Feb 20 2010
Hiden Analytical, Warrington, UK, has introduced their Transient MS system specifically designed for the analysis of fast transient gas events at pressures near atmosphere. The compact benchtop system is founded on the Hiden HPR-20 QIC series gas analysers and features a purpose-designed fast response capillary inlet and the HAL/3F PIC mass spectrometer with pulse ion counting detector.
The combination enables inlet system response times of less the 150 msec with measurement speeds of up to 500 data points per second over an entire 7 decade dynamic range. The system monitors species with molecular weights to 300 amu, with higher mass ranges available for specialist applications.
The MASsoft control and data acquisition program provides ease of operation with integral calibration routines together with user-programmable template files for automatic operation of routine analyses. Multiple I/O's permit integration of external parameters such as temperature or flow rates, and control of external equipment with species-specific pressure level sensors.
Application areas include pulsed gas experiments for catalyst characterization, surface reaction and reduction studies, respiratory analysis, process control and, with high-speed rotating multiport valve, and spatial gas distribution measurement.
Hiden Analytical shared in an R&D 100 Award for 2008 for successful development of the Spatially Resolved Capillary Inlet Mass Spectrometer technology. The technology was jointly developed and submitted for the award by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Cummins Inc., Queen's University Belfast, Y-12 National Security Complex and Hiden Analytical.
The Spaci-MS multipoint interface samples the confined spaces inside reactor systems such as fuel cells, diesel engine catalysts and non-thermal plasma reactors with precise spatial and temporal resolution, providing highly detailed point-by-point information on reaction and catalytic chemistry. The Hiden system utilizes a 16 channel inlet coupled to the Hiden fast-transient mass spectrometer to provide automatic and rapid mapping of both temperature and species distributions. Spaci-MS technology has already been used successfully in the optimization of an automotive truck engine to help meet U.S. 2010 emissions control standards 3 years ahead of schedule.
Source: http://asmcommunity.asminternational.org/