example, some users also connect water level or meteorological sensors. In addition, a multitude of different data feeds can be connected to ESNET systems, including analogue, digital and serial protocols. This lowers data infrastructure costs and reduces the need for manual checks.

Scottish Water has exploited the ESNET’s connectivity by attaching traditional final effluent ammonia monitors at some locations. “This has enabled us to compare the data from ESNET sondes with that from their (much more expensive) predecessors,” Jamie says. “The results have been very pleasantly surprising, because we have found that the data from the two different instruments trend in similar ways. However, there is still a justification for deploying a dedicated ammonia analyser where levels are particularly low.”

The program of ESNET installations is progressing well, delivering real-time multiparameter final effluent water quality data to enable prompt process management. Initial work to connect dosing units to the ESNETS has shown enormous potential to reduce the volume and cost of dosing chemicals, so Scottish Water plans to expand this capability across the whole country, with concurrent environmental and cost benefits.

The ESNET-based automatic dosing control mechanisms have only recently commenced operation, so it is probably too soon to draw any firm conclusions. Nevertheless, early indications are showing savings in chemical costs of around 20%. The Scottish Water wastewater process team is therefore optimistic about potential future improvements.

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@scottish_water @MeteorComms @_Enviro_News #Environmental #Water #Scotland

Ye olde analyser!

Competition to find Signal’s oldest working gas analyser

A competition to find the oldest working Signal gas analyser in the world has been inaugurated by the company. Any Signal customer can enter by emailing the serial number of their instrument along with a couple of photos, before 14th June 2024. There will also be a prize for the best photo – irrespective of the instrument’s age.

“We know that many customers have been using their analysers for significantly longer than ten years,” explains Signal MD James Clements. “Our factory has been located in Camberley, near London since 1984, and over the last 40 years we have supplied thousands of analysers to customers all over the world. Many of these regularly come back to the factory for service, so we know that these instruments are lasting really well, which is a credit to my father John Clements who started and ran the business for several decades.”

The two competition winners (1. Oldest instrument & 2. Best instrument photo) will each receive a free service to rejuvenate their instrument (parts and transport not included).

The idea for the competition was prompted by a refurbishment request from a customer in the USA with a Signal 3010 portable FID analyser that had obviously been “used enthusiastically” over an extended period. Signal Service Manager Roy Kinslow said: “This analyser had clearly been subjected to long-standing and wide-ranging physical challenges, but we were able to restore full functionality, and with a new casing, it looked almost as good as new.”

As good as new!

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Anyone interested in entering either of the competitions should email their photos and serial numbers to competition@signal-group.com.

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #PAuto 

Measuring Oxygen in membrane-free water electrolysers.

A highly accurate analyzer that detects the impurity of oxygen in the hydrogen has been delivered, by Servomex, to a green hydrogen technology group. CPH2, based in Britain, has developed a unique technology that uses cryogenic separation to deliver pure hydrogen and pure oxygen. It requires a robust, proven and highly accurate analyzer to detect the impurity of oxygen in its membrane-free electrolyser within a state-of-the-art hydrogen production plant in Ireland. 

The SERVOTOUGH OxyExact 2200 is a versatile oxygen analyser which offers an unrivalled combination of precision, flexibility and performance for optimum process and safety control, making it the ideal choice to support the CPH2 technology.

Keith Warren, Product Manager, said: “Process monitoring applications demand incredibly high performance from an analyzer. The OxyExact 2200 is a high-specification analyzer, and a proven solution for measuring oxygen in hydrogen. It offers operational flexibility, and exceptional safety, and can lead to reduced costs while using Paramagnetic sensing technologies to deliver highly stable and accurate O2 measurements through a safety-enhanced design.”

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@Servomex @CleanPowerH2 @codacomms #PAuto #Hydrogen #Ireland

Instrumentation confidence underpins power station performance.

The attached case study explains how VPI has chosen Swan instrumentation that delivers the accuracy and reliability levels that they need at their power stations.

Steam and water quality analysis performs a critical role in the protection of power plants from corrosion and deposition in the water steam cycle. This is because very small changes in water and steam quality have the potential to impact the performance of the entire power station and cause hugely expensive outages. The cost of monitoring equipment is therefore negligible in comparison with the potential costs of failure to manage water and steam quality effectively, so power plant chemists are constantly seeking accuracy and reliability in their instrumentation.

VPI Rye House Power Station

“Our main driver is to always ensure good feedwater quality, free from corrosive species,” explains power station chemist Adrian Bailey from VPI. “To achieve that goal, we need instruments that can deliver the highest performance levels continuously 24/7, 365 days of the year. For that reason, having tried most of the monitors on the market, we have gradually migrated almost all the water quality monitors at our five UK locations to Swan Analytical instruments.”
(These locations include Damhead Creek in Kent, Shoreham in West Sussex, Blackburn in Lancashire, Rye House in Hertfordshire, and Immingham in Lincolnshire.)

In addition to risk reduction, water quality monitoring also enhances process efficiency, protects plant longevity and availability, and helps ensure compliance with environmental permits.

Background.
Various forms of corrosion can affect the metallic surfaces within the internal components of power plants. Corrosion is an electrochemical process, and any build-up of dissolved contaminants such as chlorides, sulphates or other detrimental species could strongly enhance the risk of corrosion such as pitting, flow accelerated corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. This risk is amplified where high temperatures accelerate the corrosion process. Low pH-values in combination with turbulent flow conditions can cause flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC), which is known to be very fast, destructive, and continues to be one of the main root causes of boiler tube failures. Power plant water steam cycle chemistry is therefore focused on minimizing corrosion rates as much as possible, as well as avoiding specific forms of corrosion such as FAC. Mitigating plant corrosion is primarily achieved by continuously monitoring specific conductivity, as well as conductivity after cation exchange (CACE), degassed CACE, pH, dissolved oxygen and where required silica and sodium analysis.

Water quality monitoring at VPI power stations.
VPI is one of the leading Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) operators in Britain, with assets capable of generating 3.3GW of power; sufficient for around 3 million homes. The company is committed to being part of the island's pathway to Net Zero, and in the short-term this means investing in its existing plant to protect the reliability of the national power supply during turbulent times in the energy sector.

Adrian Bailey says: “The efficient operation of our existing portfolio represents a significant challenge because most power stations were designed to operate continuously, rather than the stop-start regime that is required by today’s rapidly fluctuating supply and demand energy market; a situation which can increase potential corrosion risks.”

In order to minimise corrosion, all of VPI’s plants dose condensate/feedwater with ammonia or amine blends to establish a specific alkaline pH. However, these alkalising agents could potentially mask the presence of low-level contaminants, so in addition to continuous measurements of pH and specific conductivity, VPI’s plants also monitor underlying conductivity with Swan’s AMI CACE, ‘Conductivity after Cation Exchange’ (CACE) instrument, which removes the ammonia from samples and changes contaminants into their acid form to amplify their conductivity, and thereby enable early detection.

Dissolved gases, such as carbon dioxide, can also mask the presence of low-level contaminants by contributing to the CACE value. The VPI plants therefore also use Swan instruments to monitor degassed CACE continuously. Differential analysis of CACE and degassed CACE indicate whether an elevated cation conductivity value is due to the presence of carbon dioxide or more corrosive ions such as chloride and sulphate.

In addition to conductivity and pH, VPI also employs Swan analysers to monitor trace amounts of dissolved oxygen, silica, and sodium, as well as turbidity which is used for trend monitoring for particulate corrosion products.

Why this supplier?
Swan conductivity and pH analysers were first installed at Rye House power station around 2007, and the first Swan silica analyser was installed at Damhead around 2009. “At that time, there was no common policy for instrumentation, and each power station was running different analysers,” comments Adrian Bailey. “This meant that service and maintenance procedures varied considerably, and the availability of spares and consumables was more complicated. However, the early Swan analysers performed extremely well, so we have gradually migrated almost all of our instruments, at all of the sites, to Swan.”

Explaining the decision to adopt Swan as their preferred instrumentation supplier, Adrian says: “The most important feature of an instrument is the confidence that it inspires in its operators, and this is where Swan led the field. We routinely take grab samples for laboratory analysis to check the accuracy and reliability of the monitors, and this data clearly demonstrated the superiority of the Swan instruments and gave us the confidence to roll them out more widely.

“The amount of time spent on instrument maintenance is also a key issue, and one in which Swan excels. With high levels of reliability and low maintenance requirements, we have found their instruments to be simple to operate; the menus are easy to follow, without the necessity to memorise the manual, which means that the requirement for operator training is minimal.

“Occasionally, we need to utilise Swan’s technical support, and again we have found this to be exemplary; their staff are highly experienced and knowledgeable, so they are able to respond quickly to our requests.”

Summarising, Swan Power Product Specialist, Chris Mead says: “Obviously, we are very pleased that the performance of the Swan instrumentation has provided VPI with the confidence to use them almost exclusively across their facilities. This has helped them to future-proof their plants as they help the UK on its path to Net-Zero.

“The recent installations at Shoreham, Damhead and Immingham are great examples of the benefits that can be gained from installing a complete instrumentation package from Swan. Our monitors are factory-calibrated and pre-mounted on sample panels, making them easier to install and integrate, and with a single source of low-maintenance instruments the cost of ownership is significantly lower.

“However, the costs associated with the purchase and operation of Swan instruments is negligible in comparison with the potential cost implications of plant failure or asset downtime, so we believe that whilst we supply instruments, what we deliver is peace of mind.”

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@_Enviro_News @swan_usa #PAuto #Power #Britain

Fifty years of analysis.

ABB is marking the 50th anniversary of its Quebec (CDN) factory which today manufactures market leading products for industrial analytical measurement and is one of the largest suppliers of optical sensors for detecting greenhouse gas emissions from space.

What began as a local enterprise, Bomem Inc., founded in 1973 by visionaries Dr. Henry Buijs, Gary Vail and Jean-Noel Bérubé, has grown into a flagship facility with over 400 employees. In 1999, Bomem entered a new era when it was acquired by ABB, allowing the factory to tap into ABB's resources and global reach, further extending its impact.

Furthermore, today the factory houses ABB’s largest Measurement & Analytics research and development group, consisting of 150 engineers and scientists.

“In its 50-year journey, ABB's Quebec factory has both pushed the boundaries of industrial analytical measurement, and also reached for the stars, literally,” said Jean-René Roy, Global Business Line Manager, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “Through pioneering gas analysis technology, ABB continues to support global climate change initiatives, delivering advanced solutions that monitor our planet and protect its future. This milestone is a testament to the power of innovation, dedication, and commitment to a greener, safer world.”

Revolutionizing gas analysis through innovation.
Manufactured in Quebec, ABB's Sensi+™ analyzer monitors natural gas quality through a single device for continuous and simultaneous measurements of H2S, H2O and CO2, eliminating the need for multiple analyzers, multiple maintenance schedules, and reducing hours of operator training and services.

At the same time, the ABB suite of natural gas leak detection solutions uses an innovative approach to gas detection, with sensitivity 1000 times greater and speed 10 times faster than traditional equipment.

Also out of Quebec, ABB designs and manufactures one of the largest portfolios in the world of laboratory, at-line and process FT-IR/FT-NIR analyzers. Used for quality control, these solutions increase productivity while lowering environmental impact in industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, and metals.

In recent years, optical sensors built by ABB in Quebec have played a vital role in detecting greenhouse gas emissions from space. Space-based gas analysis enables unbiased reporting across jurisdictions, crucial to verifying climate commitments. The ABB-built optical sensors offer 100 times higher resolution than comparable technologies, identifying emissions sources precisely.

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@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @AdmiralPR #PAuto #Canada

Safe, convenient and obvious!

The Managing Director of Signal Group, 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 decades, the users of gas analysers have become accustomed to managing them and viewing readings on a fixed screen, but with the technology that is now available, that doesn’t make sense – why not just grab the screen and take it somewhere safer and more convenient? Seems obvious when you think about it!?

“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!”

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #PAuto 

Long-distance, full vector S-parameter measurements.

The ShockLine™ ME7869A distributed modular 2-port vector network analyzers (VNAs) has been introduced by Anritsu. This instrument can conduct long-distance full vector S-parameter measurements over wide distances of up to 100 meters. Three models – operating up to 8 GHz, 20 GHz, and 43.5 GHz, respectively – provide unprecedented cost-efficiency, flexibility, and ease-of-use to a variety of existing and emerging commercial and military antenna design applications.

The ME7869A is configured with two MS46131A 1-port VNAs that can each be directly connected to the antenna under test (AUT). Cable length for each VNA module can be equal or different lengths, depending on the application. It eliminates the need for long RF coaxial cables that create high loss, and phase and magnitude instability. The unique design addresses the need to accurately and repeatably measure antennas over long distances, such as in anechoic chambers and antenna test ranges.

Anritsu’s PhaseLync™ synchronization technology enables two MS46131A VNAs to phase synchronize with each other over the full 100-meter distance. PhaseLync improves dynamic range and measurement stability of S-parameter measurements by eliminating the need for long cables necessary with conventional benchtop VNAs.

Another key benefit of the distributed modular VNA solution is the MN25132A control module, which greatly simplifies installation. It acts as a junction for the cables and supplies power to the two MS46131A VNAs. There is no need to attach separate power supplies to the two VNA heads. The control module also interfaces the two VNAs to a laptop configured with ShockLine software.

Multiple Applications Supported.
The ShockLine ME7869A brings performance, cost, and simplicity benefits to any insertion loss application that requires long cable runs at frequencies up to 43.5 GHz compared to alternative expensive benchtop VNAs that require superior dynamic range. The ME7869A can be used in satellite, materials measurement, aerospace and defense, and signal integrity environments.

@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #TandM #Communications

Appointments and promotions follow reorganisation at gas analysis leader.

Servomex has announced the latest round of promotions following its recent reorganization. Five new manager-level appointments are part of its pursuit of Operational Excellence that underpins its internal strategic review.

Servomex’s President, Andy Cowan, said: “This latest announcement of promotions falls in line with our very clear objective for Servomex for the years ahead as part of the recent major strategic review. That objective is to ensure that we enhance our best business practices. We can do so by ensuring that we employ the very best people for the job and that’s what we believe we have done.”

Karen Gargallo has been appointed to Business Unit Manager of Industrial Process & Emissions. Kieran Dray is now the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, and Matt Chambers, based at the USTC, has been appointed to the Business Unit Manager of Purity & Specialty. Joining them is Claus Agersbaek who has been appointed to the position of Business Unit Manager of Chroma and Chris Edwards has taken the role of Business Unit Manager of Hummingbird.

This latest news follows the announcement of four new directors – Martin Cox, Mike Proctor, Sang Won Park and Sarah Chalk* – being appointed to the senior management team. They join Tyrone White, Global Operations Director, Jeff Taher, Director of Continuous Improvement, Michael Xie, Director – China, Daven Hindocha, Finance Director, Victoria Hammond, Human Resources Director and Oskar Ekstrom, General Counsel. 

 “I congratulate every person who has so clearly displayed the aspirations we want to see at this level and stepped into the places of their predecessors with confidence, experience and expertise. We believe this reorganisation and, more importantly, the people within it will help cement Servomex’s name in the industry as we strive to streamline our operations and maximise Operational Excellence,” concluded President Cowan.

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* See "Four new top-level appointments in company reorganisation." (6/2/2023)

@Servomex @codacomms #PAuto 

Analysers for monitoring low-TOC values.

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an important quality parameter in the various manufacturing and process environments that depend on ultrapure water. When TOC content is too high, it can adversely impact the performance of water treatment systems, compromise high-precision machinery, or contaminate batches. The CA78 and CA79 online TOC analyzers from Endress+Hauser provide continuous and precise monitoring to ensure stable operations, regulatory compliance, and high-quality products.

Real-time water quality assessment for minimal product contamination.

These TOC analyzers utilize proven UV-oxidation and differential conductivity measurement, the most-established method for reliable TOC trace analysis in ultrapure water. The fast response time (t90) of 50 seconds enables quick control system and personnel reaction in the event of water quality deterioration, reducing contamination, product loss, and costs. Complete measuring point management.
The analyzers’ user-friendly modular design and easy accessibility to components simplify maintenance and minimize operating costs. Additionally, Endress+Hauser’s worldwide service network provides end users with complete measuring point management throughout plant lifecycles, including installation qualification and operational qualification.

CA78 in the power & energy, semiconductor, personal care product, and disinfectant manufacturing sectors.
The CA78 TOC analyzer supports safe operations in many applications, including but not limited to:

• Protecting turbines and other expensive power plant equipment. • Manufacturing semiconductors and additional microelectronics. • Ensuring product quality in the personal care industry. • Assuring the efficacy of disinfectants.

The CA78 is configurable to meet various requirements in the power and semiconductor industries. For example, the standard version is the right choice for measuring ultrapure water in semiconductor production, providing high-precision measurement in water with conductivity values up to 2 µS/cm. Meanwhile, the instrument option for measurement in water with conductivity values closer to 10 µS/cm is perfectly-suited for deionized water in power plants. When multiple TOC measuring points are required, the 3-channel configuration allows for multiple streams to be run through one analyzer, which reduces capital expenditures.

Pharma-compliant CA79.
The CA79 TOC analyzer meets or exceeds all requirements of the US and European Pharmacopoeias, enabling manufacturing activities in accordance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11. Depending on the instrument configuration, online calibration and system suitability tests (SSTs) can be initiated with the press of a button, and these records are automatically stored onboard.

Regular SSTs ensure compliance with the pharmacopoeias’ regulations for TOC values. And with a compact, stainless-steel housing, the CA79 integrates seamlessly into ultrapure water installations, ideally situating it for use in applications subject to the stringent hygiene requirements of the life sciences industry. 

Complete portfolio for multiple industries.
With the introduction of the CA78 and CA79 analyzers for low-TOC measurement ranges, Endress+Hauser is rounding out its liquid analysis solutions for critical parameter measurement.

The CA78 supplements Memosens CLS15E contacting conductivity sensors, Liquiline System CA80SI silica analyzers, CA76NA sodium analyzers, and SWAS panels for reliable, low-maintenance solutions in a variety of sectors. The CA79 complements the Memosens CPS61E pH sensor, Memosens COS81E oxygen sensor, and Memosens CLS82E conductivity sensor for critical parameter measurement in pharmaceutical production environments.

These analyzers each store critical process, calibration, and sensor data locally, with transmission to a central process control and documentation hub, which is especially important in highly-regulated industries. This plethora of high-precision instruments provides end users with a complete portfolio of sensors, photometers, and TOC analyzers, and now all of these measurements can be monitored and managed at a single source.

@Endress_US @Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK #PAuto

Supporting environmental goals.

AMETEK Land is supporting customers in their environmental goals by providing a range of solutions for measuring the products of combustion.

To protect public health and the environment, the industrial emissions of smoke and toxic gases are regulated, and plant operators must monitor and report these emissions to demonstrate compliance with regulations.

The company offers a range of solutions to fit different process needs, including periodic flue gas measurements, cross-stack monitoring, extractive sampling, and continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS).

These solutions include portable and fixed emissions monitors as well as non-contact thermometers, delivering measurements that can improve the efficiency and environmental performance of many industrial processes.

For example, the Lancom 4 portable flue gas analyser is a rugged, versatile analyser that measures up to eight flue gases simultaneously, and is ideal for periodic checks to demonstrate compliance, and for performing quick checks before stack testing. While it has limited functionality compared to a CEMS, it offers an inexpensive alternative for smaller processes where using a CEMS would be uneconomical.

At the other end of the scale, AMETEK Land offers the FGA900 Series multigas analyser, a compact, self-contained CEMS that measures carbon monoxide, nitric oxide and oxygen. Cross-stack opacity monitors, such as the reliable Model 4500 MkIII, are also available for measuring particulate matter in flue gases.

Additionally, AMETEK Land has decades of experience in non-contact temperature measurements for industrial applications, with an extensive range of fixed and portable spot measurement pyrometers. These can provide measurements that optimise many industrial processes to reduce the output of harmful emissions.

“Accurate flue gas measurements are the key to reducing pollutant emissions, reducing fuel cost and minimizing the production of carbon dioxide,” said Derek Stuart, AMETEK Land Product Manager.

@landinst #PAuto #Environment

VOC Analysers for certification.

Signal Group has submitted both portable and fixed VOC analysers for MCERTS certification.

The 3010 MINIFID rugged, portable, heated FID VOC analyser has been designed to demonstrate compliance by hydrocarbon emissions measurements from multiple stacks or sites. The S4 SOLAR heated FID VOC analyser is a rack-mounted instrument for continuous monitoring, offering the accuracy and reliability that Signal customers expect, but with the additional benefits of a detachable tablet and software for RS232 or Ethernet connectivity.

The company’s stand (D11) at AQE 2022 will feature both instruments. Visitors will also be able to see the new S4 SOLAR XPLORE portable heated FID, and anyone with an interest in QAL2 audits will be able to see the 821s Gas Divider and the NOXGEN NOx converter efficiency tester. They will see first-hand, how an innovative detachable tablet makes emissions monitoring easier and safer – putting data where it matters… in the customer's hands!

@GasAnalysers @IET_online @_Enviro_News #PAuto #Environment

Service contracts expanded.

Signal Group has announced the launch of a new flexible range of service contracts, which enable customers to determine the level of service required. “No two companies are the same,” explains Signal Group Service Manager Roy Kinslow, “so it makes sense for us to offer a tiered-package approach to service contracts.

“Our gas analysers are designed and built for accurate and reliable measurements, but in order to optimise performance, it is necessary to establish a planned maintenance and calibration routine. These new flexible service contracts therefore offer customers the ability to build resilience into their monitoring work; developing plans for unforeseen events and avoiding downtime.”

Each of the different service levels include full technical support via phone and email, but customers are able to choose whether their plan should also include features such as scheduled site visits and emergency call-outs. Each service plan also provides extra discount on spares and consumables.

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #PAuto #TandM

Checking gas analysers.

Calibration is the process of establishing the relationship between the output of a measurement and a known input. In common with most measuring instruments, gas analysers require calibration following installation, and then at regular intervals to check that they are performing to specification. Regular zero and span checks (known inputs) are necessary, but it is also necessary to check the linearity of the analyser regularly. Analyser linearity is unlikely to change after initial commissioning but if it does, errors can be substantial, so analysers should be checked regularly and/or following every major service.

Some instruments employ sealed gas cells or reference spectra for self-calibration, but a number of gases of known concentration are required for a linearity check. So, what is the best way to conduct accurate, reliable calibration and linearity checks, without incurring excessive cost?

First, where analysers are being used for compliance purposes, it is necessary to be familiar with the regulatory requirements. For example, the European standard EN14181 describes the quality assurance procedures needed to assure that Automated Measurement Systems (AMS) installed to measure emissions to air are capable of meeting the uncertainty requirements.

Under EN14181, the linearity of an analyser’s response must be checked using five different reference concentrations, including zero, all of which should be traceable. The reference concentrations shall be selected such that the measured values are at 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.

After each change in concentration, the first instrument reading shall be taken after at least three times the response time of the AMS, and at least three readings shall be made at each concentration. The time period between the start of each of the three readings shall be separated by at least four times the response time.

There are two main linearity audit options:

1. Purchase bottles of pre-prepared and certified calibration gases for each of the required concentrations,
2. Purchase a gas divider so that one certified bottle of calibration gas can be accurately diluted to create each of the required concentrations.

The first option can be particularly expensive, and the number of bottles required can cause significant management and storage issues. The large number of gas bottles also creates greater potential for these costly purchases to run past their certified ‘use by’ date. Option 2 is therefore more popular because of its simplicity and lower cost. However, it is of course also necessary to be able to validate the gas divider…

Most commercially available gas blenders utilise mass flow controllers to manage the gases. However, they are not linear in response and therefore also need to be calibrated. For this reason, the Signal Group Model 821S Gas Divider does NOT use mass flow controllers. Instead, the 821S uses a manifold block with ten identical capillaries and a precision pressure balance regulator. A selector allows each of two gases (zero and calibration) to flow through these capillaries in ratios of 1:9, 2:8, 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2, 9:1 and 10:0. Consequently, including zero, it is possible to create 11 different equal increment concentrations for each calibration gas, with which to audit the gas analyser linearity.

Since the design of the 821S provides symmetrical increments, the procedure to check the accuracy of the gas divider is simple: connect the zero and calibration gas to the opposite connection and repeat the test. If the gas divider is operating correctly, the gas analyser will show exactly the same readings.

In summary, a gas divider is an extremely useful tool for checking and demonstrating the performance of gas analysers; minimising costs, simplifying procedures, and avoiding a forest of expensive gas bottles.

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News @EUClimateAction #PAuto #Calibration

Monitoring scrubbers!

Environmentally harmful, corrosive or toxic gases are used in a large number of industrial processes. To protect people and the environment, the treatment of these gases is subject to strict regulations, in particular which purification criteria a gas scrubber must achieve.

Ensuring the complete conversion of toxic components while using scrubbing liquid efficiently is often a challenge for process engineers. The effectiveness of a gas scrubber depends on the exact dosage of the scrubbing liquid (for example: caustic soda).

To enable an exact determination of the concentration of the scrubbing liquid and the salts, two physical measurands have to be combined. Conventional measuring methods often map only one measurand and neglect the influence of the resulting salts. In addition, in many cases the process is monitored in a very time-consuming manner by sampling and titration.

The LiquiSonic® process measuring system analyzes from Sensotech both concentrations, that of the washing liquid and that of the salt, in real time. This allows exact dosing and adjustment of the washing liquid. The washing process thus becomes much more efficient and safer. Thanks to the explosion-proof inline measuring system, no intervention in the process is necessary. The exact concentration of the scrubbing liquid and the salt content are available at all times. Critical situations in which toxic and environmentally harmful gases could escape can be detected at an early stage by LiquiSonic® and countermeasures can be initiated in good time.

The maintenance-free measuring devices from SensoTech GmbH are very durable and can be easily integrated into the process control system. The automated documentation and various diagnostic tools provide a comprehensive analysis of the process and can be used for further improvements. LiquiSonic® reduces hazards for the environment and employees and ensures efficient, time-saving process analysis.

@PresseBox #SensoTech #PAuto 

Enhanced Greenhouse Gas monitoring.

Increasing political action on Climate Change is prompting a new requirement for process operators to improve the accuracy and reliability of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring. To meet this requirement, Stephane Canadas of the Signal Group is urging the operators of combustion equipment, such as boilers and incinerators, to employ reference method analysers in either the measurement of GHGs or for the calibration of installed continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) for carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O).

Background 
GHGs absorb and emit some of the energy radiated from Earth's surface. This absorption of energy results in global warming; so, increases in the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere enhance this process. CO₂ is the best known GHG but others include methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases such as CFCs. GHGs differ in both their ability to absorb energy and how long they stay in the atmosphere. As a consequence, methane has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 28–36 times larger than CO₂, N₂O has a GWP 265–298 times that of CO2, and many fluorinated compounds have GWPs that can be in the thousands or tens of thousands.

The term ‘carbon emissions’, is generally employed as a term that covers all GHG emissions. This is because different gases have different Global Warming Potential (GWP), which is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of CO₂.

Building on the Kyoto protocol of 1997, the Paris Agreement in 2015 was the first legally binding global climate change commitment. It aimed to limit global warming increases to well below 2 degrees, and included a requirement to submit GHG reduction plans every five years.

Amid increasing concern about the effects of Climate Change, governments around the world have been implementing further commitments to reduce GHG emissions. In Britain for example, the government announced a plan to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 (against 1990 levels), and President Biden has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by the year 2030. These pledges come in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) which is scheduled to take place in Glasgow in November 2021.

In the EU, Directive 2003/87/EC establishes a scheme for GHG emission allowance trading within the Community. Under this scheme operators will be required to monitor CO2 emissions from all types of combustion processes, including: boilers, burners, turbines, heaters, furnaces, incinerators, calciners, kilns, ovens, dryers, engines, fuel cells, chemical looping combustion units, flares, thermal or catalytic post-combustion units, and scrubbers (process emissions) and any other equipment or machinery that uses fuel, except that which is used for transportation purposes.

Monitoring requirements
Monitoring is of course an essential component of GHG emission allowance trading schemes. From a pollution control perspective, in the past, it has not been necessary for the operators of most regulated industrial processes to monitor GHG emissions. However, if governments are to be able to measure and improve GHG emissions, it is clear that monitoring will be necessary. Evidence of moves in this direction is provided by communications from the Environment Agency in England urging the operators of Energy from Waste (EfW) plants to calibrate their CEMS for flow rate, CO₂ and N₂O. This will involve meeting the requirements of EN 14181, which includes carrying out a QAL 2 exercise, implementing QAL 3 measures and carrying out Annual Surveillance Tests (ASTs) thereafter. Calibration of the CEMS will require the monitoring contractor to assume a virtual Emission Limit Value (ELV) for each pollutant. For CO₂ a virtual ELV of 10% will be suitable with a 95% confidence interval of 10%. For N₂O this will be a virtual ELV of 20 mg/m3 and a 95% confidence internal of 20%.

For some operators, their installed CEMS will already have GHG monitoring capability – analysers employing FTIR, for example, are able to monitor CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O. FTIR is stated to be the second preference according to EN TS 17405 for CO2 and EN ISO 21258 for N2O. For the measurement of CO₂ and N₂O, Non Dispersive Infra-Red (NDIR) is the standard reference method (SRM).

Calibration
CEMS can be calibrated with standard gases, but the best way to reduce uncertainty in GHG measurements is to run an NDIR analyser in the measurement of the actual sample gas. Alternatively, an NDIR analyser could be installed to provide continuous GHG measurements; thereby employing the SRM.

NDIR analysers utilise a spectrophotometer with specificity for individual gases. Signal Group for example, manufactures NDIR analysers with a dual parameter capability for CO₂ and N₂O in one enclosure. This analyser has individual gas sample cells that have a measuring range (cell length) designed specifically for the measured gas and range. NDIR analysers with Gas Filter Correlation, such as the Signal ‘Pulsar’ range, provide extremely high levels of specificity to the gas being measured, because they use the target gas as an optical filter. Consequently, all of the wavelength in the IR spectrum that this gas absorbs will be removed from the spectrum, leaving a perfect reference with which to compare the sample absorption. As a result, there can be no cross-interference from other gases in the sample – such as H₂O for example.

Obviously condensation inside any analyser is to be avoided, but freedom from H₂O interference in the measurement method, is of particular importance, and means that the Signal Pulsar can operate with any non-condensing sample.

Conveniently, the latest development in the Pulsar analyser range is a built-in IP address, which means that users can connect with their analysers at any time from anywhere. Alternatively, if the data needs to be available to on-site personnel, the Signal analysers now have a detachable tablet which can connect with the analyser using its built-in WiFi. This means that whilst the analyser may be located in an inconvenient location, the user can connect with it from the comfort and safety of somewhere nearby.

In summary, as the world increasingly seeks to implement measures to fight climate change, the requirement for accurate GHG emissions monitoring will increase as organisations seek to lower their carbon footprint and comply with the inevitable regulatory requirements.

@GasAnalysers @COP26 @_Enviro_News #AirQuality #Environment #Climate