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Product category: Gas monitoring and analysis
News Release from: Servomex | Subject: Servomex 1900 oxygen analysers
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial Team on 01 December 2005

Gas analysis system for US Coastguard

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A Servomex gas analyser has replaced a competitor unit so that a vapour monitoring system identifying flammable vapours will conform to US Coast Guard requirements

Servomex announces that Callidus Technologies, the Tulsa-based combustion and environmental protection specialist, has purchased several systems utilizing two Servomex 1900 oxygen analysers and a sampling system meeting the strict US Coast Guard requirements for monitoring ships being loaded with volatile liquids at marine terminals The Servomex system provides the accuracy, reliability and speed of response required

When ships are loaded with liquids such as gasoline, fuel oils or naphtha, vapour is displaced from the hold.

This vapour can either be recovered or, as in this case, destroyed using an enclosed flare.

The composition of the displaced vapour is highly variable and under certain conditions can fall within the flammability limits of the gas.

Natural gas is used to enrich the vapour to ensure that the combustibles are maintained above their UEL (upper explosive limit).

An oxygen analyser is used to monitor and control the mixture to ensure that a hazardous situation does not arise.

Because of the safety-critical nature of this application, two oxygen analysers are used in a redundant voting arrangement.

If the oxygen level is detected as being above the control point, action must be taken within 30 seconds.

Along with other types of combustion and process equipment, Callidus Technologies builds marine terminal vapour destruction systems for US and foreign-based customers and, as always, the budget is tight, so the cost of the sampling system and oxygen analysers are a concern.

Having used Servomex equipment before, and always with success, Callidus Technologies immediately turned to Servomex for a replacement sampling system and oxygen analysers.

"The perception is that Servomex instruments are much more expensive but, in fact, the 1900 analyser models we used were very cost-competitive," explains Neil Frihart, Senior Instrumentation and Controls Engineer at Callidus, "I have always believed that Servomex analysers are the best, so we had no hesitation in calling Servomex as soon as we realised we had a problem.

It was also vital that Servomex could deliver a complete package, as our in-house capabilities do not extend to building sampling systems.

At every stage in the project we have been taken care of very well; Servomex customer service standards are exceptionally high".

Servomex 1900 magnetodynamic (suspension type) paramagnetic analysers with a custom-designed and manufactured sampling system are approved for use in hazardous area classification Class I Division 2 Groups C and D.

Piping to the two analysers was designed to be of equal length from the sample take-off and the sampling system was configured so that the analysers could be calibrated concurrently, with only a single control point for the gas inlet for calibration and sample.

Another design feature was the coalescing/membrane filter that is installed in such a way that it is continuously drained so that condensate does not collect.

Early tests with the Servomex system showed that the response time was in the order of five seconds, and the two analysers could easily read within 1 percent of the measured range.

Neil Frihart concludes: "Currently we are commissioning the vapour destruction system and I have every confidence that the Servomex equipment will perform faultlessly - both during commissioning and when it is in operation." More information about the Servomex 2500 gas analyzers and sampler systems are available from the website.

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