Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic, colorless, odorless and flammable gas. It is produced when carbon containing materials do not burn completely to carbon dioxide because of insufficient oxygen.
It cannot be detected by our human senses. We cannot see it, smell it or taste it. But unlike many gases, small amounts are extremely harmful to us. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, temporary loss of consciousness that can lead to a coma, weak pulse, respiratory failure and sadly, death.
Analox offers a choice of wall mount or portable Carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring solutions.
The Ax60+ CO protects users in plant rooms, parking garages and anywhere that carbon monoxide can collect.
A fixed continuous real-time monitor of carbon monoxide (CO).
A multi-gas analyzer to measure: oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and Dew Point in compressed air. The unit can be wall mounted or used as a portable system.
The SDA range monitors carbon dioxide, oxygen, depth, temperature, humidity, and helium, providing reliable data to maintain a comfortable and safe saturation diving chamber environment.
A digital device for monitoring very low levels of carbon monoxide in breathing air.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that can’t be detected by human senses as it’s:
This means that if left undetected by a CO monitor, CO can build up to levels that can cause harm to life.
When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it displaces oxygen within the blood by combining with hemoglobin producing carboxyhemoglobin. This limits the body’s ability to carry oxygen to body tissues including the brain and heart. How quickly this occurs is dependent upon the concentration levels of carbon monoxide being inhaled and how long for.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include:
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is produced as a byproduct of combustion. It is found in the exhaust of internal combustion engines and in the emissions of industrial processes that involve burning fossil fuels. This is an issue for breathing air compressors that rely on the air in the atmosphere to be clean enough to fill breathing air tanks. One solution that companies use to keep that air clean is a compressed air monitor, such as the ACG+ which checks the air before it makes it to the cylinders and if it detects any CO, it shuts off the compressor.
It is vital to keep the atmosphere inside a submarine at safe levels, ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of the crew on board. Monitoring the atmosphere is paramount, especially when it comes to keeping an eye on carbon monoxide (CO). Here is a list of the various ways that CO can be produced onboard:
Having read the dangers posed by CO in the opening paragraph, it is important to accurately monitor levels of CO in the submarine’s atmosphere to ensure the safety of the crew. However, the submarine environment poses an issue for standard industrial CO monitors as electrochemical sensors are extremely cross sensitive to hydrogen making them unsuitable for use onboard a submarine. But our COSAMS (Carbon Monoxide Submarine Atmosphere Monitoring System) doesn’t see this as a problem. It gets around this issue by using a highly accurate GFC CO sensor and can monitor CO in the atmosphere of a submarine regardless of the hydrogen levels in the air.
For CO submarine atmosphere monitoring, Analox recommends the COSAMS (Carbon Monoxide Submarine Atmosphere Monitoring System), find out more about this product below.
Just like the atmosphere in a submarine which is solely reliant on tha air onboard, the breathing air used in diving should also be free from any toxic gasses that could cause harm to life. Carbon monoxide can be produced within diving applications in a number of ways including;
Analox recommends the ACG+ and the SDA range, find out more about these products below.
As CO is produced as a byproduct of combustion, this means that CO is produced in different industrial processes, such as:
Gas monitoring equipment is used in these settings to detect and measure levels of CO and other pollutants, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to protect the health of workers and nearby communities.
Analox recommends using the TEC CO sensor as part of your building management system to provide accurate readings within the area, find out more about this product below.
Remember carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless – it cannot be detected by human senses. Using a CO sensor and monitor will alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide and will offer warnings to rising levels of this poisonous gas.
Analox offers analyzers which are fitted with either an electrochemical CO sensor or a Infrared GFC sensor – so how do these sensors actually work?
Electrochemical carbon monoxide sensors work by using a chemical reaction to measure the concentration of CO gas in air. The sensor consists of three main components: an electrode, a reference electrode and an electrolyte.
When carbon monoxide gas comes into contact with the electrode, it reacts with the material, producing an electrical current. The current is proportional to the amount of CO gas present in the air. The reference electrode and electrolyte maintain a stable voltage and allow the current to be measured, providing an accurate measurement of the CO gas concentration.
Infrared (IR) based gas filter correlation (GFC) CO sensors work by using the absorption of infrared light by CO gas to measure its concentration. The sensor consists of a light source, an IR filter and a detector.
When the IR light passes through the air contaminating CO gas, some of the light is absorbed by the carbon monoxide molecules. The light absorbed is proportional to the concentration of CO gas in the air.
GFC sensors have the advantage of being highly selective and sensitive to CO gas, as well as being less susceptible to interference from other gasses. However they are more complex and usually more costly than the electrochemical sensors.
We use state-of-the-art technology to develop our gas detection equipment. Our products are designed for maximum accuracy and reliability in any environment. Our products are also easy to use, allowing users to quickly detect carbon monoxide levels in their working area.
This monitor uses Gas Filter Correlation (GFC) technology (as mentioned above) to analyze the unique properties of CO onboard a submarine. Monitoring CO onboard a submarine is really difficult for standard industrial sensors as they are cross sensitive to hydrogen. The COSAMS uses a GFC CO sensor which targets the exact wavelength of carbon monoxide, this means that the potential for cross sensitivity from other gasses or water vapor is eliminated.
The COSAMS can also provide real time information and alarms to central Submarine Air Monitoring Systems or to the Submarine Platform Management System.
If you would like more information on the COSAMS, click here to view the product page.
If you would like more information on the ACG+, click here to view the product page. Or if you would like to see the ACG+ in action, please take a look at one of these case studies, our most recent being a visit onboard HMS protector.
– Joint Services Sub Aqua Diving Centre
– Swagelok
Diving system classification societies and industry bodies such as IMCA require/suggest that carbon monoxide levels are maintained at very low levels in a dive system as carbon monoxide is highly toxic. This makes the SDA CO monitor the perfect choice to stay within the requirements.
The SDA CO can be located in sat/dive control or at the compressor. Both the SDA CO and the optional flow panel can be provided as either rack or panel mount.
If you would like more information on the SDA range, click here to view the product page.
The TEC CO sensor can be supplied as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) component for third party systems integration. It can also be incorporated in Analox products such as the SDA CO+ or the ACG+, built specifically for applications measuring sub-ppm gas values.
If you would like more information on the TEC CO, click here to view the product page.
Using a carbon monoxide analyzer or monitor can provide you with peace of mind by ensuring you and your team’s safety from the dangers of CO exposure.
A CO analyzer can accurately measure levels of CO and by ensuring your CO analyzer is regularly maintained you know you and your team are being protected against potentially dangerous levels.
If you have a requirement to monitor carbon monoxide, contact the Analox to discuss the best solution to your problem.
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is so dangerously toxic that it doesn’t warrant a fun fact.