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A necessary evil?
Analysers for measuring stack gases are required by legislation. In general, they do not improve plant efficiency or productivity but they require :
- Engineers time to write specification
- Buyers time to locate vendors
- Managers time to assess quotations
- Technicians time to install and commission the system
- Proving system to inspectors' satisfaction
- On-going cost of maintenance and calibration
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Analyser selection
- Emission analysers have to perform their their task adequately. An analyser that performs better than that is of no advantage - BATNEEC (Best Available Technology Not involving Excessive Cost). It is necessary to obtain best value for money.
- Installation cost will be similar to purchase price
- The system has to have an approved performance
- The on-going cost - calibration, maintenance, etc - over the life of the system will be typically 10x the capital cost.
It should be noted that there are important differences between the requirements of the regulatory authorities in Europe and North America.
What type of analyser?
The types of analysers that can be used is bewildering. Some applicable technologies are:
- Fixed or portable
- Cross stack, in-situ or extractive
- Electrochemical, infra-red, UV
- Paramagnetic, zirconia
- Sample conditioning system design
Data acquisition and processing
Data acquisition and storage is an important, and integral, parts of an emission monitoring installation. Systems based on a standard PC are seldom suitable, both from hardware and software, for process plants.
A system using ruggedised hardware with a custom data processing package will ensure reliability of operation, data storage and processing to satisfy the regulatory authority.
Our experience and how it can help you
We have been working in the UK on gas analysers and particulate monitors for many years.
We have worked with the Environment Agency on performance of gas analysers for emissions. We are independent of any manufacturer whilst having a knowledge of the gas analysers available in the UK.
We can:
- Write analyser specifications
- Select vendors
- Advise on quotations
- Supervise acceptance testing
| Our Principal, T Howard, is a member of BSI committees setting standards for emission analysers and the and has represented the UK on similar ISO and CEN working groups.
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