23 July 2009

Rand Technical Services is proud to announce the launch of the NEO Monitors LaserGas III monitor for oxygen (O2) detection, which is their third generation of LaserGas analysers. This new oxygen analyser is specifically designed for operation in hazardous areas.

The entire instrument is built into compact flameproof enclosures, making it fit for zone 1 and division 1 applications without any purge.

This is according to Ian Fraser, Managing Director of Rand Technical Services, a Tshwane-based company providing specialised industrial solutions throughout Southern Africa.

“This third generation of LaserGas analysers is manufactured by NEO Monitors, a division of Norwegian company Norsk-Elektro Optic (NEO). With a worldwide base of over 2000 installed units, many of which operate in challenging conditions, NEO use their extensive experience in application engineering to remain at the cutting edge of this technology, and to always provide the most advanced solutions available,” says Fraser.

State-of-the-art technology

The NEO Monitors LaserGas solution uses Tuneable Diode Laser Spectroscopy (TDLS) technology. According to Fraser, this is a non-contact optical measurement method employing solid-state laser sources.

“The highly selective laser source scans the single gas absorption line specific to oxygen, thus eliminating cross-interference from other gases. A detector located opposite the laser detects the light absorption caused by the oxygen molecules, after which the gas concentration is calculated.

Transmission changes caused by varying dust load do not interfere with the measurement. Automatic correction for process temperature and pressure variations is included,” Fraser points out.

Compact, low power model

The LaserGas III O2 consists of equally-sized transmitter and receiver units, which are mounted diametrically opposite each other on stacks, ducts or reactors. The laser light will cross the process gas and concentration changes are detected in-situ.

“Compared to our well-proven LaserGas II line of analysers, instrument weight and dimensions have been further reduced; albeit all electronics are now built into flameproof enclosures. The new digital electronic design requires very low power of less than 10 W,” says Fraser.

Fast and reliable

“The LaserGas III O2 sets a new standard for fast and reliable TDL analysis. The laser scans the absorption line in milliseconds. This enables overall instrument response times of less than 100 ms, and critical oxygen concentration changes are detected immediately,” he maintains.

Measurement readings are transmitted through current loop or digital outputs (Ethernet, USB, RS-485) and the Modbus protocol is supported. The LaserGas III O2 is the most reliable gas sensor with all electronics designed according to standard IEC 61508, SIL 2 (safety integrity level).

The Solution of Choice

Fraser points out that focused applications are inertisation control of reactors, tail gas treatment, and flare gas monitoring in the chemical and petrochemical industry; as well as off-gas analysis in incinerators and furnaces, in the minerals and metals industry.

“The LaserGas III O2 is the solution of choice for reliable and fast measurement of oxygen in corrosive, dusty, sooty gas mixtures, and in gas mixtures that contain condensates or tar. Process gases may be measured up to 10 bar pressure and 1500 Degrees Celsius temperature. A spectroscopic temperature measurement utilising the same laser source is available as option. Other gases such as NH3, HCl, HF, H2S, H2O, CO, CO2, CH4, NO, N2O etc. are available through our present LaserGas II product line, but will be continuously added to the third generation of LaserGas analysers,” Fraser concludes.

Ends
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Note to Editors

Rand Technical Services, or RTS, is a specialised, Tshwane-based company offering innovative technologies and solutions to industrial problems.

Run by Managing Director Ian Fraser since its inception in the early 1990’s, the company offers globally-sourced, quality products such as continuous belt weighers without load cells, laser-based gas detection devices for hot or corrosive areas, and electrolysers for hydrogen production.

Product delivery and technical consultation by highly-trained staff is offered throughout Southern Africa to a range of clients in industry sectors such as mining, glass, steel and energy.

Editorial Contacts

Richard Cooper
Marketing manager
Rand Technical Services
012 - 993 9620
info@rtsafrica.co.za
www.rtsafrica.co.za

Kendal Hunt
PR Consultant and Writer
Kendal Hunt Communications
011 – 7045649 or kenh@mweb.co.za