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About VOC Detectors
Volatile Organic Compounds, or “VOCs”, are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure under normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures. As a result, they have a low boiling point and readily evaporate into the atmosphere, creating potentially toxic conditions for workers. A VOC Detector measures the presence of VOCs and displays a value proportional to the amount of VOC detected, usually measured in ‘parts per million’.
VOCs occur naturally and exist in most all environments. VOCs include both naturally-occurring and man-made compounds. In industrial applications, VOC detectors are most often used to detect the presence of certain highly dangerous VOCs such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and other gases that have been found to cause cancer or other serious health issues.
The most commonly used method for detection of VOCs is a photoionization detector, or “PID”. VOC molecules are complex and easily broken down by high energy photons. PID sensors use a bright ultraviolet light source to knock electrons out of the VOC molecule; the electrons are measured and their flow indicates that VOC molecules are present at the sensor. Each specific type of VOC molecule has an ‘ionization potential’ (IP) value that represents the amount of energy necessary to liberate an electron; this value is measured in ‘electron volts’, or eV. PID sensors have a specified level of energy, also measured in eV, and in general, any compound with an IP value less than the sensor’s eV rating will be ionized and detected. For example, with a 10.6 eV sensor, the presence of benzene (IP = 9.24 eV) will be detected, whereas molecules water vapor (IP = 12.6 eV) will not.
GASMAX II VOC Detector
The GDS Corp GASMAX II gas monitor with PID sensor is an ideal solution for VOC detection. The GASMAX II supports both local and remote sensors, allowing the display unit to be placed in a convenient location for visibility and calibration, while the sensor can be located close to the floor or high in the ceiling, depending on the type of VOC present. PID sensors for both 10.0 eV and 10.6 eV are available. Please contact GDS Corp for more information on the detection of volatile organic compounds.
Contact GDS Corp. for More Information
To determine the best solution for a specific requirement for Gas Detection Equipment, please contact GDS Corp., a US manufacturer of Fixed Gas and Flame Detection Equipment located in Houston, Texas. Their many years of experience with Gas Detection Equipment as well as process and control instruments experience, can be a great resource to determine the best solution for a specific gas or flame detection application.
GDS Gas Detection Products
Our CSA and ATEX certified fixed and transportable gas detectors, gas sensors, flame detectors and alarm and display controllers are truly ‘state of the art’ devices offering unparalleled features and capabilities.
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