Innovative new micropump offers improved sensitivity and size reduction for gas detection systems.

TTP Ventus is working with leading manufacturers to exploit the unique benefits of its multi-award-winning Disc Pump. The breakthrough micropump technology addresses many issues that designers of gas detection systems face, allowing instruments to reach new levels of measurement sensitivity and control whilst also benefiting from the pump's miniature size, silent operation and wide operating temperature range.

Conventional pumps introduce airflow pulsation that often limits the signal-to-noise ratio and the resulting sensitivity. Instruments often include baffles, accumulators and other damping hardware to reduce pulsation. Disc Pump cycles at 21 kHz and moves a tiny quantity of air each cycle, typically in the range of 10s to 100s nanolitres. The resulting ultra-smooth flow means that gas can be delivered directly to the sensing element, allowing damping hardware to be removed altogether, reducing system size and complexity.

One company already taking advantage of this benefit is leading gas detection manufacturer Ion Science: “Disc Pump’s smooth flow is important to prevent noise on our sensors – the less noise the greater sensitivity we can achieve." commented Peter Morris, Technology Manager. "It will also help us to easily maintain constant flow via a feedback loop – as our system will change over time this is an important benefit.”

Airflow control is also improved with Disc Pump which can hold set points to within fraction of a percent when operated in a closed-loop. The stable output helps to minimise integration error when calculating the pumped volume, which in turn supports accurate concentration measurements into the ppb range. Furthermore, unlike a motor-driven pump, Disc Pump has no minimum (stall) speed. As a result, pressure and flow can be stably controlled from less than 0.1 cc/min to greater than 1 L/min, offering a near-infinite turn-down ratio.

TTP Ventus recently announced the introduction of its XP Series, the latest pumps to emerge from its strategic development pipeline. The new pump range offers improved performance and efficiency, and a wide temperature range of -25 to +55 C to support a diverse range of gas detection applications, from air quality monitoring to laboratory analysis.