The CONTHOS 3 state-of-the-art thermal conductivity gas analyzer is an analytical instrument developed for on-line monitoring in process industry applications.
The special outstanding technical features of LFE's microprocessor controlled gas analyzer are:
The technical features of the unique CONTHOS 3 gas analyzer open up new areas of application for the thermal conductivity principle, as well as help to eliminate weak points in present analysis problem solving.
The selected thermostat temperature of the detector can help minimize the cross interference of possible accompanying gas components. Furthermore, accompanying gases can be measured by means of suitable external measuring methods and an interference correction of these components can be carried out.
First developed in 1979 the LFE CONTHOS gas analyzer has proven itself in many years of continuous operation in fields such as:
In conventional gas analyzers utilizing the principle of thermal conductivity a heated object is suspended in a volume containing the sample gas. Electrical energy passed through the object results in the object heating up and attaining an equilibrium temperature which is primarily dependent upon the thermal conduction properties of the surrounding gas. This temperature is normally measured directly as a change in the electrical resistance of the heated object itself.
LFE´s unique principle modifies this "classical" method by spatially and electrically decoupling the heated element from the temperature sensing element. The specially designed geometry of the TCD cell in conjunction with the decoupling effectively suppresses undesired competing thermal effects (i.e. free and forced convectional effects). The result is an instrument whose quick, stable response requires no compromise between gas flow and response time.
CONTHOS 3E - TCD |
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19" rack housing (protective class IP40) |
CONTHOS 3F - TCD |
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Field housing (protective class IP65) |
CONTHOS 3F - TCD Ex p |
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Explosion protected ATEX version for ex zone 1 & 2 |
CONTHOS 3F-TCD HT |
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High temperature version |
CONTHOS 3E 19”-rack housing | CONTHOS 3F field housing | CONTHOS 3F - Ex p | CONTHOS 3F - HT | |
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Technical specifications subject to change without notice | ||||
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for mounting in 19" cabinet | purgeable steel housing for wall mounting; with separate compartments for the electronic components and the analytical components | |||
Enclosure & electrical data | ||||
Dimensions | 133 x 483 x 427 mm | 434 x 460 x 270 mm | 490 x 460 x 270 mm | 502 x 460 x 270 mm |
Protection class | IP40 | IP65 | ||
Electrical hazardous area class | Protection type "px" for zones 1 & 2 according to EN 60079 Ex protective class of system: II 2 G, Ex p II T4 | |||
Weight | approx. 10 kg | approx. 25 kg | approx. 30 kg | approx. 25 kg |
Power requirements | 100-240 VAC (48-62Hz; nominal voltage range: 88-253 VAC; 100 VA max. during warm-up period) |
Common Technical Data | ||||
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Technical specifications subject to change without notice | ||||
Measuring characteristics | ||||
Measuring principle | Thermal conductivity (TCD). Difference in thermal conductivity (Δλ) of various gases | |||
Measuring ranges | Up to 3 linearized, independently configurable, switchable ranges. lowest range: 0 - 0.5% H2 in N2 or 99.5-100% H2 in N2 (or equivalent Δλ) | |||
Calibration | Manual: 2-point (zero / span) calibration | |||
Warm-up time | dependent upon TCD operating temperature as well as the ambient temperature: | |||
Response time t90 | ≤ 3 sec (at 60 l/h gas flow and minimum signal dampening level) | |||
Influence of gas flow | between 3 - 30 l/h: < 0.5% of range span for a gas flow change of ±10 l/h Higher flow rates up to e.g. 120 l/h are possible. At these higher flow rates it is recommended that the analyzer be calibrated at the operating flow rate. | |||
Pressure influence | The TCD principle has a normally negligible pressure dependency. At very low ranges it can be seen as a proportional signal offset. Gas specific order of magnitude: < 0.02% H2 equivalent per 100 mbar | |||
Detection limit 1 | ≤ 0.5% of span (at signal dampening level: 1 sec) | |||
Linearity/ Accuracy 1 | ≤ 0.5% of span | |||
Reproducibility 1 | ≤ 0.5% of span | |||
Response drift 1 | Zero: ≤ 1% of span per week | |||
Ambient temperature influence | Zero: ≤ 1% of span per 10 K | |||
Ambient temperature in operation | allowed temperature range : +5 to +45°C | |||
Influence of inclination | no influence |
CONTHOS 3E 19”-rack housing | CONTHOS 3F field housing | CONTHOS 3F - Ex p | CONTHOS 3F - HT | |
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Technical specifications subject to change without notice | ||||
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Materials in contact with sample gas | ||||
TC Detector | Al2O3-ceramic and sapphire, glass and SiOx-coated Pt measuring filaments | |||
Internal gas lines | standard: PTFE / PFA optional: stainless steel tubing | standard: PTFE / PFA optional: stainless steel tubing | stainless steel tubing | |
Sample gas connectors | Standard: stainless steel (SS 316; similar to 1.4401) | |||
Optional: Swagelok® connectors for ø¼" tubing Optional: NPT ¼" (female) | Optional: Swagelok® connectors for ø¼" tubing | Optional: Swagelok® connectors for ø¼" tubing | ||
Optional : PFA connectors for synthetic tubing DN 4/6 |
Common Technical Data | ||||
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Technical specifications subject to change without notice | ||||
Data display, inputs and outputs | ||||
User Interface | LC-display (40 characters x 16 lines) + bar graph Plain text description of instrument status as well as digital status output Language: switchable between English & German | |||
Analog signal output | 2 independently configurable, galvanically isolated analog outputs (with common ground; RLoad = 600 Ohm max) Available output levels: 0 - 20 mA, 4 - 20 mA, 4 - 20 mA with superimposed instrument status (NAMUR NE 43 compliant) as well as test signal levels (0, 4, 10, 12 & 20 mA) | |||
Digital outputs | Instrument status (NAMUR NE 107 compliant) via floating contacts (28 V max.; 350 mA max.) FAILURE (DO 1) | MAINTENANCE REQUIRED (DO 2) | FUNCTION CHECK (DO 3) | |||
Analog inputs | 3 galvanically isolated, configurable analog inputs for interference correction | |||
Interference correction | 3 correction channels for static and/or dynamic interference correction (dynamic correction only in conjunction with the optional analog inputs or RS-485) | |||
Digital I/O | Digital inputs: 8 configurable, optically isolated inputs (6 - 24 VDC; 10 mA max.)
Digital outputs: 7 configurable, floating relay contacts (28 V max.; 350 mA max.)
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Modbus interface |
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Service interface | non-isolated serial interface for accessing the instrument's configuration via a proprietary PC software |
1 at constant temperature and pressure
CONTHOS 3 TCD Application questionnaire
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Technical specifications subject to change without notice