Gas analysis plays a crucial role in various scientific fields, from environmental monitoring to industrial processes, to ensure the health and safety of personnel and their working space. However, to accurately measure and analyze gases, reliable detectors are essential. One detector commonly used in gas analysis is the thermopile detector, which converts thermal energy into electrical energy. This blog post will explore how thermopile detectors factor into gas analysis and their significance in this field.
Thermopile Detectors
Thermpoile detectors are commonly used for non-contact measurement applications such as gas analysis. They comprise multiple thermocouples arranged in series and convert radiation energy into electrical energy based on the principle of non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas measurement.1 When infrared radiation passes through a gas sample, certain wavelengths are absorbed by the gas molecules. The amount of absorbed radiation is directly proportional to the concentration of the gas. Thermopile detectors can measure the temperature difference caused by the absorbed radiation, converting it into an electrical signal for gas concentration analysis.
Beyond this short introduction, we will not discuss what thermopile detectors are. However, if you would like a refresher, why not read some of our previous blog posts?
How Thermopile Detectors are Used in Gas Analysis
Thermopile detectors find widespread use in various gas analysis applications because of their many advantages. They are employed in both research and industrial settings to measure and analyze different types of gases, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and trace gases.
One of the first advantages of thermopile detectors is they are designed so that only the sample cell and its connected components are exposed to the gas stream being analyzed. In other sensors, the sensor is directly exposed to the gas, resulting in failure or inaccurate measurements. Aside from this crucial advantage, they are also corrosion-resistant, long-lasting, and reliable detectors that will not be damaged by flammable or toxic gases. These features make thermopile detectors highly suitable for precise and accurate gas measurement and analysis.
Examples of gas analysis applications utilizing thermopile detectors include evolved gas analysis in chemical reactions, monitoring gas concentrations in industrial processes, and trace gas analysis in environmental studies. Compared to other gas analysis techniques, thermopile detectors offer accuracy, high sensitivity, and reliability.
Thermopile Detectors with Dexter Research Center
Dexter Research Center has been a leading provider of infrared thermopile detectors since its establishment in 1977. We offer the largest selection of thermopiles, including high-quality Bismuth-Antimony thin-film and silicon-based radiation-sensing thermopile detectors for a wide range of sensing applications.
Our expertise lies in customizing detectors to meet precise specifications, resulting in superior detector and system performance. So, if you’re looking for thermopile detectors for gas analysis applications, look no further. We manufacture three series of gas analysis thermopile detectors: 2M, 2M Quad, and ST60, each with high sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratios, and reliability.
Contact Dexter Research Center to learn more about our thermopile detectors and how they can benefit your gas analysis applications.