Data-Logging Gas Analysers Deliver Results

Japanese researchers shipped fresh fruit packed in CO2 with a gas analyser to check CO2 concentrations during the three-to-four days taken to reach Taiwan. The on-board data logger in the analyser captured CO2 concentration data and confirmed suitably high gas levels in each sample throughout the duration of the analysis.

The researchers, Dr. Yutaka Ishikawa and Dr. Hiroaki Kitazawa at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation at Tsukuba, Japan, packed fresh fruit in a high CO2 environment. They set the analyser, a Geotech (UK) GA2000, to take samples at pre-set timings during shipping and repeated the process on each run. From that they obtained securely logged data of each accurately analysed gas sample.

The Geotech GA2000 gas analyser operated fully independently and remotely. With no external power source or data communications it used its own power supply, analysed each sample and stored the results in its data log. For the researchers it was important to have this reliable equipment which operated as set up and captured the vitally important details of CO2 levels during shipping.

Data logging is often used in research/pilot plant studies, universities and research institutes. It enables continuous timed monitoring of mixed-gas output for regular readings and data storage over several days especially over a weekend or holiday as researchers do not need to be present. Once logged, the data can be downloaded to PC when convenient. Data logging is such a valued function that most Geotech portable gas analysers provide this capability, not least the newly available Geotech GA5000 portable gas analyser. It supersedes the GA2000 and is purpose-built for landfill gas and analysis and other gas monitoring applications that include contaminated land, remediation and waste-to-energy projects. The Geotech BIOGAS 5000 developed for anaerobic digester biogas analysis also includes data logging.

The user-configurable data logging or profiling functionality on the BIOGAS 5000 can store up to 500 readings, while the GA5000 can store up to 4000 readings against predetermined intervals for a set period of time analysing up to six gases simultaneously.

The medical gas data logging functionality on the G200 analyser can store up to 1000 readings at pre-set intervals. The G100 CO2 incubator gas analyser allows for data logging of up to 1000 reading sets. Each instrument has its own internal rechargeable battery pack suitable for data logging.

As recently reported in Lab Asia a dental engineer rapidly detected a leak in sedation equipment at a dental surgery in Dover (UK) when sent to investigate N2O problems after staff complaints about gas effects. Using a Geotech (UK) G200 N2O analyser, the engineer was able to identify that the leak came from faulty sedation equipment. In addition he used two other G200s in data logging mode to monitor the time-weighted average (TWA) of two members of staff.

“The G100 is really easy to use. From taking it out of the box I had totally understood it in less than an hour. It was really easy. There are a couple of user manual discs with everything you need and you just set the G100 and start it - and you are up and running. It has been working really well,” said Darcy Bertie at Sustainagro who keeps a mains-powered G100 running continuously using the data logging facility and downloads to a PC.