Jumo monitors ammonia leakage

April 2007 Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring

Due to its good thermodynamic properties, ammonia is often used as a coolant in small refrigeration systems and in large industrial plants. However, ammonia is a corrosive and poisonous chemical that can be a potential hazard and which requires continuous monitoring. Careful monitoring is even more important if the plant concerned is being supplied with water from rivers or open waters.

Most refrigeration systems consist of a primary circuit (with ammonia) and a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit usually contains a mixture of water and glycol. There is a potential risk of leakage at the interface between the primary and secondary circuits; for instance the refrigeration piping can corrode. If this piping is made from copper, the wall thickness of the pipe may become so thinned by the chemical reaction of the copper with the ammonia that a hole occurs.

To monitor this, Jumo has developed the new Aquis 500 series as an economical system to detect ammonia. The ion-sensitive sensor operates over a range from 0,01 mg/l to 20 g/l and consists of a pH glass electrode and a reference electrode. Both electrodes are immersed in a special electrolyte. An ammonia-permeable membrane separates the pH and reference electrodes from the medium being measured.

To achieve optimum detection of the ammonia, Jumo has a special flow-through fitting for the ammonia sensor. This facilitates connection of the sensor to process piping.

The associated transmitter or controller is easy to configure via a simple menu-driven interface. In the normal display setting, the Aquis 500 shows the principal measurement and the temperature, either as a numerical display or as a bar graph. A trend indicator can also be activated.

The IP67 enclosure protection allows the instrument to be used either as a panel-mounted instrument or as an on-site measuring device. Condensation in the electronics is prevented by a diffusion-open membrane.

Up to two electrically isolated analog outputs (0/4-20 mA or 0/2-10 V) can be configured as process value or control outputs. The type of output and scaling are user-programmable.

Another two outputs can be fitted with changeover relays. These relays enable limit monitoring. Three power supply options are available: 12 V d.c., 20-53 V a.c./d.c. and 110-240 V a.c.

For more information contact Anastas Schnippenkotter, ASSTech Process Electronics & Instrumentation, +27(0)11 708 9200, [email protected]

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