Back to the Basics: Reliability

The Flame Temperature Analyzer has some important reliability features not found in other types:

1. “Live Zero” - The zero signal is actually a 500°C temperature produced by the sensing flame when no combustibles are present. Problems that might otherwise go undetected in other analyzer types can be detected in the Flame Temperature analyzer by their effect on this “live zero.” Loss of fuel pressure, loss of fuel regulation, oxygen starvation and flameout, loss of sample flow, failure of the measuring circuit, large pressure or flow disturbances, etc., will result in a disturbance of the zero signal that can be detected by a “down scale” malfunction alarm set to -10% LFL, and by drift in the analyzer reading below zero. 
2. Flow Proving - The flow through the analyzer flame cell must be effectively monitored. Because the sample enters the sensing flame through diffusion rather than injection through a capillary, the presence of sample in the flame cell is sufficient to ensure a good sample. This is in contrast to the situation where a clogged capillary prevents the sample from reaching the burner of a FID and so produces an undetectable loss of reading.
3. Desensitizing Agents - The flame temperature analyzer is very resistant to desensitizing agents. The most significant effect of these agents is an accumulation within the sampling system and flame cell that must be removed and cleaned during periodic maintenance.
4. Leaks - The flame temperature analyzer uses the same flow path and sampling conditions during calibration as during sampling. A problem with the sampling system is therefore much more likely to be detected during the calibration process than for other analyzer types in which the calibration gas flows through a different path than the sample.