METTLER TOLEDO releases white paper on how hydrogen affects oxygen analyzers

In safety critical applications where oxygen is being measured, oxygen analyzer reliability is vital. The advantages of tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzers are leading to their increased use in the chemical industry; however, the accuracy of some TDL systems is influenced by hydrogen in the gas, while others are not affected. In a new white paper, METTLER TOLEDO explains which is which.

Tunable diode laser (TDL) oxygen gas analyzers are growing in acceptance across the chemical and petrochemical industries. Their low maintenance demand, absence of sample extraction and conditioning requirements, tolerance to dust and moisture, and in situ measurement make them highly attractive in many applications.

There are two commonly used signal processing techniques employed in oxygen TDL analyzers: wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) and direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS). Both, unlike alternative gas measurement technologies, are immune to cross-interference effects caused by other gases in the process – except if large quantities of hydrogen are present. In these situations, TDL analyzers that use WMS will often report incorrect oxygen levels, whereas analyzers using DAS are unaffected by the presence of hydrogen. This is because WMS systems have to rely on compensation algorithms, which include assumptions such as a non-varying hydrogen concentration, which is usually not the case. This distinction is important where the analyzer is being used in safety critical applications, as erroneously low oxygen readings are associated with an increased risk of explosions.

In a new white paper, "The Influence of Hydrogen on the Performance of TDL Analyzers", METTLER TOLEDO explains why TDL oxygen analyzers with WMS are susceptible to hydrogen and why those with DAS are not.

According to the paper's author, Jean-Nic Adami, Head of Gas Process Analytics at METTLER TOLEDO, "In oxygen measurement applications where safety is paramount, you must be certain of the oxygen level in the process. DAS-based TDL sensors give you that assurance."

The white paper is available at http://www.mt.com/o2-gas?crel=ePR_PP_EN

METTLER TOLEDO's Process Analytics division develops and manufactures instrumentation and sensors used for process measurement and control, offering measurements of pH, dissolved and gaseous oxygen, dissolved ozone, turbidity, oxygen reduction potential, resistivity/conductivity, total organic carbon and flow. METTLER TOLEDO Process Analytics consists of two business units, Ingold and Thornton, whose products are commonly used in industries such as:

• Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
• Chemical process and refining industries
• Brewing, food and beverage production
• Power and steam generation plants
• Microelectronics manufacturing

Contact details:
Mettler-Toledo International Inc.
Im Langacher, Zip Code 8606
Greifensee, Switzerland
E-Mail : ePublicRelations@mt.com
Phone : +41-44-9443385
Website : www.mt.com

METTLER TOLEDO specializes in the area of precision instruments for professional use. METTLER TOLEDO laboratory instruments are used in research, scientific, drug discovery, and quality control labs, amongst many others in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetics industries. METTLER TOLEDO comprehensive industrial solutions cover the various steps in a host of manufacturing processes at many of the same customers that laboratory serves. Solutions range from receiving raw materials through various manufacturing processes, in-line process control and end-of-line packaging control, to logistics and shipping. Increasingly, these solutions are fully integrated into the customer's IT environment, helping automate their workflows. In food retail, our offering for fresh food management ranges from receiving and pre-packaging, to in-store solutions for self-service departments, deli counters, and checkout terminals.

Mettler-Toledo International Inc.
Im Langacher, Zip Code 8606
Greifensee, Switzerland
E-Mail : ePublicRelations@mt.com
Phone : +41-44-9443385
Website : www.mt.com

This release was published on openPR.