VitalSensors Product Technology Benefits

VitalSensors infrared systems measure only the molecules of interest; VS sensors do not extrapolate concentrations using temperature, pressure, mass-flow or density.  We are insensitive to residual substances/solids which can interfere with a traditional process control instruments. Pressure spikes and flow variation do not affect an infrared measurement.  Therefore, VitalSensors offers plant QC personnel with the highest level of accuracy on the market; as well as the opportunity to achieve inline process control in applications which were previously not possible.  Click here for performance charts comparing VitalSensors to older technologies for measuring Alcohol and CO2.

VS-3000 / 1000 Mid-IR Inline Sensors

The VitalSensors VS-1000 and VS-3000 Series Sensors are compact industrial mid-infrared spectrometers that measure the contents of liquids directly with great precision.  A common physics package accommodates various narrow band pass interference filters for each detector element and isolates these specific infrared wavelengths for the component being measured. Our sensors are logarithmic which is more accurate by a factor of 100 over a traditional linear sensor.  A highly accurate thermistor to measure temperature and an optical element that creates infrared absorption by means of ATR or Trans-ATR™ are also key components of the sensor.

The current generation of VitalSensors products measure one, two or three concentrations along with temperature.

Infrared Spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy works because chemical bonds have specific frequencies which vibrate at corresponding energy levels.  The resonant frequencies are determined by the shape of the molecular potential energy surfaces, the masses of the atoms and eventually, by the associated vibronic coupling.  In order to measure a sample, infrared light is passed through the sample, and the amount of energy absorbed by the substances chemical bonds is recorded.  Over the years, detailed absorption tables of bonds in organic molecules have been developed and are used to identify and measure samples very precisely.  VitalSensors products use the Beer-Lambert Law which is central to molecular spectroscopy.  Beer-Lambert allows for determination of the Molar Absorptivity, a characteristic which indicates how much light of a particular wavelength a sample absorbs.

Today infrared spectroscopy is widely used in laboratories and for quality control.  Most of these instruments are extremely expensive.  One of VitalSensors core company goals is providing affordable in-line, infrared, instruments affordable for large-scale deployment in process control applications.

No Maintenance Required

VS-3000 / VS-1000 Sensor Systems are solid state devices which contain no moving parts, therefore there are no routine maintenance requirements. The instrument is designed to operate 24x7, mean time to failure is over 50,000 hours.