Besides power the GC-IMS-ODOR only needs N2 or synthetic air as drift and carrier gas for operation. Driving from spot to spot its one-klick operation accessible via the 6,4“ TFT touch screen display allows to securely carry out on-site tests manually even by non-specialists. Upon completion of a measurement after approx. 4 minutes values are automatically stored on the integrated compact flash card. They can be downloaded via USB stick or Ethernet cable connection to PC at the end of a shift. Reports are availble as user friendly Excell tables or directly printable from pdf.files.
Alternatively the device can be used as a 24/7 based on-line
monitoring tool to automatically test for the odour concentration in user defined intervals. Operating in this mode the system carries
out a self-test before each test and if necessary re-calibrates itself by the use of a
calibration gas so that maximum accuracy and security is achieved. Acquired data are consecutively transmitted
via current loop 4-20mA, a modem- or network connection to a control
room.
The gas odour level of natural gas needs to be monitored at regular intervals to secure the required level of the organosulphur compounds tetra-hydro-thiophene (THT) and tert-butyl-mercaptane (TBM) or the sulfur-free (Gasodor®-S-Free®) markers which are used worldwide to odorize natural gas. The safety concern is to assure a minimum concentration of the alarming smell while not overdosing the high-priced odour markers.