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ABB MEASUREMENT & ANALYTICS | WHITE PAPER
PUV3402 LED multiwave photometer
A new approach to online process photometry
Introduction
The new ABB PUV3402 LED is a process UV
photometer that is designed for online
measurements in the UV region. This innovative
photometer is based on the use of wavelength
specific LED sources that are unique for this spectral
region.
LED technology offers distinct advantages over a
filter photometer, which has been the industry
standard in process photometers for many years.
The wavelength specific LED sources eliminate the
need for filters and chopper motor.
This means that the LED photometer has no moving
parts. The LED diodes also offer better performance
with less zero drift than existing process
photometers. These advantages correlate to a
reduction in field maintenance.
Traditionally, process photometers have utilized
narrow bandpass filters and a separate source to
make chlorine measurements. With innovative
ABB LED technology, the filters and source can
be replaced by durable LED diodes. An LED, is a
semiconductor device that emits visible light when
electric current passes through it. The light is
monochromomatic and occurs at a single wavelength.
There are many advantages to an LED photometer
over a filter photometer, including less maintenance,
no moving parts, and improved analyzer precision.
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PUV3402 LED
multiwave photometer
The UV LED photometer with
a design concept advantage.
Measurement made easy
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PUV3402 LED MULTIWAVE PHOTOMETER | WP/PUV3402 LED-EN REV. A
%T
Most laboratory spectroscopic measurements
scan across a full spectrum with the use of
a dispersive spectrophotometer. Process
photometers are non-dispersive analyzers that
eliminate a large amount of the spectral region.
Discrete wavelengths are selected in
photometer design to make the desired
measurement. A reference wavelength is
chosen in a region, where none of the stream
components absorb.
A measure wavelength is then chosen in a
region to maximize the measure component’s
absorbance, and minimize the absorbance of
any other stream components.
Figure 1 below shows the UV spectrum of
chlorine, along with the selected reference and
measure wavelengths used. This graph depicts
how process photometers work with only
distinct spectral regions, as opposed to the
entire spectrum.
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Analyzer principle of operation
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The ideal transmitter for
industrial applications
and harsh conditions
Figure 1_Chlorine absorption spectra and wavelength selection
A filter photometer has been one of the industry
standards for continuous chlorine measurements
for years. A photometer provides a fast and
accurate measurement and is able to
withstand the hazardous environments
associated with chlorine. A schematic of a
standard filter photometer can be seen in
Figure 2 below.
Figure 2_PUV3402 optical bench
Detector
Sample cell
Source
Chopper motor
Filter
200 300 400 500 600 700 800
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PUV3402 LED MULTIWAVE PHOTOMETER | WP/PUV3402 LED-EN REV. A
A source emits light that absorbs across the
entire UV region. The light from the source is
focused by lenses L1 and L2. The signal is then
passed through a rotating filter wheel, where the
reference and measure filters are located. These
narrow bandpass filters provide the discrete
wavelengths needed for the measurement. The
chopped signal is passed through another lens,
L3, where the light is collimated and sent through
the measurement cell. The signal is passed
through a final lens, L4, which focuses the light
onto the detector. The electronics of the analyzer
perform an analog to digital conversion of
the signals from the bandpass filters, and a
microprocessor uses matrix algebra to calculate
and report the measured component’s
concentration.
The new UV LED photometer builds on the same
dependable photometer base described above
to offer a simplified optical bench, as can be seen
below in Figure 3.
Figure 3_PUV3402 LED optical bench
For the online measurement in an UV LED
photometer, an assembly of four separate UV
diodes are used. Each diode emits light at a
distinct wavelength. Two of the diodes have
a reference wavelength, and the other two diodes
are selected as the measure wavelength. The diode
assembly is programmed so that it sequentially
pulses a signal through L1. This pulse supplies the
analyzer with the required chopped signal, thus
eliminating the need for a chopper motor and
two lenses. This also means that the UV LED
photometer has no moving parts. L1 sends a
collimated signal through the measurement cell.
Cell windows are located on either side of the cell.
The design of the UV LED photometer completely
isolates the sample cell from all other parts of the
analyzer, which is especially helpful for corrosive
chlorine applications. L2 focuses the signal leaving
the measurement cell onto the detector. The
analyzer then ratios this pulsed signal and
converts it from analog to digital. The micro-
processor uses this digital signal to calculate
the component concentration.
Figure 4_UV LED photometer
Lens 2 Lens 1
Cell window
Sample cell
Detector
Source
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PUV3402 LED MULTIWAVE PHOTOMETER | WP/PUV3402 LED-EN REV. A
Deuterium sources are one of the industry
standards for UV photometers. These source
types produce a good quality signal in the UV
region, however, their initial burn-in time, drift
rate, and life span are limiting factors. Figure 5
below shows a 36 hour stability run from a
photometer using a deuterium source for a
0 to 500 ppm chlorine measurement with
100 % nitrogen in the sample cell. This test was
done during the initial start-up of the analyzer.
Over a 24 hour period, the zero drift rate for this
analyzer is 8 % of the full scale range. This drift
rate does improve to 1 % of the full scale range
over time. However, this source burn-in time can
be days or even weeks.
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PUV3402 LED
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The ideal transmitter for
industrial applications
and harsh conditions
Figure 5_PUV3402 Initial zero drift
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PUV3402 LED MULTIWAVE PHOTOMETER | WP/PUV3402 LED-EN REV. A
The LED diode assembly has been shown to have
a much smaller zero drift rate for chlorine
applications versus a classic deuterium source.
There is also virtually no source burn-in time.
Figure 6 shows a 48 hour stability run of a
UV LED photometer designed for a trace level
chlorine application.
This stability test was done on a 0 to 1000 ppm
chlorine measurement with 100 % nitrogen in the
sample cell. Again, this data was taken at the
initial start-up of the analyzer. Over a 24 hour
period, the drift rate on the UV LED photo-meter
is less than 0.5 % of the full scale range. This is an
8x improvement over the initial deuterium source
drift rate.
Figure 6_PUV3402 LED Initial zero drift
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PUV3402 LED MULTIWAVE PHOTOMETER | WP/PUV3402 LED-EN REV. A
The improvement in zero drift translates to a
more precise chlorine measurement and a longer
time interval between calibrations. One of our
customer sites has reported going from daily
calibration frequency to a weekly one. The life
span of the diode assembly is 4 times longer than
that of a deuterium source, which means that
there will be less analyzer down time due to
routine maintenance.
The diode source assembly offers the same
amount of precision that can be found in filter
photometers with deuterium sources. During
initial development, a traditional filter
photometer with a deuterium source was
calibrated on a 200 ppm chlorine sample. A
separate 100 ppm chlorine sample was then
placed in the sample cell, and the analyzer read
100 ppm. The source and filter wheel were
replaced in the analyzer with a UV LED diode
assembly. The same 100 ppm chlorine sample
read 99 ppm.
The single beam, fixed wavelength principal of
the UV LED photometer has many advantages as
a design concept. Since both the reference and
measure wavelengths pass through the same
optical path, any obstructions of the cell windows
are compensated. This same principle also
counteracts diode and detector aging, and
minimizes the effect of particulates and bubbles
in the sample cell.
The UV LED photometer can make measurements
in the liquid or vapor phase, and the sample cell is
completely isolated from the analyzer electronics.
The sample cell can be made from any metal that
is compatible with the process stream chemistry,
and it also has the capability to be heated up to
150 °C (302 °F) to help ensure the sample remains
in the desired phase. The cell also allows for the
sample pressure to be as high as 500 psig. Many
common stream components, such as water,
do not absorb in the UV region. This means that
there is less chance of interference from the
stream matrix, and it also makes the UV LED
a good instrument to measure hot and wet
samples. These features help make it a very
versatile analyzer that can be used in various
chlorine applications.
The use of the ABB UV LED Process Photometer
offers both rugged and dependable on-line
chlorine measurements. The improvements that
the new LED technology bring to the photometer
produces an analyzer with a higher precision and
less maintenance than a standard filter
photometer. This correlates to a lower cost of
ownership, as well as less analyzer downtime.
Other components, such as hydrogen sulfide,
sulfur dioxide, aromatics, and color
measurements can be made with the same
UV LED mechanics. This novel approach to online
process photometers adds substantial value
to the analytical measurement industry.
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LED technology provides high precision and less maintenance
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The ideal transmitter for
industrial applications
and harsh conditions
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PUV3402 LED MULTIWAVE PHOTOMETER | WP/PUV3402 LED-EN REV. A
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Notes
WP/PUV3402LED-EN Rev. A—05.2018
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ABB Inc.
3567 Jefferson Street North
Lewisburg, WV 24901
USA
Tel: +1 304 647 4358
Email: analyzeit@us.abb.com
abb.com/measurement
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