Brimrose NIR Analyzer

A new series of miniature near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers is said to offer a cost-effective tool for inspecting incoming raw materials and product quality control. Compact, battery-powered Model 5030 ATOF-NIR Portable Analyzer from Brimrose Corp. of America, Baltimore, allows laboratory tests to be performed anywhere in a plant environment. The instrument, which sells for $28,000 (compared with $40,000 for larger units), is reportedly insensitive to ambient light, vibration, dust, and dirt. Its design allows for quick switchover from solids to liquids, and results appear instantly on its LCD. Applications include material identification or measurement of moisture content and active-ingredient levels. Once the instrument is calibrated, it reportedly can be used by an inexperienced operator.

Selecting a protocol analyzer

Consultants have used a protocol analyzer or "sniffer" to help identify the source of problems on our network. I have been thinking about adding a tool like this to our collection but wasn't sure which one to use?
-- via the Internet

Choosing a protocol analyzer is not something that you should jump right into. There are several good candidates out there. The three most popular ones that I know of are Sniffer from Sniffer Technologies (www.sniffer.com aka Network Associates), Etherpeek from www.wildpackets.com and Ethereal from www.ethereal.com. I used to recommend a fourth candidate from Novell but they seem to have stopped supporting their software based analyzer. I haven't seen any new protocol decodes released for several years.

The cost of these ranges from free (in the case of Ethereal) to more than $10,000 for a fully equipped Sniffer package from Network Associates. I encourage you to get an eval copy of the above mentioned sniffers and run them through their paces. Etherpeek and Ethereal can be downloaded while Sniffer will require you to fill out a form and someone will call you in a couple of days to follow up.

Economical Ammonia Analyzer

* High Precision
* High Sensitivity
* Simple to Use
* Extremely Wide Dynamic Range
* Economical of Own and Operate

LGR’s Economical Ammonia Analyzer (EAA) provides sensitive measurements of ammonia in ambient air or in industrial process flows with extremely high precision and sensitivity. No longer do you have to spend a lot of money or wait a long time to measure ammonia with high sensitivity – LGR’s EAA provides measurements every second with ppbv-level precision. In addition, the EAA can report measurements quickly over a very wide range of ammonia concentrations. The instrument, based on LGR’s cavity enhanced laser absorption spectroscopy, is simple to use, inexpensive to operate, and includes all components (internal vacuum pump, keyboard,mouse, video monitor) to start recording data within minutes. Other atmospheric gases, including water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane, do not interfere with the ammonia measurements. The instrument includes an internal computer that can store data practically indefinitely on its internal hard drive (for unattended long-term operation), and that can send real-time data to a data logger through its analog and digital (RS232 serial) outputs. In addition, an Ethernet connection allows remote access to data files stored on the instrument’s hard drive. LGR’s EAA provides the high quality data necessary for the most demanding applications including semiconductor process monitoring and atmospheric trace gas monitoring. For customers interested in the highest precision with extremely fast response time, LGR offers the Trace Ammonia Analyzer.

Deep-Sea Gas Analyzers

The Deep-Sea Gas Analyzer provides an accurate measurement of a variety of gases at depths of up to 2500 meters. The instrument employs a membrane gas extractor and is capable of measuring virtually any gas in LGR’s catalog, including CH4, CO2, and various stable isotopomers. Self-sustained, remote operation is possible using the internal battery, gas handling system, and data storage. Possible applications include carbon sequestration in ocean waters, methane-hydrate studies, and hydrothermal-vent effluent analysis.
As described in the Theory Section (on www.lgrinc.com), the measurement strategy is based on high-resolution direct-absorption spectroscopy. As a result, the instrument is self-calibrating and provides an absolute, accurate gas concentration without reference standards. An internal computer can store data practically indefinitely for applications requiring unattended long-term standalone operation. These analyzers can also send real-time data to a data logger through analog, digital (RS232), and Ethernet outputs.

CO2 Isotope Analyzer

* Measures 13C/12C in carbon dioxide
* Extremely wide measurement range
* Low power requirement (120 W with internal pump)
* Easy to use

The CO2 Isotope Analyzer is an autonomous instrument capable of measuring the 13C/12C ratio in ambient carbon dioxide with better than 0.25‰ repeatability (for an integration time of 60 seconds) and without the need for costly consumables. This is possible because the instrument itself is built around conventional telecommunications-grade diode lasers that operate in the near-infrared spectral region. In addition, since the measurement strategy is based on high-resolution direct-absorption spectroscopy (see www.LGRinc.com, Theory Section), the instrument is not affected by other atmospheric gases or by changes in ambient atmospheric pressure. Thus the need for regular calibration with expensive reference gases is also significantly reduced compared with traditional analytical instruments.
The instrument includes an internal computer that can store data practically indefinitely on its hard drive (for applications requiring unattended long-term standalone operation), and send real-time data to a data logger through its analog, digital (RS232), and Ethernet outputs.

Methane Isotope Analyzer

* Field deployable
* Easy to use
* Unsurpassed precision
* Low power

Due to its rugged, field-portable packaging, the Methane Isotope Analyzer is ideally suited for studies of methanogenic bacteria, methane hydrates, hydrothermal vent effluents, and other applications involving isotropic ratios in elevated levels of methane (>500 ppmv). The Analyzer provides parts per mil accuracy when measuring the carbon isotope ratio (13C/12C) of methane with precision better than 1‰ and a rapid response time (2 seconds). Because it does not require any sample preparation or user-intervention, this instrument also enables long-term methane isotope monitoring studies.
Based on high-resolution direct absorption spectroscopy, (for Theory go to lgrinc.com), the Methane Isotope Analyzer is self-calibrating and provides an absolute, accurate measurement of 13C/12C in methane without the need for expensive reference gases.
The instrument includes an internal computer that can store data practically indefinitely on its internal hard drive (for applications requiring unattended long-term operation) and send real-time data to a data logger through its analog and digital (RS232) outputs. In addition, an Ethernet connection allows remote access to data files stored on the instrument’s hard drive.

Fast Methane Analyzer

These instruments are designed to work in ambient air and to deliver accurate results at rapid response rates. If you require the fastest response rate possible (data rate up to 20 Hz), you will want to use our Fast Methane Analyzer. For applications requiring measurements of CH4 and CO2, both our Fast Greenhouse Gas Analyzer and our Methane/Carbon Dioxide Analyzer measure both gases simultaneously. In general, LGR Analyzers are not adversely affected by other atmospheric gases (no cross interferences) or changes in ambient atmospheric pressure (no pressure broadening effects). Due to our low-power requirements, LGR analyzers may be operated on DC battery power, with an appropriate voltage inverter, and still maintain their inherent accuracy.

The Fast Methane Analyzer is designed to suit many applications including eddy correlation flux measurements using established micrometeorological techniques, chamber flux measurements, and leak detection from natural gas pipelines.

As described in the Theory Section, the measurement strategy is based on high-resolution direct-absorption spectroscopy. As a result, the instrument is effectively self-calibrating. (Under extreme conditions—such as following shipment—you may wish to recalibrate the instrument. There is a Calibration mode available for this on each instrument.) Each LGR instrument includes an internal computer that can store data practically indefinitely on its internal hard drive (for applications requiring unattended operation), and send real-time data to a data logger through its analog and digital (RS232) outputs. In addition, an Ethernet connection allows remote access to data files stored on the instrument’s hard drive.

Trace Ammonia Analyzer

* Unparalleled Precision
* Ultra-high Sensitivity
* Extremely Fast Response

LGR’s Trace Ammonia Analyzer (TAA) provides fast measurements of ammonia in ambient air with unparalleled precision and sensitivity. No longer do you have to wait for minutes before getting a useful reading – LGR’s TAA provides measurements every second with sub-ppbv precision. In addition, the TAA can report measurements quickly over a wide range of ammonia concentrations. For your convenience, we offer two versions of the TAA. If you require the fastest response rate possible (data rate up to 20 Hz), you will want to use our Trace Ammonia Analyzer - Fast. For applications requiring measurements of NH3 with highest accuracy, you’ll want the Trace Ammonia Analyzer – High Accuracy. In general, LGR Analyzers are not adversely affected by other atmospheric gases (no cross interferences) or changes in atmospheric pressure. Due to our low-power requirements, LGR analyzers may be operated on battery power with an appropriate AC/DC voltage inverter.

The Trace Ammonia Analyzer - Fast is designed to suit many applications including eddy correlation flux measurements using established micrometeorological techniques, which require response rates above 10 Hz.

The Trace Ammonia Analyzer – High Accuracy is designed for applications that require the highest sensitivity, precision and accuracy like semiconductor process monitoring and ambient air monitoring.

For customers interested in a less expensive ammonia analyzer with very high precision and fast response time, LGR offers the Economical Ammonia Analyzer.

Gas Analyzer

The Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) is a scientific instrument aboard the Phoenix spacecraft. TEGA's design is based on experience gained from the failed Mars Polar Lander. Soil samples taken from the Martian surface by the robot arm are eventually delivered to the TEGA, where they are heated in an oven to about 1,000ºC. This heat causes the volatile compounds to be given off as gases which are sent to a mass spectrometer for analysis. This spectrometer is adjusted to measure particularly the isotope ratios for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and heavier gases. Detection values as low as 10 parts per billion. The Phoenix TEGA has 8 ovens, which are enough for 8 samples.

A residual gas analyzer (RGA) is a small and usually rugged mass spectrometer, typically designed for process control and contamination monitoring in the semiconductor industry. Utilizing quadrupole technology, there exists two implementations, utilizing either an open ion source (OIS) or a closed ion source (CIS). RGAs may be found in high vacuum applications such as research chambers, surface science setups, accelerators, scanning microscopes, etc. RGAs are used in most cases to monitor the quality of the vacuum and easily detect minute traces of impurities in the low-pressure gas environment. These impurities can be measured down to 10 − 14 Torr levels, possessing sub-ppm detectability in the absence of background interferences.

RGAs would also be used as sensitive in-situ, helium leak detectors. With vacuum systems pumped down to lower than 10 - 5Torr—checking of the integrity of the vacuum seals and the quality of the vacuum—air leaks, virtual leaks and other contaminants at low levels may be detected before a process is initiated.