Process Gas Phase Measurements with FT-IR Solutions

Measurement Made Easy

The need for gas phase measurements covers several industries. It includes characterization and identification of gas streams for industrial hygiene, regulatory emission compliance and quality or process control.

The MB3000-CH90 and MBGAS-3000CH are designed keeping the concerns of the industry requirements in mind and they provide a perfect solution for multi-gas component analysis.

FT-IR Technology for Multi-Component Gas Analysis

Industry Needs

An extensive range of choices are available for gas sensors and analyzers. When implementing an efficient gas analysis solution, the key features to look for are:

• Long-term reliability
• Sensitivity
• Robustness with respect to chemical deactivation or poisoning
• Robustness with respect to interferences and false positives
• Effective diagnostic capability for early alerts

Fourier-Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) gas analyzers incorporate those attributes and are best suited for the analysis of multi-component gases by a single instrument, particularly where interferences can affect the results. Examples of such situations are:

1. Analysis of a specific gas component in the presence of high concentrations of other gases, such as moisture
2. Analysis of samples containing several gases which would induce cross-sensitivity

The gas molecules that are routinely measured by FT-IR are silane compounds (SixXyRz), inorganic acids, organic compounds (CyRx), amines (NHRx), and much more. It is important to note that noble gases (for example, He, Ne) and homo-nuclear diatomic molecules (for example, H₂, N₂, O₂) do not absorb infrared radiation and cannot be determined with FT-IR analyzers.

Thanks to rigorous manufacturing specifications together with patented interferometer design and signal processing methods, ABB MB Series analyzers display best-in-class analytical performance and are suitable for industrial applications in process or laboratory conditions. The MBGAS-3000CH Process Gas Analyzer and MB3000-CH90 Laboratory Gas Analyzer can measure both high and low concentrations, down to parts per billion in certain cases.

Example of ABB MBGAS-3000CH cali­bration performance for process chemical leak detection. Quantification of metal carbonyl (upper, LOD: 0.6 ppb) in the pres­ence of carbon monoxide (lower, LOD: 0.14 ppm). Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

Dedicated Offering for Laboratory Applications

MB3000-CH90 Laboratory Gas Analyzer

The MB3000-CH90 offers accurate and quick gas measurements in a user-friendly environment. The Horizon software allows the use of personalized or commercial spectral libraries for unknown gas identification and the heatable gas cell can be adjusted for either short or long pathlength applications.

ABB’s specifications and tight manufacturing tolerances for analyzer-to-analyzer matching allow laboratory development of calibrations which are regularly transferred to ABB process instruments.

Typical applications of the MB3000-CH90 laboratory gas analyzer are found in both R&D and QA/QC laboratories, for instance, controlling gas mixing and composition, checking gas purity, or conducting unknown components speciation. The MB3000-CH90 laboratory gas analyzer is also used for quick off-line analysis of grab samples obtained from process or airborne gases.

Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

MB3000-CH90 Laboratory Gas Analyzer

MB3000-CH90 Features

The MB3000-CH90 laboratory gas analyzer is intended to provide a unique combination of robustness, simplicity and sensitivity. A unique and revolutionary interferometer design is at the heart of the instrument. This latest development in interferometer technology is highly modular and compact and is integrated with a patented 24-bit sampling algorithm for optimal dynamic range. The permanently aligned optics with a Jacquinot stop in the interferometer output beam guarantee a stable and accurate line shape as well as wavelength and resolution stability.

Therefore, the MB3000-CH90 laboratory gas analyzer provides an exceptional spectroscopic performance allowing ppb level gas analysis with a standard DTGS detector. Furthermore, the analyzer can be equipped with an optional and hot-swappable liquid nitrogen-cooled MCT detector for applications demanding higher sensitivity or measurement speed.

As the outstanding stability of the double-pivot interferometer principle guarantees reproducible data, the permanently aligned optics do not need re-alignment and the interferometer comes with a lifetime warranty. Moreover, the MB3000-CH90 laboratory gas analyzer is an instrument with minimal cost-of-ownership: no replacement is required for the pre-aligned source module with electronic stabilization for 10 years, and no scheduled maintenance is needed for the diode laser-based metrology module. These exceptional features are combined with an extensive instrument integrated health monitoring program.

Engineers and scientists enjoy the ease of use of the MB3000-CH90 instrument, regardless of whether it is operated in analytical development, QA/QC, R&D, or formulation laboratories. ABB developed the heated gas cell that was specifically optimized to match the instrument optics and offer maximum sensitivity. It is kept in a universal sampling compartment and can be easily exchanged and replaced by other infrared sampling accessories, such as a microscope or an ATR cell. This makes the MB3000-CH90 laboratory gas analyzer an extremely versatile and flexible tool for any laboratory.

By default, the MB3000-CH90 gas analyzer includes the software module Horizon FTIR for spectral acquisitions, display and management. Many optional modules can be included to carry out specific tasks:

• Horizon Library: spectral library search engine
• Horizon Quantify: development of chemometrics models for quantitative applications
• Horizon RX: customizable dashboard interface for real-time chemical reaction monitoring
• Horizon QA: operator interface for routine sample analysis
• Horizon IR Interpretation: automated identification of functional groups in infrared spectra
• Horizon Scripting: creation of custom routines and functions
• Horizon Security: activation of electronic record security features for operations in 21CFR Part11-compliant environment

Horizon QA operator in­terface for routine analysis. Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

Horizon Library spectral search engine. Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

Dedicated Offering for Process Applications

MBGAS-3000CH Process Gas Analyzer

The MBGAS-3000CH process gas analyzer allows real-time monitoring of continuous gas processes for capacity increase. Since the instrument will not drift, end-users can be assured that changes displayed on the control chart are real. The MBGAS-3000CH device reliably offers stable and precise measurements, which allow effective process control for improved quality and increased capacity.

Real-time applications of the MBGAS-3000CH device for process gas monitoring include regulatory emissions control, reaction headspace monitoring, gas contamination monitoring and chemical process optimization. Another important application well suited to FT-IR technology is the real-time detection of harmful vapors in chemical plants and ambient air monitoring. The instrument ensures plant personnel safety by detecting toxic chemicals at low concentration in ambient air. Multiple sampling points —up to 64—can be monitored with a single instrument by interfacing the MBGAS-3000CH with a PLC-controlled sample stream manifold. This strategy offers a cost-effective solution for various applications such as leak detection, vent monitoring, gas scrubber inlet and outlet monitoring, indoor/outdoor air monitoring, confined space air quality and compliance to local safety and environmental requirements.

Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

MBGAS-3000CH Process Gas Analyzer

MBGAS-3000CH Features

The MBGAS-3000CH process gas analyzer is designed to operate continuously for 24/7 without any operator intervention. An all-inclusive health monitoring program runs continuously in the background to make sure that all measurements are accurate at any time. MBGAS-3000CH’s efficient optics offer an excellent signal-to-noise performance so that the detector does not require cooling for extra-sensitivity.

This greatly improves the simplicity and reliability of the FT-IR measurement when compared to the process analyzers that need Stirling-cooled or liquid nitrogen-cooled detectors. Moreover, as all optical components are non-hygroscopic, the need for desiccant is eliminated, maintenance requirements are reduced, and moisture damage is avoided.

The MBGAS-3000CH FT-IR process analyzer provides considerable advantages over alternative technologies for analysis in process gas streams. Measurements are carried out in real-time and multiple gas components can be measured at the same time, without the need for carrier or reference gases. With minimal sample handling system, installation is very simple.

The MBGAS-3000CH instrument is used with the FTSW100 process software exclusively designed by ABB to meet the stringent demands of industrial process environments. FTSW100 provides several communication options for information exchange with plant control systems, thus offering the functionality, and flexibility which are the trademarks of ABB process analyzers.

In comparison with other analytical methods for process gas measurements, the use of the MBGAS-3000CH gas analyzer results in an overall reduction in maintenance cost since test gases and carrier gases are not necessary for analyzer operation. With the addition of a sample manifold, multiple point measurements can be carried out which significantly reduces the analysis cost per sample point. Preventative maintenance is straightforward and is usually needed only every 3 years, eliminating the need for on-site expertise.

Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

ABB MB Series Gas Cell Features

An exclusively designed proprietary gas cell that acquires ABB’s extensive experience with gas monitoring is provided with the MB3000-CH90 and MBGAS-3000CH gas analyzers. Calibrations done on an ABB gas analyzer (laboratory or process) can thus be easily transferred to other ABB analyzers.

The MB Series gas cell has two path length options (only one path length can be chosen and set at the factory),

• 0.36 meter for percent level application
• 3.20 meter for low-level analysis (ppm to ppb)

The cell has a volume of 1 liter and can be heated up to 200 °C. It is mounted horizontally to reduce contamination caused by particles settling on optical components. The cell consists of an aluminum body with highly corrosion-resistant gold-plated mirrors (proprietary coating). The windows are composed of barium fluoride (BaF₂).

ABB MB Series heated gas cell: process version (left) and laboratory version (right). Image Credit: ABB Ltd.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by ABB Measurement & Analytics - Analytical Measurement Products.

For more information on this source, please visit ABB Measurement & Analytics - Analytical Measurement Products.