Gas Analyzers
Gas analyzers are unique pieces of equipment designed to determine the precise composition of a specific gas that has been leaked or released in an environment. Automotive and semiconductor industries use gas analyzers to test exhaust and flue emissions to monitor levels of O2, CO2, CO, CH4, H2S and H2. Although analyzers do not serve as leak testers or leak detectors, they are often employed in conjunction as they alone identify the specific composition of a leak. Identifying the type of gas leaking from equipment is essential to locating and repairing a leak safely. Many industrial, commercial and home appliances use combustible or otherwise hostile gases such as methane in their appliances. It is important to analyze gas leaks to avoid potential hazards as some detection techniques use flame or heated sensors. Although gas analysis was once a slow process, modern equipment often comes with computer software and web-based data acquisition to speed the process and allow for a wider range of comparison.
The most common gas analyzers are infrared and residual gas analyzers. Infrared systems evaluate the absorption of an infrared light that is emitted through an air source. The change in infrared wavelength can be analyzed to determine the constitution of the gas. Residual gas analyzers are rugged mass spectrometers that ionize the molecules in a sample. The ionized particles are separated based on their charge-to-mass ratio which also identifies which gases are present. Residual gas analysis readouts may tell both the type and quantity of a given gas in the sample. Either type of gas analyzer can be configured to identify numerous gases and take multiple samples for more complete analysis.