9 Bullets to Troubleshoot Your Analyzer
9 Bullets to Troubleshoot Your Analyzer
Issues with your sampling system due to outdated skills can spell major problems including: analyzer downtime, unexpected maintenance costs, and even damage to your team’s credibility as analytical instrumentation professionals. Your sampling system design or routine operations and maintenance training and procedures may be the culprit – and it’s harming your operation more than you think. Tony Waters is widely acknowledged as the leading expert in the design of sampling systems. His book, Industrial Sampling Systems, captures the knowledge acquired during a career of more than 50 years of practical experience with Industrial Process Analyzers. Below, Waters tackles nine of the most common sample system questions he’s encountered.
Seek Expert Advice
”Why can’t I remove (or re-vaporize) the liquid condensate in my gas sample?”
It’s because the sample has already fractionated and the gas analysis has changed.
”My filter blocks often, so should I be using a bigger filter?” 
Yes, a bigger filter will last longer, but it may cause unacceptable time delay.
”Why is excessive time delay such a common problem with sampling systems?”
It’s a common problem as time delay is invisible. An analyzer that is ‘99% reliable’ may be reliably measuring what happened yesterday.
”Should I use a probe?”
Most of the time, yes. A probe can exclude some of the solids or liquids in the process fluid, and provide a faster response to process change.
”What is the best size of tube or pipe for the sample transport lines?”
The best size is the one that provides the desired speed, turbulent flow and reasonable pressure drop, without having an excessive flow rate.
”Is there software to design sampling systems?”
Software is useless if you don’t know what you’re doing.
”What pore size of sintered stainless steel filter is best to protect an analyzer?”
Any one you like. They all stop the same size particles!
”What’s a key difference between the system design for a filter and for a coalescer?”
The key difference is you can have a fast bypass flow from a filter, but the coalescer bypass flow must be slow.
”What’s the most common mistake that people make with analyzer sampling systems?”
The most common mistake is choosing the lowest bidder without having a clear specification of what is to be provided.
Seek Expert Instruction
Managing an analytical instrumentation operation is no small task. Experienced staff members are in short supply and you can’t spend time training new hires on your own – you’re expected to manage increasingly complex operations with limited technician and engineering time. We can help. Our Sample System Problem Solving and Maintenance (SSM) training instructs on fundamental and advanced practices in design, operation, and maintenance – empowering professionals to plan more accurately and maintain more carefully, with minimal error and greater system integrity. We’re hosting an upcoming SSM class at our Swagelok Calgary training facility March 13-14, 2017. Space is limited and our registration deadline is March 3rd, 2017
Learn more about the Sample System Problem Solving and Maintenance training HERE or if you're ready to register, click on the banner below.
