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Thursday, October 4, 2012

#80 - Unique Application – Portable 8 Channel CO analyzer

There is a saying that a person with two watches never knows what time it is. What about someone with 8 watches?
 
A few years ago, we had an inquiry from a major automobile manufacturer for a multi-channel carbon monoxide analyzer. It had to have 8 separate channels of gas analysis and it had to be portable. The 8 channels were to be isolated from each other and have separate displays for each reading. This instrument was essentially 8 analyzers in one. The only common parts were the cabinet and some power supply components.
 
The intended use for this unusual instrument was to monitor 8 separate zones inside an automobile while driving on the test track.
 
 
 
The analyzer was ranged as follows:
Channels 1-6: 0-500 PPM CO
Channels 7-8: 0-2000 PPM CO
 
There was an individual 0-5V recorder output for each channel. The analyzer outputs were to be connected to the customer’s data recorder so that the entire test track results could be uploaded later to a personal computer for data analysis.
 
Each channel had its own sample pump and flow meter. So the instrument actively pulled the samples to itself through a tubing bundle which was extracting from each zone of interest in the automobile.
 
The response time was about 20-30 seconds per 90% of step change. The electrochemical sensors used in this instrument were customer-replaceable.
 
We thought that this analyzer was odd enough that we would likely never build one again. We were wrong. Copies of this analyzer have been purchased several times since by major auto manufacturers around the world.

Addendum Jan 31, 2013 - We just completed another two of these units for another major auto manufacturer - this time for General Motors in the USA. Two further clarifications:
  • The instrument has the Sample In ports located on the front of the cabinet for easy access to the operator. The Vents are located on the back of the cabinet.
  • There are 0-1V recorder output connections for each channel located on the front and the back panels. Again, this is for easy access for the operator.



 
Here are the Specifications :
 
METHOD OF DETECTION:
Customer replaceable electrochemical sensors

RANGES:
Readout 1-6: 0-500 PPM
Readout 7-8: 0-2000 PPM
 
RESOLUTION:
1 PPM in PPM Range
 
ACCURACY AND REPEATABILITY:
Better than 1% of full scale, based on a 0-2000 PPM range
 
DRIFT:
Less than 1% of full scale per day
 
RESPONSE TIME (T-90):
20-30 seconds per 90% of step change
 
AMBIENT TEMP. RANGE:
0-50°C (32° to 122°F)
 
LINEARITY:
Better than 1% of full scale
 
POWER:
12 VDC and rechargeable battery option
 
OUTPUT OPTIONS:
0-5 V
 
 
 
 
For information on these and other gas analyzer systems, give Mike or Dave at Nova a call, or send us an e-mail.
1-800-295-3771
sales at nova-gas dot com
websales at nova-gas dot com
http://www.tenovagroup.com/


Test track photo copyright © 2009 Truss, Bob & Jan of Holland
Bus test track photos Copyright © 2009, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
http://mercedes-benz-blog.blogspot.ca/2009/02/setra-s-411-hd-as-visitor-bus-at.html
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