Oxygen Analyzers

In many applications, the concentration of oxygen is a critical factor, and accurate measurement is important. Precise oxygen measurements can help ensure that processes run efficiently and safely and prevent costly errors due to insufficient or excess oxygen in a gas stream.

Oxygen analyzers concentrations can be measured using electrochemical oxygen sensors, which utilize a chemical reaction within the sensor to produce an electrical output proportional to the oxygen level, or optode-based optical oxygen analyzers, which use light-emitting material to measure the oxygen levels in a sample. Each type of sensor has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding Oxygen Analyzers: How They Work and Why They’re Vital

For example, electrochemical sensors are able to provide quick response times and can operate in a range of temperatures, making them ideal for industrial applications, such as monitoring explosion hazards in glove box environments or optimizing furnace combustion by ensuring the proper oxygen to fuel ratio. In contrast, optode-based sensors offer the advantage of being able to monitor oxygen levels down to trace levels and are less sensitive to interfering gases.

Medical oxygen sensors are used in a variety of health and medical applications, including anesthesia monitoring, infant incubators, blood gas analysis, and more. For example, during anesthesia administration, a qualified anesthesia personnel must be present to ensure that the patient is receiving an adequate amount of oxygen. This can be done by monitoring pulse oximetry or by using an oxygen analyzer with a low-oxygen alarm. Regardless of the medical application, an oxygen analyzer is a valuable tool to have in the operating room or anywhere else in the hospital.