#41 - Plans for growth – Part 3

I wouldn’t exactly call the gradual development of Nova’s landfill gas analyzers a precisely planned sequence of continuous improvement. There is no ‘golden age’ space program story to tell here. When we look back, we seem to have ‘fallen into it’ from initially unintended beginnings.

It began a few years ago when inquiries starting coming in for methane analysis. Oxygen and carbon dioxide were also frequently of interest. The application would always be somewhat vague, with information about the actual sample gas make-up usually not provided. Keep in mind that we had more experience with clean process applications. So we would treat these new inquiries as such and recommend the equipment that we were accustomed to providing.

Nova’s Model 470 started out as a process methane analyzer which was intended for clean, dry, and noncorrosive process gases only. Clearly, landfill gas / biogas does not always fit that description. But we didn’t fully appreciate all of the nuances of that at the time.

We were aware that the sample gas usually had lots of moisture. So we had a thermo-electric sample chiller mounted in a second cabinet beside the main analyzer. We sometimes nick-named it the ‘pony cabinet’. With the ‘pony cabinet’ it was denoted as Model 470N4-400M. Other times we would build the chiller into the main cabinet and would be denoted as a Model 470MN4. We had used thermo-electric chillers in other applications, but there were problems sometimes with this approach on landfills.

Landfills are frequently in remote locations. Some have challenging climate and environmental conditions. The sample gas may contain high amounts of corrosive gases. Feedback from customers regarding analyzer performance / durability told us that landfill gas and biogas was not ordinary process gas. After visiting a few sites, we really started to take notice of what these applications were all about. We also started realizing that there were a lot of landfills and biogas projects out there. This called for clear plans for growth on our part – which is a convenient closing reference to the title of this post.

We will continue the gripping account in a future post.

Nova 910 Series Landfill & Biogas Analyzers

In the meantime, if you need gas analyzers for oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, or other gases, give Mike or Dave at Nova a call, or send us an e-mail.

1-800-295-3771
sales at nova-gas dot com
websales at nova-gas dot com
http://www.nova-gas.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/NOVAGAS

If you have a LinkedIn account, search for Nova Analytical Systems under Companies and follow us if you want.

#40 - Driving Clean and Engine Exhaust Analysis – Part 2

In a previous post we talked about Ontario’s Drive Clean program for monitoring vehicle exhaust.

Edit Oct 2014 - Other posts about engine exhaust
#38 - Driving Clean and Engine Exhaust Analysis - Part 1
#80 - Unique Application – Portable 8 Channel CO analyzer
#193 - Update on Automotive E-testing

Emissions testing is also useful for tuning engines irrespective of government clean air programs. High levels of certain gases may indicate a specific engine condition. For example,

High HC’s may indicate:
- Vacuum leaks
- Ignition system malfunctions
- Incorrect air/fuel mixture

High CO may indicate:
- Dirty air filter, faulty choke or carburetor
- Faulty computerized engine management system and/or oxygen sensor
- Inoperative/missing catalytic converter

High NOx may indicate:
- Inoperative/ineffective exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system
- Excessively lean/fuel ratio
- Malfunctioning or missing catalytic converter

Nova is interested in engine exhaust analysis because that is something that we can do. Our 7460 Series Portable Engine Exhaust Analyzers are available in various combinations including O2, CO, CO2, HC, & NOx. Our customers have used this analyzer on diesel, gasoline, propane, or natural gas powered 2 and 4 cycle engines. We have even had inquires for exhaust analysis on these little beauties from India:

Check out the 7460 Series in our on-line catalog.

The 7460 Series is a portable analyzer that uses infrared and electrochemical sensors / detectors. As such, it does not likely qualify for official regulatory use such as in Ontario’s Clear Air Program.

We do build these analyzers to meet Bar 97 and ISO 3930/OIML R99, Class O specifications. Therefore, many mechanics have effectively used this analyzer for reliable engine tuning and emissions reduction. We have noticed that this analyzer is also popular among equipment mechanics who work on forklifts and other non-road vehicles.

Added March 2013 - We have noticed that our fork-lift customers frequently print on the analyzer cabinet the target gas readings for a properly tuned engine. For example, we have a couple of units in the Nova lab right now being calibrated for one of our customers. They have printed the following target gas readings on the analyzer:

• O2: 0.8 % to 2.0 %
• CO: 0.1% to 0.8 %
• CO2: more than 11.0 %
• HC's: less than 200ppm

We have even sold a couple of these analyzers for high altitude use in the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan). A facility located somewhere in the Tien Shan Mountains at an elevation of 4000m / 13,100ft is using our analyzers for mechanical maintenance of site equipment.

Nova equipment is somewhere in them hills!

If you are in the business of tuning engines and require analysis of engine exhaust, ask Mike or Dave about the 7460 Series Gas Analyzers.

1-800-295-3771
sales at nova-gas dot com
websales at nova-gas dot com
http://www.nova-gas.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/NOVAGAS

If you have a LinkedIn account, search for Nova Analytical Systems under Companies and follow us if you want.

For additional information, please see the following links:

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h56.pdf

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/documents/resource/stdprod_087907.pdf

Photo of vehicle

Copyright © 2006 Panchnath Auto Pvt. Ltd.
http://www.pal3wheeler.com/pick-up-angle-body.htm

Photo of Tien Shan Mountains © Kopylov Vladimir

http://mountains.tos.ru/kopylov/pict/khan_sh.jpg

http://mountains.tos.ru/tiensh.htm

#39 - Plans for growth – Part 2

In a previous post, we talked about setting long term goals and ideas for growth. We’re Nova Analytical Systems and we make gas analyzers. As with every manufacturing operation, there are areas of our internal process that can benefit from innovative thinking and attainable goals. There are also external areas of our business that we have made efforts to improve.

One such area is our product line. It is obviously important for a product line to have a viable market if it is to succeed. Even well-established companies with successful products need to regularly review their relevance to the market.

Nova has been making gas analyzers for over 30yrs. Bringing an analytical instrument to market is a slow evolutionary process that may be proactive or reactive.

A proactive situation might be a case where we have sourced a new sensing technology, or we have developed a new feature. Armed with this development, we perceptively look for new applications that can potentially have a use for it. Proactive growth requires alertness, an innovative spirit, and a willingness to take a chance. It also requires ingenuity in presentation – a useful ‘form factor’.

A reactive development might occur gradually in response to the experience gained on past projects. The driving force might be a reaction to a problem or might be a response to a customer request. Reactive developments emerge when we are willing to listen to customer feedback, adjust to needs in the field, and establish working relationships with users. To make meaningful reactive progress, there must be clarity of information from the field and from the development staff. At Nova, if Mike & Dave do not have clarity and confidence in the proposed solutions, those solutions will not likely be sold into our customer’s projects.

The reactive innovations are interesting to watch as they play out. Our landfill gas analyzers were reactively developed over the course of a few years. I’ll leave that story for another time.

We’re Nova. We make gas analyzers for oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, and other gases.

Give Mike or Dave at Nova a call, or send us an e-mail.
1-800-295-3771
sales at nova-gas dot com
websales at nova-gas dot com
http://www.nova-gas.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/NOVAGAS

If you have a LinkedIn account, search for Nova Analytical Systems under Companies and follow us if you want.

Graphic modified from Velma's Retro Clip Art and Images
http://free-retro-graphics.com/2011/02/scientists-with-guinea-pig-clip-art/

#38 - Driving Clean and Engine Exhaust Analysis – Part 1

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the personal automobile is the single greatest polluter because of the high numbers of vehicles on the road.* Various legislative initiatives since the early 1970’s have reduced the per-vehicle pollutant emissions. Some initiatives have addressed vehicle design while others have focused on maintenance-related emissions.

For example, in Ontario Canada, there is a vehicle inspection program that is intended to promote a reduction in automotive emissions. Vehicles must have an emissions test to renew registration and license plates. An overview of the program can be found at:

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/category/drive_clean/STDPROD_075529.html

The tailpipe emissions inspection looks at Hydrocarbons, Carbon Monoxide, & Nitrogen Oxide (HC, CO, NO) while the engine is under load and while at idle. The allowable limits will depend on the type of vehicle and engine that is being tested.

I have a rather large pick-up truck. It recently failed the emissions test. Some of the gas readings were double what the emissions limit is. Not good. The culprit – leak in the exhaust manifold was allowing air into the engine. This caused the oxygen sensor to misread. This in turn caused a miscalculation the combustion mixture, making it fuel-rich. The result – high emissions. When my practical need for a pickup truck ceases very soon, I will likely purchase a much more sensible vehicle with lower emissions and better gas mileage.

However, it is also worth noting that an engine does not have to be large and powerful to produce high emissions. The graphics below are scans of actual test results obtained on various vehicles. Engine size and vehicle maintenance both have an affect on test scores. You will note that the small engine with the failed oxygen sensor produced high amounts of carbon monoxide, while the expertly maintained large engine had 0% carbon monoxide (probably less than 100ppm). Therefore, it can be said that good vehicle maintenance is demonstrably good for the vehicle and for the environment.

If a vehicle fails the test, the Ontario Drive Clean law says that the owner must fix the vehicle. The vehicle owner may obtain a ‘conditional pass’ if the problem has not been remediated after spending a fixed minimum of money on repairs. The test results shown at the bottom of the graphic met the requirements of a conditional pass.

In Ontario Canada, engine exhaust analysis is required to designate a vehicle ‘clean’ and keep it on the road. In a future post we will talk a little bit about another good reason to analyze engine exhaust gases.

If you are in the business of tuning engines or require analysis of engine exhaust, ask Mike or Dave about the 7460 Series Gas Analyzers.

1-800-295-3771
sales at nova-gas dot com
websales at nova-gas dot com
http://www.nova-gas.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/NOVAGAS

If you have a LinkedIn account, search for Nova Analytical Systems under Companies and follow us if you want.

* U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, OFFICE OF MOBILE SOURCES (1994) Automobile Emissions: An Overview, EPA 400-F-92-007, http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/05-autos.pdf

For additional information, please see the following links:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h56.pdf
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/documents/resource/stdprod_087907.pdf

#36 - Nova Sample Conditioning System in the News at ThomasNet

Press release at ThomasNet regarding our Heated Filter and Probe System for combustion-related applications.


NOVA SAMPLE CONDITIONING

Analytical Company Offers Sample Conditioning Option with Syngas & Gasification Analyzers

Date: November 2011

Nova Analytical Inc, a 30 year veteran in gas analysis, introduces the Nova Model 7240 Probe & Heated Filter System.

The Model 7240 is intended for extraction and filtration of gases sampled from industrial applications such as syngas, gasification, and stack gas analysis.

Frequently, industrial sample gases contain soot or particulate that is inherent to the process or is derived from combustion. This particulate must be extracted from the sample gas as close to the extraction to point as possible avoid sample line occlusions and low flow conditions. The Model 7240 is designed for this purpose.

The Model 7240 is comprised of a high-temperature probe, heated filter, and stainless steel internal tubing. The unit mounts directly on the sample extraction point and filters the gas sample at process temperature. The gas sample is then directed to the gas analyzer which may be located some distance away from the sample point.

To cope with particulate accumulation in the probe, the Model 7240 Probe & Heated Filter has a blow-back feature which blasts a jet of air or N2 back through the filter and into the throat of the probe. This brief blast blows the accumulated particulate out of the sample system and back into the process.

The Nova Model 7240 Probe & Heated Filter System is frequently specified with industrial analyzer systems such as:

• Nova 970 Series Syngas and Gasification Analyzers
• Nova 7200 Series Continuous Flue Gas Analyzers
• Nova 7900 Series Steel Heat Treat Analyzers
• Nova 8000 Series Blast Furnace Top Gas Analyzers

Contact Nova Analytical Systems Inc. for more information on this and other gas analysis equipment.

NOVA Analytical Systems Inc.
1-800-295-3771
sales at nova-gas dot com
websales at nova-gas dot com
http://www.nova-gas.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/NOVAGAS
If you have a LinkedIn account, search for us under Companies and follow us if you want.