Gas monitoring capability expanded.

Responding to a growing demand for portable Ashtead Technology has announced a new partnership with Gas Data. The deal will significantly expand the range of applications for which Ashtead is able to offer gas monitors for either purchase or rental.

Josh Thomas, Senior Sales Manager at Ashtead Technology, says: “We’re excited to be kicking off the new year with a new distributor agreement. The portable, ATEX certified Gas Data instruments perfectly complement and expand our range of gas and emissions monitors for applications such as site investigation, risk assessments, landfill gas control, environmental compliance monitoring, and more.”

The new Gas Data portable gas analysers include the GFM 400 series analysers, the Gazoscan and the Inspectra. Combined, these instruments will provide Ashtead’s customers with a complete choice of technologies for the measurement of methane and other gases in applications such as landfill, biogas, contaminated land, petrochem, gas leaks, gas utilities and wastewater.

All of these instruments are able to measure methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas, (around 30 times stronger than CO2), and the subject of urgent global initiatives to lower emissions. Methane is the main component of natural gas and biogas, so it is essential for leaks to be identified and prevented. The Gazoscan employs a laser to identify leaks and sources over long distances, and the Inspectra fulfils a similar function but with a sampling rod and/or wheel for surveying and pinpointing gas leaks.

The GFM 400 series are able to measure a wider range of gases and enable users to choose the instrument that best suits their application. For example, the GFM 406 has an option for hydrogen measurement, which is increasingly being introduced into natural gas supplies. Other options include LEL, O2, CO and H2S; the latter being useful in odour investigations at petrochemical and wastewater plants.

With a fixed configuration measuring and logging CH4, CO2, O2, H2S and CO, the GFM 426 is ideal for landfill applications. The GFM 436 offers similar capability with the additional capacity to analyse VOCs; offering the versatility of use in both landfill and contaminated land applications.

Graham Sanders, Sales Director at Gas Data, says: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ashtead Technology. By combining the knowledge and expertise of our companies we will enable customers worldwide to optimise their operations by accessing market-leading products and solutions for monitoring pollutants and greenhouse gases.” 

@AshteadTech @GasData @_Enviro_News #PAuto #Environment #Rental

Monitoring hazardous gas threats.

In response to customer demand and increased awareness of the threats posed by both indoor and outdoor pollution, Ashtead Technology has added the ‘AreaRAE Steel’ to its fleet of air quality monitors.

“With the ability to either rent or sell instruments, we are often the first point of call when customers have a new or expanded monitoring requirement,” says Ashtead’s Josh Thomas.

“Increasingly, we are being asked for devices with multiparameter capability, so that their use is not restricted to one specific job. As a portable battery-powered monitor with EX certification, the AreaRAE Steel is ideal for indoor, confined space and outdoor applications where users need to be able to start monitoring quickly and simply.” 

The AreaRAE Steel provides measurements for a range of potential threats with a PID sensor for VOCs, an LEL sensor for combustible gases, an oxygen sensor, and two toxic gas sensors for Nitrogen Dioxide (0-20ppm) and Nitric Oxide.

Housed in a rugged, stainless-steel enclosure and capable of running for up to 18 hours on a single charge, the AreaRAE Steel has a built-in logger that can store up to 20,000 readings, which helps staff avoid excessive exposure to potentially hazardous locations. In addition, the instrument is able to issue audible, visual and remote alarms for %LEL (lower explosion limit), TWA (time weighted average) and STEL (short-term exposure limit).

The rental units are fitted with sensors for VOCs, LEL, O2, NO and NO2, but customers wishing to purchase a new AreaRAE Steel are able to select from a wider range of sensors, including Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Sulphide, Sulphur Dioxide, Chlorine, Hydrogen Cyanide, Ammonia, Phosphine, Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrogen Fluoride. It is also possible to purchase a model with a built-in modem to enable remote connectivity for up to 2 miles.

 @AshteadTech #PAuto @_Enviro_News 

New air monitoring technologies.

Three new ambient air quality monitoring instruments have been launched by Air Monitors. “Highly innovative technology is employed within all three monitors,” says Managing Director Jim Mills. “For example, the Spectra-1 from PKL Technologies is a robust, portable open-path TDLAS monitor, capable of monitoring a wide range of target gases remotely. In addition, the Model 211 and the Model 405, both from 2B Technologies, employ USEPA Federal Equivalent Methods for the interference-free measurement of Ozone and NO2 respectively.”

Portable and lightweight, the Spectra-1 can be easily transported from site to site, or left in place as a continuous monitor. The tuneable laser can be set to measure a specific gas from a range of options including HF, CH4, NH3, CO2, CO, HCN, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, H2S and others. Consequently, this instrument is ideal for applications such as landfill, fracking, fenceline monitoring, fugitive emissions, greenhouse gas monitoring and other projects where environmental monitoring is required.

As an open-path monitor, the Spectra-1 measures the total amount of the chosen gas in the path between the laser source and the reflector (ppm-m). This can be converted to ppm by dividing by the path length to derive a path-average concentration. Shorter optical paths may be chosen to determine the distribution of the monitored gas species.

The 2BTech 405 is a direct reading Nitrogen Dioxide analyser. In contrast with chemiluminescence instruments where NO2 must be converted to NO with variable efficiency, the Model 405 measures nitrogen dioxide directly by absorbance at 405 nm. Importantly, this new absolute method requires much less power than traditional techniques and is smaller and lighter too.

Measurement modes include NO2 only; NO only; NO2, NO and NOx with ranges of 0-10,000 ppb for NO2 and 0-2,000 ppb for NO. Resolution is 0.1 ppb and accuracy is 2 ppb or 2% of reading, whichever is greater.

The 2BTech 211 measures ozone with a proven UV absorption method and a patented gas-phase titration technology. In combination, these technologies provide measurements that are virtually free of interferences – a major advantage in situations with high levels of particulates, mercury, or VOCs. The enhanced optical path length of 30 cm provides a precision of better than 0.5 ppb for 10-second measurements, and accuracy is 1.0 ppb or 2% of reading, whichever is greater.

Both of the 2BTech analysers have options for Bluetooth wireless data transmission and battery powered operation, which makes them ideal for both fixed and portable applications.

Summarising Jim Mills says: “Our customers in the UK rely on us to supply, install and service the best equipment available, so we only select proven instruments from leading manufacturers. However, the rapid growth that Air Monitors has achieved in recent years is due in no small part to our ability to match innovation with customer needs, and these three products are good examples of that process.”

@airmonitors #Pauto #Environment

Slovenian distributor!

Edinburgh Sensors  have signed up a new distributor in Slovenia.

Echo Instruments will now represent Edinburgh Sensors in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Macedonia.

Edinburgh manufacture a range of robust OEM Gas Sensors and Gas Monitors enabling fast, reliable and continuous gas detection. With a global reputation for high performance. These products are an ideal solution for those applications where accuracy, safety and reliability are paramount

They look forward to working together with Echo Instruments as experts in the industry and offer invaluable service to our customers.

@Edinst #PAuto #EchoInstruments

Water quality sensors and monitors.

The OTT Hydromet Group has announced a new distribution strategy for the Sea-Bird Coastal product range of water quality sensors and monitors. “These instruments fit very well with our range of water monitoring technologies,” says OTT’s European Sales Manager Marcus Meckelmann. “We also share similar customer bases, so the key Sea-Bird Coastal products will be available exclusively through OTT’s European subsidiaries and official distributors.”

The Sea-Bird products covered by this arrangement include the HydroCycle PO4 (formerly Cycle-P) phosphate analyser, the SUNA V2 nitrate sensor, the LOBO turn-key water quality monitoring system, the WQM and WQM-X water quality meters, the HydroCAT long-term deployment water quality sondes and the Hydro-pH deep water (350m) pH sensor.

In addition to the Sea-Bird products, the OTT Hydromet Group also includes leading global brands such as Adcon Telemetry, Hydrolab, Lufft, OTT and Sutron. “Our main focus is the provision of leading-edge, accurate, reliable instrumentation and telemetry systems that deliver vital data for those responsible for monitoring and managing water resources and the impacts of weather,” adds Marcus Meckelmann. “Nutrients represent a major threat to global water resources, so we are particularly excited by the opportunities presented by Sea-Bird’s low power nitrate and phosphate monitoring technologies.”

@OTTHydrometry #PAuto

A range of open frame and chassis LCD monitors

All-in-one monitors simplify system integration

Ginsbury have announced the introduction of a new range of open frame and chassis LCD monitors. Ginsbury's open frame LCD monitors have been designed for simple and easy system integration, negating the need to source individual display and peripheral components. All of Ginsbury's open frame monitors are mounted on durable metal frames incorporating the LCD panel, an analogue to digital interface board, a backlight driver and any associated cables and connectors. Construction includes a main chassis with an EMI cover plate and VESA compliant mounting holes.

Paul Constable, Product Manager, Ginsbury said, "Ginsbury's open frame and chassis monitors provide robust and well integrated subassemblies for use where high performance display systems are required."

Ginsbury's Chassis LCD monitors are fitted with an integrated front bezel but are otherwise of similar construction to their Open Frame counterparts.

Touchscreen integration is supported with options for projected or surface capacitive, 4 or 5-wire resistive, surface acoustic wave (SAW) and infra red (IR). The integrated touchscreen controller supports either a USB or RS232 serial interface. Digital and analogue video inputs are supported.

Available sizes!

The Ginsbury open frame and chassis LCD monitors are ideally suited for use in applications such as public information terminals, industrial process equipment, ticketing and vending machines, gaming, digital signage and are available immediately.

Environmental monitor family!

Wireless Sensors has introduced its Rack Sentry family of environmental monitors. 

This all new family from Wireless Sensors, expands the SensiNet product line with features developed specifically for the needs of Data Center operations and includes multi-point nodes for determination of rack temperature gradients. These new designs allow for granular measurements within racks, under floor grates, in return plenums and other strategic locations without the complexity of wiring. The ease of installation and reliability of the field proven SensiNet wireless network allows users to quickly deploy sensors with minimal IT footprint and no security exposure. The SensiNet wireless strategy also allows rapid redeployment to explore hot spots and qualify adds, moves and changes and is especially useful in determining compliance with ASHRAE TC9.9 2011 Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments.

The Rack Sentry line consists of 3 new sensor configurations for measurement of temperature and humidity and complements the range of SensiNet products with existing capability for AC and DC current, DC voltage, contact closures and 4-20mA inputs from third party sensor systems. The SensiNet system also includes a powerful gateway providing a rich suite of communication protocols such as Modbus TCP, OPC, SNMP and ODBC for integration with legacy systems or the system can be operated stand-alone with access to its on board database available through a standard browser. The system will also post data to any URL selected by the user in .CSV format compatible with Excel and other programs.

The products employ a custom designed housing and mounting system to ease installation with the flexibility to mix and match sensors to suit any need. The new designs include the TEHU-2120 integrated temperature transmitter, the TEHU-2121 Integral Temperature and Humidity Transmitter,  and the TEHU 2123 Tethered Temperature Transmitter featuring 3 sensors for rack level gradient measurements.

We are delighted to introduce this all new family of products whose design is based on years of experience and customer feedback" says Paul Richards, Wireless Sensors' CEO. "Our customers told us they needed flexible systems, easy to own, deploy and operate in order to optimize operations, prevent downtime, plan for capacity expansions and validate compliance with the latest ASHRAE guidelines. SensiNet was the perfect platform to build upon and the Rack Sentry line continues our commitment to supply cutting edge products for critical environmental monitoring".

TFT display module

LED backlight provides user brightness control

Hitachi Europe, Display Products Group (DPG) has announced the introduction of a new compact 8.0" wide aspect ratio TFT display module. The new TX20D28VM2BAB has a display resolution of 800 x 480 pixels (WVGA), an integrated LVDS data interface and delivers excellent optical performance.

The new transmissive display continues Hitachi’s integration of robust high brightness LED backlights in medium size TFT display modules. The white LED backlight helps to provide excellent image uniformity and delivers a brightness of 550nits with a half brightness lifetime of 40K hours. A contrast ratio of 600:1 ensures display images are clear and bright.

Ideal for applications in high brightness environments where the lifetime of the backlight is not a critical requirement, the user has direct access to the LED backlight driving circuit. By driving the LEDs with a current of 20mA, a higher brightness of 900nits can be achieved. This will however reduce the half brightness lifetime of the backlight to typically 20K hours.

Commenting Mark Stephenson, Product Manager for Hitachi Display Products Group said “Excellent image uniformity and high colour saturation make the new TX20D28 display module ideal for applications such as in industrial user interfaces, domotics, marine navigation and media entertainment systems” He continued, “The 15:9 wide aspect ratio format of the TX20D28 is increasingly popular, allowing graphical user interfaces to be designed for many different application environments while the LVDS interface aids ease of integration with single board computers.”

The TX20D28VM2BAB display module features compact dimensions of 189mm (w) x 120mm (h) x 7.5mm (d) and weighs 170g. A 20-pin LVDS data interface supports a colour palette of up to 262k colours. The display module will operate safely and reliably at temperatures between -20°C and +70°C.

Reliable protection for motors and plant components

Monitoring relays with IO-Link interface

The Siemens Industry Automation Division has equipped its complete range of monitoring relays with the IO-Link interface. The relays protect motors and plant components reliably by monitoring parameters such as temperature, speed, network quality, current and voltage. The relays communicate with the control level via IO-Link to transfer, for example, measured values and messages. The Sirius 3UG48 monitoring relays for electrical and mechanical measurements monitor the observance of parameterizable limits for speed, network quality, current, power factor (cos phi) or voltage. The Sirius 3RS14 and 3RS15 temperature monitoring relays have between one and three resistance sensors or thermocouples for controlling temperatures from -99 to +1,800 degrees Celsius, and can also be used for simple control tasks . The new monitoring relays can also fulfill their monitoring tasks reliably without an IO-Link connection to a controller.

Connecting the new Sirius relay via an IO-Link to the control level facilitates efficient, central parameter assignment as well as detailed fault localization and diagnostics. This simplifies commissioning and maintenance. The devices have several LEDs and a display for showing actual values and can be used directly in the control cabinet for diagnostic purposes. The values are also displayed in the central control system via the IO-Link for simple further processing. The new Sirius relays are parameterized either directly at the device or from the central control system via the IO-Link. Data synchronization with the higher-level control system ensures that the system documentation is up-to-date at all times. New parameters are automatically assigned by a parameter server, which makes it considerably easier to replace any devices. For efficient energy management, the Sirius relays 3UG48 also support the data formats defined in the Profienergy profile.

IO-Link is a communication standard for uniformly linking sensors and switching devices to the control level by means of a cost-effective, point-to-point connection. IO-Link facilitates central fault localization and diagnostics down to sensor/actuator level, and simplifies commissioning and maintenance, because parameter data can be dynamically changed directly from the application. This helps to increase plant availability and lower engineering expenditure. As an open interface, IO-Link can be integrated into all conventional fieldbus and automation systems.