Onsite hydrogen generators for the laboratory have accumulated over one million hours of field use at companies where every hour of analytical time is critical
Proton Energy Systems's family of onsite hydrogen generators for the laboratory have accumulated over one million hours of field use at companies where every hour of analytical time is critical, and a reliable supply of extremely pure hydrogen gas is essential.
Hundreds of chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, hydrocarbon processing facilities, environmental and drug testing labs, hospitals and alternative fuel researchers around the world no longer tolerate missed hydrogen deliveries, impure gas, defective valves or bad connections that can mean repeat testing and increased costs.
Instead, they are using Proton's laboratory hydrogen generators to provide a pure (99.9999%), reliable, safe supply of hydrogen carrier gas for gas chromatography (GC) and fuel gas for flame ionistion detector (FID) and other hydrogen-consuming analysers.
Ian Brown, UKM QC operations and development manager, Avecia Fine Chemicals, Scotland explains: "When a hydrogen cylinder runs out half way through a long chromatography run, our lab's costs go up because we have to begin the analysis again.
"As a result, plant production suffers.
"Proton's on-site hydrogen generator assures us a continuous supply of pure hydrogen for FID and GC applications, and no down time".
The units, including Proton's Hogen GC 300 (300cc/minute) and 600 (600cc/minute) generators, deliver hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of cylinder gas and at pressures (up to 13.8 bar) compatible with the latest gas chromatographs, meeting requirements for fast GC techniques.
Proton's Hogen GC units offer a unique-to-the-market internal palladium membrane dryer, eliminating the need for desiccant cartridge change-outs, which interrupt analysis operations and cost an average of $400 per year in other hydrogen generators that employ desiccant drying systems.
Scott Dickerson, lab supervisor, Valero Refining, Louisiana, said, "We had to manage desiccant change-outs in our old hydrogen generator.
"The Hogen generator's palladium drying system means we've eliminated this maintenance step.
"The control panel makes it easy to change pressure levels.
"We just add water and let it run". The Hogen GC hydrogen generators' small footprint is designed to fit easily on laboratory bench tops, offering an always-on, easily-accessible hydrogen supply.
The systems' internal self-diagnostic features, high visibility lighted display, internal/external leak detection and remote alarm capabilities can increase lab safety and productivity.
Nick Palaio, microsystems lab manager at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, uses a Proton generator for its economy, reliability and set-it-and-leave-it system.
"In my application, flame ionisation detection, hydrogen produced from a hydrogen generator is cheaper and requires less labour to maintain.
"Proton Energy Systems's generator offers features such as a built-in palladium dryer, water auto-fill and no requirement for caustic solution.
"These features translate into low maintenance not have to attend to it for weeks or months at a time".
Hogen GC systems may be tailored for a variety of laboratory applications and capacities.
A single Hogen hydrogen generator can supply up to 10 GC FIDs, while multiple Hogen GC units can be ganged together for additional capacity.
Keith Hall, managing director, Hall Analytical Laboratories, Manchester UK, said: "The Proton hydrogen generator performed flawlessly. "I was pleased with its high pressure operation, which is lacking in other units.
"The unit's small footprint is particularly useful on our limited bench space.
"I can highly recommend the Proton generator to anyone who requires high purity hydrogen for both low and high pressure applications with minimal service requirements".
The Hogen GC laboratory hydrogen generator is manufactured under ISO 9001:2000 compliant quality systems, bears CE, Ex, and TUV US and Canada marks (equivalent to UL and CSA), and is available with both US and international electrical cordsets.
The Ex mark indicates that Proton's generator is compliant with the rigorous requirements of the European Atex hazardous area explosion protection legislation.
Proton Energy Systems will provide additional information on Atex classification upon request.
