Oxygen Monitors
With over 30 years’ experience, our portfolio of ALPHA OMEGA INSTRUMENTS™ trace and percent oxygen analyzers and transmitters, safety monitors (oxygen deficiency), are cost-effective and reliable. Our analyzers provide precise and continuous measurement for industrial, commercial, government, and educational uses. They are available in benchtop, wall mounted, panel mounted, portable and some explosion proof configurations.
Accurate measurements are important for industrial processes that require precise amounts of oxygen. These industries include aerospace, biotechnology, chemical, food and beverage, medical manufacturing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, water and wastewater treatment, and more. Specific applications include:
For process safety purposes, analyzers provide crucial measurement to ensure worker safety by making sure process levels of oxygen stay within defined limits. Our analyzers are available in benchtop, wall mounted, panel mounted, portable and some explosion proof configurations.
Have a critical process that demands accurate measurement of oxygen? Learn more about process monitoring.
If you are concerned over unsafe levels of oxygen explore a complete line of oxygen deficiency monitors and accessories. We supply many instruments to medical, aerospace, and municipalities. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines an oxygen deficient environment when oxygen levels fall below 19.5 percent. Oxygen deficient environments require accurate and reliable instrumentation. Oxygen levels below 16% is dangerous to human life.
Our oxygen deficiency monitors ensure safe working environments in any laboratory, scientific, medical, or industrial application utilizing oxygen depleting gases. Our monitors continuously monitor oxygen levels. Permanently installed oxygen deficiency monitors should be used as a first line of protection.
Explore why safety monitoring matters.
Need service or calibration for your oxygen analyzer? No problem. We are ready to assist you with any technical or service-related inquiries. Just complete our Oxygen Monitor RMA.
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Oxygen analyzers function differently depending on their intended use application. There are two main application types–open diffuser applications and extractive applications. In an open diffuser application, the analyzer’s sensor is directly exposed to the ambient air surrounding it at close to atmospheric pressure. Conversely, in an extractive application, the sensor is installed in a sensor housing (small chamber) as part of a sampling system. Below, we explore how an analyzer works in each of these scenarios.
Oxygen deficiency monitors are the primary example of analyzer technology used for an open diffuser application. In this scenario, no sampling system is needed, and the only requirements are continuous measurement and notification (i.e. alarms) of gas levels outside the desired range.
For example, our ALPHA OMEGA INSTRUMENTS™ Series 1300 Oxygen Deficiency Monitor features an ambient temperature electrochemical sensor with an Enhanced Electrolyte System (EES) with a weak acid electrolyte system. The weak acid electrolyte system retards passivation of the sensor anode by allowing the products of oxidation to dissolve in the acid electrolyte. In effect, the sensor is renewed continuously as the weak acid electrolyte tolerates over 20 times the lead oxide (PbO) than potassium hydroxide (KOH) based sensors.
The result is a sensor with a greatly extended useful life as well as providing exceptional measurement stability. By measuring the voltage that is a result of the electrochemical process, the oxygen concentration can be accurately determined.
Another open diffuser scenario involves percent oxygen measurements within processes using environmental control chambers. Some examples are glove boxes, anaerobic chambers, and food packaging machines where an open diffuser sensor can be utilized as long as the chamber pressure is at atmosphere or ≤1.5 psig. For this need, our OXY-SEN™ Oxygen Monitor and Series 2000 Percent Oxygen Analyzer (with our OXY-SEN™ sensor) are both suitable.
Another option for an environmental control chamber application is to use analyzers that are equipped with an extractive sample system, including a pump directly inside the environmental chamber, conditions permitting. Our battery-operated portables Series 2520 (percent) and Series 3520 (trace) are great options for this application. If, however, conditions do not permit locating the instrument in the environment, then we recommend using one of our instruments with an extractive sample system outside the chamber.
Most process applications measure gases from a process rather than an ambient environment. In the process, there are conditions (e.g. pressure, temperature, relative humidity, etc.) that may vary widely, so “extracting” and conditioning a sample may be required. In extractive applications, the sensor is installed in a housing (small chamber) as part of a sampling system. As the sample gas passes through the sensor housing, the voltage produced by the electrochemical process can be measured and the oxygen concentration can be determined accurately.
For extractive applications requiring percent level measurements, our Series 2000, 2500, 2510 and 2520 analyzers feature an extended life oxygen sensor with a weak acid electrolyte system. The weak acid electrolyte system retards passivation of the sensor anode by allowing the products of oxidation to dissolve in the acid electrolyte. In effect, the sensor is renewed continuously as the weak acid electrolyte tolerates over 20 times the lead oxide (PbO) than potassium hydroxide (KOH) based sensors. The result is a sensor with a greatly extended useful life. Different options are available to meet your sample condition requirements.
For extractive applications requiring trace (ppm) level measurements, our Series 3000, 3500, 3510 and 3520 trace oxygen analyzers feature an advanced trace oxygen sensor. This sensor is a lead-oxygen battery comprised of a lead anode, a gold-plated cathode, and an electrolyte consisting of potassium hydroxide.
For applications with CO2, we also have a sensor with an electrolyte that is a weak acid, so that it can handle up to 100% CO2. All of our trace level instruments come with manual isolation valves so the sensor can be isolated from ambient levels of oxygen when they are not being used to measure trace level process gases. Different options are available to meet your sample condition requirements.
The cost of an analyzer depends on the use application and the type of oxygen sensor required. Oxygen analyzers used for industrial process monitoring applications start at $1,625 with Process Insights, which produces the highest quality analyzers manufactured in the United States. We provide a minimum, two-year electronics warranty and one-year oxygen sensor warranty on analyzers.
Unlike other manufacturers, we offer several, semi-custom configurations, which eliminates wasteful spending on unneeded “bells and whistles”. We also offer a base analyzer option, which allows you to provide your own sample conditioning.
The cost of oxygen deficiency monitors, used for continuous safety monitoring applications, start at $2,243. Our oxygen deficiency monitors are manufactured in the United States and offer three-year electronics and oxygen sensor warranties.
Oxygen analyzers measure oxygen concentrations in a given environment for two main purposes: 1). industrial process monitoring or 2). safety monitoring purposes. Analyzers measure oxygen either as a percentage (0-100%) or trace amount (parts per million) for greater precision.
Accurate measurements are important for industrial processes that require precise amounts of oxygen. These industries include aerospace, biotechnology, chemical, food and beverage, medical manufacturing, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, water and wastewater treatment, and more. Specific applications include:
For process safety purposes, analyzers provide crucial measurement to ensure worker safety by making sure process levels of oxygen stay within defined limits.
Oxygen deficiency is considered among the most common and dangerous atmospheric hazards for personnel safety within confined spaces. This is especially true for laboratories, production complexes, gas storage areas, medical facilities, food processing plants, grain elevators, welding facilities, and other installations where significant amounts of inert gases ─ nitrogen, argon, helium, or carbon dioxide ─ are used.
A leak of any of these gases can pose a significant danger to personnel due to oxygen depletion. Fresh air contains 20.9% oxygen by volume; OSHA considers breathing air to be oxygen deficient at 19.5%. Permanently installed oxygen deficiency monitors should be used as a first line of protection.
Choosing the right oxygen analyzer depends on your intended application(s) and the type of oxygen sensor used. There is no “universal” oxygen sensor type that fulfills every use case. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each oxygen sensor type is vital for choosing the most suitable oxygen analyzer given your needs.
The four main oxygen sensors include:
On mobile – table scrolls left to right.
Desired Analyzer Attributes |
Ambient Temperature Electrochemical |
Paramagnetic | Polarographic | Zirconium Oxide |
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Percent Measurement |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Trace Measurement |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Percent & Trace Measurement |
✔ |
✔ |
||
Can Measure Flammable Gas |
✔ |
✔ |
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Low Initial Cost |
✔ |
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User Replaceable Sensor |
✔ |
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Low-Cost Sensor Replacement |
✔ |
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Sensitive to Vibration and/or Position |
✔ |
Below are additional details for various gas phase oxygen sensors. Use this information to help you select the right oxygen sensor type for your application:
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