Heath Consultants EI-5 User Manual
EI-5
Ethane Identier
User Manual
LIABILITY
Every care has been taken in the preparation of this document, but Hetek Solutions Inc. does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions and their consequences. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. This
document does not constitute a specication or basis for a contract. Your statutory
rights under law are not affected.
AREAS OF USE
Exposure to certain chemicals can result in a loss of sensitivity of the separation
column and semi-conductor sensor. Where such environments are known or suspected it is recommended that more frequent response checks are carried out.
Do not use instrument in potentially hazardous atmospheres containing greater
than 21% Oxygen.
STORAGE, HANDLING AND TRANSIT
The instrument is designed to handle harsh environments. If not subject to misuse
or malicious damage, the instrument will provide many years of reliable service.
Under conditions of prolonged storage the batteries should be removed to prevent
any leakage and damaging the instrument. The instrument should be stored in the
original carrying case when not in use.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................1
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION ........................................................................2
INSTRUMENT SPECIFICATIONS ..............................................................4
STANDARD KIT COMPONENTS...................................................................5
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS .....................................................................6
DATA LOGGING USE ....................................................................................8
INTERPRETING READINGS......................................................................11
TYPICAL ELUTION TIMES .........................................................................12
MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS ..........................................13
CALIBRATION VALIDITY ...........................................................................14
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ............................................................15
TROUBLE SHOOTING ..............................................................................16
REPLACEMENT PARTS & ACCESSORIES .............................................17
WARRANTIES AND WARRANTY REPAIR ...............................................18
CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE
LOCATIONS..................................................................................19
INTRODUCTION
The Hetek Ethane Identier, Model EI-5, is a portable, highly sensitive battery operated combustible gas analyzer designed specically to detect the
presence of Ethane in Natural Gas by elution (separation).
The Ethane Identier is a supplementary instrument, used primarily when
it is necessary to determine in the eld, whether or not a particular combustible indication is the result of escaping utility natural gas or a conict
gas such as naturally occurring methane.
Occasionally, it becomes necessary for a gas utility to identify a combus-
tible gas or vapor in the eld, to determine whether it is the gas normally
distributed by that utility, or perhaps a fermentation gas (marsh gas, landll
gas, soil gas) that is sometimes present in the ground or in sub-surface
structures.
It has been found that a satisfactory “tracer” in natural gas distribution
areas is Ethane. Ethane is usually present in signicant concentrations in
natural gas, but it is not present in the general run of conict gases, such
as fermentation gases, gasoline and solvents. In many areas, natural gas
being distributed is de-ethanized to the level that the Ethane component is
not detectable by old style hot-wire instruments. Ethane is being stripped
out at the gas elds or scrubbing centres and diverted as a feedstock for
the petrochemical industry. However, some residual Ethane still remains in
natural gas and this Ethane is readily detectable by highly sensitive instru-
ments such as the Hetek Ethane Identier.
It must be understood that this instrument is not
a quantitative instrument and does not replace a
Combustible Gas Indicator (C.G.I.). Users should
continue to use a Heath Detecto Pak Infrared (DPIR) or Combustible Gas Indicator to locate and
measure leaks.
Features:
• Detects the presence or absence of ethane in less than 2 minutes
• Graphical color display
• Building data logging
• Wrapping memory
• One second logging rate, 64000 reads
• Carrier gas not required/ Built in pump
EI-5 Manual Rev A 1
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
When the presence of a combustible gas or vapor has been established
with a C.G.I., use the Ethane Identier with the internal pump to draw a
sample into the instrument. The valve should be in the “Sample” position.
No display indication will occur as the sample is being drawn into the instrument. As the sample is drawn into the instrument, a portion of the sample is trapped inside the instrument in the short sample loop. Switching the
valve to “Time” position sends this trapped sample through the separation
column where the various components in the sample are separated by
their molecular size. The internal pump is used to push the sample through
the instrument.
If more than one type of combustible component is present in the sample
the lightest one (smallest molecule) will be released rst followed by the
next heavier (larger molecule).
These components pass over the sensor in the instrument and are observed visually on a display. If a record of the chromatographic analysis is required the data logger records the date and time and a value at
one second intervals. Normally, a full-scale graphical peak will occur for
each component but not always, particularly, when low concentrations are
being analyzed. The instrument can provide reliable results with sample
concentrations measured on a C.G.I. of 800 ppm to 100 LEL natural gas.
However, for optimum results attempt to analyze samples in a concentration of about 10 LEL to 75 LEL. To again emphasize the design of the
instrument, there is no indication on the display when the valve switch is in
the “Sample” position. It is mandatory to use a C.G.I. to determine sample
concentration before using the Ethane Identier. Zeroing the meter exactly
at “O” is not critical as the graph may drift during the test. This normally
presents little problem to the end result.
Electronic Principle: The electrical schematic is based on the semi-con-
ductor type sensor (metallic oxide bead). The Hetek Ethane Identier uses
a semi-conductor type sensor that is pre-determined to be ultra sensitive
to the light hydrocarbons. The tough bead of metallic oxide, semi-conductor material, coats itself with oxygen molecules, which is considered
EI-5 Manual Rev A 2
the equilibrium condition in clean air. Any substance foreign to clean air
disturbs this balance, changing the ion ow in the conductance band of
the semi-conductor detects the low concentration and early presence of
foreign gases (methane, ethane, propane) rather than giving a quantitative measure of their concentration. As the various components or hydrocarbons elute through the separation column they react on the semi-con-
ductor and the resulting change in electrical resistance is amplied and
presented visually on the instrument display.
Flow System: The ow system is so arranged that the Ethane Identier
cannot be used as a leak locator. It is set up as a eld type gas chromato-
graph to differentiate between gases by means of a multi-port selector
valve, short sample loop and separation column.
Valve “Sample” Position: With the selector valve set to “Sample” the
sample is drawn into the instrument and lls the short sample loop. Excess
sample passes through the sample system and exits through the port on
the end of the instrument. The sample does not pass over the sensor in
this position so no meter readings occur.
Valve “Time” Position: After a gas sample has been drawn into the instrument, the combustible gas is present in the short sample loop. Switching the valve to the “Time” position causes the internal pump to push the
sample through the separation column (Chromatograph), over the sensor,
and then exhausts it to the outside of the instrument case at the vent port
located at the bottom of the instrument.
EI-5 Manual Rev A 3
INSTRUMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Instrument Weight: 1.3 lbs (0.59 kg)
Carrying Case Weight: 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) Includes Hydrocarbon
Filter and accessories.
Instrument Dimensions
(LxWxH): 8.25 x 4.0 x 1.25 in (21 x 10 x 3 cm)
Carry Case Dimensions
(LxWxH): 17.5 x 13.5 x 4.5 in (45 x 34 x 12 cm)
Sensitivity: 16 PPM C2H6 In Air (Detects Ethane in
800 ppm sample of natural gas which con-
tains only 2% Ethane
by volume)
EI-5 Manual Rev A 4
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