New Video Explains Photoacoustic Gas Monitoring

A new Gas Monitoring Video from General Monitors (USA) explains the PA4000 Monitor’s gas detection principle and its application in a wide range of hazardous industrial environments to protect people, equipment, and facilities.

Offering a low maintenance, cost-saving solution in situations where vapour interference or contaminants preclude the use of other measurement techniques, the reliable PA4000 Photoacoustic Gas Monitor provides precise, high-performance gas monitoring. The PA4000 features dependable infrared (IR) sensing technology and is ideal for use in chemical refineries, mining and metals fabrication, agriculture, electric utilities, welding shops, indoor air quality monitoring, and building maintenance.

The PA4000 Gas Monitor is designed with an advanced photoacoustic IR sensor to monitor a variety of gases and vapours including alcohols, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, vinyl fluoride, acetone, butane, ethylene, toluene, and xylene. It is stable and highly selective to the gas of interest and can operate for months with virtually no drift.

The PA4000 Gas Monitor eliminates a common problem with infrared analysers: cross-sensitivity to water vapour. It features a proprietary sensing technique that determines the amount of water vapour in the sample and subtracts it from the gas reading. As a result of this technique, the instrument is able to detect analyses in the ppm range.

The PA4000 Gas Monitor is easy to install, operate, and maintain. Most installations are as simple as mounting the instrument, connecting the sample line, and powering the unit. In its most common configuration the monitor draws gas samples via an internal pump, which enables the device to monitor areas that are hard to reach. The PA4000 can also be used with an external pump. In case of blockage by a dirty end-of-line filter or clogged sample line, the instrument alerts operators by producing a fault.

Like traditional gas sensors, the PA4000 Gas Monitor indicates gas concentrations and alarms. The direct reading display shows the actual gas value as well as any current alarms and diagnostic messages. The gas monitor is factory pre-calibrated so that it arrives ready to detect a specific gas at a desired range.

The PA4000 Gas Monitor operates at 32°F to +122°F (0°C to +50°C) and 0-95% relative humidity, non-condensing. It is designed for continuous unattended use, indoors or outdoors.

The PA4000 Gas Monitor can be configured to monitor from up to eight remote areas, with standard features including a vacuum fluorescent display, audio alarm, and four relays. The unit can be housed in general purpose, explosion-proof, or rack-mount enclosures. It also offers two analogue signals, 4-20 mA and 0-10 V. The multipoint sequencer option allows expansion of the PA4000 to monitor up to eight locations with the display indicating the monitored location with its corresponding gas concentration.