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Never run out of gas again with the Agilent Low Gas Alarm System
By Tom Logan
Agilent Product Manager
Many applications today require compressed gases such as helium, nitrogen or hydrogen. These gases are often delivered in gas cylinders because they are convenient, easily transported, and can be readily purchased from gas suppliers when needed.
While gas cylinders represent a simple way to deliver compressed gas to analytical equipment such as gas chromatographs, they can have a downside.
One especially aggravating problem is the propensity for a gas cylinder to empty at an inopportune time, such as at night or over the weekend. Because many applications use very little gas relative to the size of the cylinder, it’s easy for a user to stop paying attention to the amount of gas remaining. This can be a serious problem because a low or empty cylinder can cause downtime or damage to the equipment that’s dependent upon the gas. In gas chromatography, an empty gas cylinder can result in:
- Damage to the column, inlet or liner
- Loss of sample preparation time and valuable sample
- Contamination of inlet or source in a mass spectrometer
Cost-effective sensor sends an alert when gas is low
Because it is easy to forget to check the gauge on a gas cylinder, labs need an easy, cost-effective way to automatically keep track of compressed gas levels. The patented Agilent Low Gas Alarm System serves that need. It is a safe, simple, reliable, and economical tool that visually and audibly alerts the operator when a gas cylinder’s pressure reaches a user-defined level. The system attaches to most standard 2.0 or 2.5 inch regulator gauges and senses when the needle reaches the alarm set-point, automatically notifying you that it’s time to replace your cylinder.
Multiple configurations designed to meet differing needs
The Low Gas Alarm System comes in a choice of two configurations: stand-alone and wireless. Both mount directly on most standard 2.0 and 2.5 inch regulator gauges. The stand-alone model is a simple way to monitor a single gas cylinder while the wireless system uses cutting-edge technology to monitor up to 12 tanks remotely, ensuring that even out-of-sight tanks are constantly watched.
The stand-alone model is an economical solution that’s easy to install, use and maintain:
- Attaches to the existing regulator gauge and senses when the needle reaches a low pressure position pre-set by the user
- Alerts user audibly and visually when pre-set position is reached
- Non-invasive, works outside the gas flow path so is never a source of leaks or contamination
- Class 1 Div.2 certified, for use in environments with explosive gases
- Uses a low-voltage, low-current battery
The wireless model offers all of the features of the stand-alone model, plus it:
- Monitors out of sight or remote cylinders
- Uses low-power ZigBee wireless technology to communicate status remotely to a Laboratory Network Controller (LNC)
- Alerts user with audible and visual indicators on the LNC and/or with pop-up software on a PC
- Displays individual status of up to 12 units in the software display, thanks to a unique identifier for each unit
- Uses the LNC as a relay to boost signal and extend range
Make the most of your time
Because you set the point at which the Low Gas Alarm System alerts you, you not only eliminate unpleasant gas-related surprises, you also minimize downtime and loss of valuable sample. The ability to customize alerts also means you can wait to switch canisters at the end of runs, increasing productivity and ROI.
Best of all, the Low Gas Alarm System helps to prevent bottom of the cylinder grime from contaminating your column, liner and instrument, so that you minimize repairs and extend the life of your gas purification system.
Learn more about the many benefits of the Low Gas Alarm System on our product page, or view the demonstration video to see how easily you can install and operate the system.
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