Safe and Reliable Biogas Analysis with Sample Gas Cooler

Nov 10 2014

For optimum process control in biogas production it´s necessary to continuously measure the concentration of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the biogas. To achieve this, gas samples are continuously drawn from the process and supplied to an infrared analyser (IR).

Since biogas is often laden with water vapour, which can condense on its way to the analyser, it is necessary to dry the sample gas, thereby achieving a trouble-free and error-free measurement and protect the analyser from expensive damage.

For this critical spot JCT Analysentechnik GmbH (Austria) offers the powerful Peltier gas cooler series JCM. The JCM cools the sample gas reliably down to a constant temperature of 5°C, thus separating the condensate and reducing the water vapour dew point of the sample gas significantly.

Because of its very compact design the JCM can easily be integrated into small gas analysis systems. The different configurations of the JCM models allow adaptation to the requirements of the biogas analysis.

The model with a built-in condensate pump (JCM-E) ensures continuous condensate disposal. The additional integrated fluid sensor (JCM-KE) reliably detects even the smallest amounts of condensate on the sample gas outlet of the cooler. For example, via the alarm contact of the cooler the external sample gas pump can be switched off when an alarm occurs. Thus, damage to the analyser can be prevented reliably.

The JCM heat exchanger is made of corrosion-resistant PVDF, to avoid damage due to acid formation, for example from H2S and water.

The digital control electronics guarantees an reliable, extremely stable and low dew point of the sample gas at the outlet, to eliminate measuring errors due to interferences with water vapour. The result can thus always be based on a small constant water vapour concentration. For the same reason, volumetric errors are excluded as well.

Soon the field-tested JCM series will be expanded with a new JCM-300 series. This high-performance Peltier cooler will be available with 1 or 2 independent gas paths for increased sample gas flow. The coolers will operate reliably even at elevated ambient temperatures up to 50°C.