New Process gas chromatography launched

ABB (Germany) is launching a completely new series of process gas chromatographs, whose innovative concept is designed to reduce the complexity of process gas analysis making them more reliable, flexible and cost-efficient.

Since mid last century, process gas chromatographs have been used in numerous applications for the continuous supervision of industrial processes. Already on a lab scale, gas chromatography is a rather demanding and complex technology, but in a continuous industrial use, it requires very reliable and low-maintenance analyzers.

The new PGC5000 series reflects ABB’s 50 years of experience with the construction of process gas chromatographs, and, it also features a completely new system platform. The modular system concept is based on a Master Controller “Model 5000A“ and the analysis oven type “Model 5000B Smart Oven^™“. The controller is responsible for system configuration and control, and it takes care of the data exchange with a control system. It can monitor up to four ovens performing the actual analysis. “Model 5000A“ has a human machine interface (HMI) that offers intuitive operation, a high-resolution graphic display and a keyboard for all interactions with the user. From the graphic display, the user can gather all relevant information on the measured values from the process and the status of the analysis system.

Detailed information is displayed on pages grouped in a logical way which can be accessed with maximum two mouse clicks. A comprehensive online tutorial helps even the less proficient user to change device configuration or run an error analysis. The system is absolutely network-compatible and can therefore be operated and monitored remotely, e.g. from a personal computer. This user-friendliness increases the efficiency and flexibility of the system in an industrial environment, thus minimizing downtimes.

Analysis ovens of the “Model 5000B Smart Oven^™“ series are connected to the Master Controller via an intrinsically safe fiber optics CANBus. These ovens work independently and have their own control and signal processing. Each oven comprises up to five electronic pressure controllers (EPC) for high-precision adjustment of the flows in the analytical application.

On top of classic detectors, such as flame ionization detectors (FID) or thermal conductivity detectors (TCD), the new multiport TCD (4-port TCD) can be installed as additional option. In combination with a multitude of analytical valves (M2CP slider valves, diaphragm valves, rotary valves, liquid injection valves) and a variety of different chromatographic columns, this concept offers the flexibility to tailor and accurately adjust each application to its respective measuring task, while maintaining ease of operation and low maintenance.

The measured-value transfer is both state-of-the-art and future-proof: Modbus over TCP/IP or OPC are standard data transfer protocols and all modern controllers and control systems provide the matching interfaces. The Ethernet-based data transfer can also be designed as hardware redundant system, if required. However, the Master Controller 5000A also supports the classic transfer, i.e. data is transferred via 4…20 mA analog outputs or digital I/O. Users can select the solution most appropriate for their applications.