844 Series Combustion Analyzer: Benchtop Carbon and Sulfur Analyzer for Metals and Inorganic Samples

Features

• Maximize laboratory productivity with automation
  • 10- and 60-position shuttle loaders or integrated robotic process loaders available.
  • High-efficiency autocleaner/vacuum system keeps maintenance to a minimum
  • Automatic combustion tube service and exchange system
• Ergonomic, operator-centered design with a boom-mounted touch-screen interface
• Improved IR cell design provides dual-range detection and improved lifetime and stability
• High-efficiency furnace with low-maintenance design reduces the need for additional accelerant and cleaning

Applications

The 844 series is ideal for the following applications: primary steels, ores, finished metals, ceramics, alloys, and other inorganic materials.

Theory of Operation

The CS844 Carbon Sulfur Analyzer is designed for wide-range measurement of carbon and sulfur content of metals, ores, ceramics, and other inorganic materials. The instrument features custom software designed specifically for touch operation.

A pre-weighed sample of approximately 1 gram is combusted in a stream of purified oxygen using RF induction to heat the sample. Carbon and sulfur present in the sample are oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and swept by the oxygen carrier through a heated dust filter, a drying reagent, and then through two non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) cells, where sulfur is detected as SO₂. The gas flow continues past a heated catalyst, where carbon monoxide (CO) is converted to CO₂ and where SO₂ is converted to sulfur trioxide (SO₃), which is subsequently removed by a filter. Carbon is then detected as CO₂ by a second pair of NDIR cells. A pressure controller is used to maintain constant pressure in the NDIR cells so as to reduce interference from natural variations in atmospheric pressure. The final component in the flow stream is an electronic flow sensor, which is used for diagnostic purposes to monitor the carrier flow.

Non-dispersive infrared cells are based on the principle that CO₂ and SO₂ absorb infrared (IR) energy at unique wavelengths within the IR spectrum. Incident IR energy at these wavelengths is absorbed as the gases pass through IR absorption cells. Since absorption is dependent upon the path length, short and long path-length IR cells are provided for measurement of high and low range signals. The software automatically selects which cell to use for optimum measurement. The concentration of unknown samples is determined relative to calibration standards. To reduce interferences from instrument drift, reference measurements of pure carrier gas are made prior to each analysis.