The measurement of inlet and/or exit gas compositions is important in many fermentation studies.

It signifies the

oxygen uptake of the system, the carbon dioxide evolution rate and the respiration rate of the microbial culture.

An infrared gas analyser measures trace gases by determining the absorption of an emitted infrared light source through a certain air sample. Infrared gas analyzers usually have two chambers, one is a reference chamber while the other chamber is a measurement chamber. Infrared light is emitted from some type of source on one end of the chamber, passes through a series of chambers that contains given quantities of the various gases in question.

A light source emits light at a very wide range of wavelengths.

When a light source is exposed to a gas stream containing carbon dioxide, energy from the infrared region of the spectrum is absorbed by the gas.

When this molecule absorbs energy, the atoms interact with each other. The absorbed energy makes the atoms vibrate and rotate, which is specific for a given molecule.

When IR light is absorbed by the molecule, the carbon atom is vibrated between the two oxygen atoms. The amount of light absorbed by the gas stream is directly proportional to the carbon dioxide content in the gas stream.

Vibrational interaction between carbon and oxygen molecules.

WORKING MODEL
A luft detector consists of two chambers, either linked by a micro flow sensor or divided by a diaphragm. The chambers are sealed with a target gas at a low pressure. IR transparent windows are fitted to seal the chambers and the same intensity of pulsed infrared radiation is received by both chambers when no target gas is present.

A regular incandescent light bulb is a good infrared source. A heated wire filament, radiates sufficient energy in the 1-5 micron range for the detection of most hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Modulating the light. Depending on the type of detector used, it may be necessary to modulate the light source, turning it on and off at a specific frequency, in order for the detector and corresponding circuitry to function properly. Typically, this is done by passing the light through a chopper blade, which resembles a fan blade. The blade interrupts the light, creating a pulsing frequency. The frequency is determined by the speed of the motor and arrangement of the chopper blade.

The advantage of the chopper is that it is simple and can provide a high chopping frequency, one which would otherwise be unattainable by a pulsing filament source.

This is due to the fact that the filament is a heated wire and is limited to how fast it can be heated up and cooled down.
The large size of the chopper and motor assembly can be a liability for applications that require a simple, rugged instrument for use in harsh locations. For this reason, pulsing filament sources are used whenever possible. The pulsating filament source typically provides a wavelength in the range of 2-5 microns, depending on the filament temperature and bulb enclosure material.

There are two basic types of gas analyzers, namely dispersive and nondispersive. The difference between the two is the way in which the specific wavelength of interest is extracted from the infrared source. Dispersive types utilize an optical device such as a grating or prism to spread the light spectrum over an area containing the wavelength of interest. Nondispersive types use discrete optical bandpass filters, similar to sunglasses that are used for eye protection to filter out unwanted UV radiation. Almost all commercial IR instruments are of nondispersive type.

Gas cells are often designed in such a way as to allow the light path to interact with the sample gas. This is normally done by using a tube that allows light to enter from one end and exit the other, where it meets the detector.

The path length, or the distance in which the light passes through the gas, is called the length of the gas cell. This length is in direct proportion to the amount of radiation absorbed. A longer path length results in a greater signal using the same amount of radiation.
Since the gas cells are in direct contact with the gas sample, it is desirable to construct them using chemically inert materials to ensure the long-term stability and reliability of the instrument.

An IR detector is essentially a temperature sensor and is, therefore, potentially very sensitive to changes in the ambient temperature. However, a properly designed detector can be operated between -40C to 60C without being susceptible to ambient temperature fluctuations. Most detectors do not react well to sudden temperature variations. The instrument typically requires 10 to 20 minutes to achieve temperature equilibrium. Generally, the detector unit is operated at a temperature slightly above the surrounding temperature to prevent condensation. Water vapor condensation at the optics and/or on the detector can seriously affect the performance of the analyzer.

Poisoning: In catalytic sensors chemical compounds, such as hydrogen can poison the catalyst in the sulfide, silicon compounds, and chlorinated or fluorinated sensor and cause the sensor to lose sensitivity. IR analyzers do not suffer from this problem. Burn Out: Catalytic senors will burn out if exposed to high gas concentrations. Again, IR detectors do not have this problem. Life Expectancy: Catalytic sensors have a life expectancy of about 1-2 years, while solid-state sensors typically last more than 10 years. A well designed IR unit also has a life expectancy of more than 10 years.