Calibration gas is a gas mixture or reference gas which is used in calibrating analytical instruments as a comparative standard. So, calibration gas has to have a precisely defined composition or nature, like span gas or zero gas, for example, five hundred parts per million carbon monoxide quantity in nitrogen.
You can find that calibration gases play a critical role in providing accuracy in gas detectors like the Honeywell bw microclip xl, through proper and constant calibration. There are even government entities that require verification of the sensor’s accuracy before anyone uses them. If your job requires a calibration gas, you need to learn how to choose properly.
- Gas Detector Types
One thing you have to understand about calibration gas is that there are specific types that you can use within your processes. The sensor detectors usually have two classifications; single gas and multi-gas detectors. A single gas sensor only needs purified single gases to restore the detector’s accuracy, while multi-gas sensors use a customised specialty gas depending on the industrial or lab utilisation.
You can also find that most single gas detectors are calibrated using iso-butane or methane calibration gas. At the same time, the multi-gas usually has four blends of gases that are mixed into the appropriate concentration.
- Gas Purity
Note that impurities inside calibration gases can negatively affect the gas sensor’s sensitivity, making inaccurate results. The gas standard creates an accurate point of reference for verifying the purity and quality of the gases produced. Analytical laboratory gases need pure gases that stick to specific industry standards before using them in different applications.
Nitrogen is a conventional calibration gas that needs to have a purity level of at least 99.995% to achieve accurate results. There are also other gases such as nitrogen, helium, oxygen, argon, and hydrogen that need a determined purity level before being used. It is crucial to get a calibration gas that meets the necessary purification standards.
- Calibration Gas Quality
Qualitative analytical measurements are important in getting accuracy within different manufacturing and laboratory processes. Using low-quality gases not only pose a threat to the staff’s safety, but it also causes massive property damage when ignited. When choosing a calibration gas, you should choose one that is traceable and gravimetrically manufactured to the NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology.) The certification and trackability of the generic gases act as proof of accuracy.
You also have to keep in mind expired gases because they can negatively affect how the calibration gas can produce accurate results. You can check the calibration gas cylinders for their expiry dates.
- Calibration Gas Customisation
Manufacturers have to take extra steps when producing calibration gas to ensure it aligns with your applications. Most of the time, they accept calibration gas customisation to ensure you get the exact type of gas for your application, ensuring the numbers it produces are not inaccurate.
- Storage and Delivery Methods
The quantity of the gas needed for the calibration needs to be properly assessed before getting the disposable cylinders. The cylinders ensure the calibration gas can be used at any time to set sensor parameters. Usually, the gas comes in disposable cylinders, ampules, or cryogenic cylinders with a capacity varying from 10, 34, 58, and 110 litres.
The next time you acquire calibration gas for use in specific applications, it would be best to get them from trusted suppliers like Coregas.
