Video: Rapidox 1100Z

Video transcript

A compact oxygen analyser for processes that must stay inert. What it measures, how it samples the gas, and how it can control the atmosphere by itself. In a glove box, a heat treatment furnace, or a tank blanketed with nitrogen, oxygen is the contaminant. A little too much oxidizes the parts, spoils the product, or makes the atmosphere unsafe. It has to be measured continuously,

and ideally the measurement should correct the atmosphere itself. It uses a zirconia sensor, a common choice for fast and accurate analysis at low parts per million, suited to inert and aggressive atmospheres. The range runs from one part per million to 30%, with an accuracy of 1% of the real concentration, 90% of the response in about 4 seconds, and a sensor life above 17,500 hours. On the front, a four-line OLED display, the keypad for the menus, the gas inlet and outlet on the front version, and the power switch.

Warm-up takes 1-2 minutes. the back, the terminal strip with the programmable analog outputs and the two alarm relays, the serial port, the mains inlet that accepts 90 to 260 volts, and the cooling fan. On the rear connection version, the gas ports are here too, with the optional ejector. adapts to the installation, on the bench, or in a panel cut out with a bezel. Gas connections on the front or on the rear,

with push-on nipples, or rectus, or swage lock fittings. The bench unit weighs 3.5 kg. analyzer draws its own sample. A variable speed diaphragm pump moves up to 1.2 liters a minute, or a vacuum ejector uses the pressure of the inlet gas instead. The sample can be up to 60 degrees and 1,000 millibar above or below ambient, and an internal pressure correction keeps the reading accurate. Connecting it takes a few minutes.

Run the sample tube from the process through any filters to the gas inlet. Take the outlet to an extractor or a safe vent. Connect the mains, switch on, and let it warm up for 1-2 minutes before trusting the reading. is a closed loop. The sample comes from the process through a filter to the analyzer and leaves to the vent. In the PFC version, the analyzer sends a PID signal of 4 to 20 milliamps to a proportional valve on the nitrogen supply,

so the gas flow follows the oxygen reading with no separate controller. Three variants extend it. PFC drives a proportional valve with a PID current signal. Our SO switches a solenoid valve through a 24-volt remote output, a simpler on and off control. And Z are three samples, three gas streams from separate points, in sequence or at set intervals. On every version, the plant sees the measurement through two programmable analog

outputs, 0 to 10 volts and 4 to 20 milliamps, two programmable alarm relays, and the serial port, RS-232 or RS-485 as an option, with Modbus RTU, or Ethernet. Calibration is simple. It accepts up to five gas compositions chosen by the user, and the zirconia sensor is calibrated against a nitrogen or argon background. A calibration kit and a calibration service are available, and a password keeps the settings from being changed by mistake. The supplied software gives full control of the analyzer from a computer, live graphs of the run, and data logging in a format that opens in Excel.

A thermal printer is available as an accessory for a record on paper. Among the Rapidox oxygen analyzers, the 2100Z covers a wider range, from parts per billion, with auxiliary sensors. The 2100-FGA has a remote sensor in the furnace wall and calculates the dew point of forming gas. The 1100Z is the compact analyzer that samples with its own pump and can close the loop. Typical uses, glove boxes and inert gas blanketing,

metal heat treatment and PCB production, combustion, emissions and chemical processes, and food, medical, and research work. Gas analysis, from Amperis.