Gas analyzers accelerate business growth

Transportable multi-parameter analytical instruments have been key to the growth of an analytical services company based in Oklahoma. Great Plains Analytical Services (GAS) operates a fleet of mobile monitoring systems, providing onsite gas analysis for customers across the USA, and Gasmet FTIR analyzers have enabled the company to offer a comprehensive onsite monitoring service.

CEO Jordan Williamson says: “Our father started the business over 20 years ago employing portable test instruments. At that time, the monitoring technology was mostly basic electrochemical instruments and FID analysers. However, about seven years ago, facing increasing demands from the US EPA, our customers demanded greater monitoring flexibility.

"The performance requirements for the analysers became tighter and a broader range of measurement parameters were required, so we began to utilize Gasmet's FTIR technology and we are now running nine DX4000 gas analyzers."

The Gasmet FTIR analysers simultaneously measure multiple analytes in complex gas mixtures, detecting virtually all gas-phase species (organic and inorganic).

Most of the applications handled by the GAS monitoring teams involve the analysis of hot/wet emissions. Consequently, the Gasmet DX4000 FTIR analyzer is the most commonly deployed instrument. Applications include natural gas, vapor recovery, and emissions monitoring of compression engines and combustion engines in the oil and gas sector and at hospitals and airports.

"Typically, we monitor for around 4 hours but this can extend up to 15 hours in some cases," Jordan says. "The prime objective is to demonstrate compliance with the appropriate regulations, however, our clients also use this opportunity to monitor engine performance and improve efficiency.

"In circumstances where an engine is not running efficiently, we sometimes see unexpected peaks in the recorded spectra. This can usually be quickly identified with Gasmet's Calcmet professional software and by comparison with Gasmet's spectral library of thousands of compounds.

Summarizing the benefits of Gasmet FTIR, Jordan says: "The small Gasmet fit easily into our trucks, avoiding the need for trailers. Also, by providing a wide range of measurements, we are able to help customers improve engine efficiency, whilst demonstrating emissions compliance. Importantly, the DX4000 is quick and easy to set up and run, which lowers our costs and means that we can deliver a fast, cost-effective service.”