More Problems Solved with the AccuSense

The AccuSense Chemical Analysis System from SEER Technology leverages Dual-Hyphenated Gas Chromatography (DHGC) to address the limitations of traditional air monitoring technologies. Below, we compare the weaknesses of Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) sensors, Electrochemical sensors, Infrared (IR) sensors, Photoionization Detectors (PID), Mass Spectrometer Gas Chromatographs (GC-MS), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) sensors against the strengths of AccuSense, demonstrating how it revolutionizes environmental air monitoring.

Comparison of Weaknesses vs. AccuSense Strengths

Technology Key Weaknesses AccuSense Strengths
LEL Sensors
  • Limited to detecting flammable gases at high concentrations (percentage of LEL).
  • No chemical specificity; cannot identify specific compounds.
  • Insensitive to trace-level (PPB/PPM) concentrations.
  • Prone to false readings in oxygen-deficient environments.
  • Detects, identifies, and quantifies up to 100 specific chemicals with sub-PPB sensitivity, far beyond LEL thresholds.
  • HyperSignature Technology generates 180,000 data points for precise 3D chemical signatures, eliminating false positives.
  • Dynamic Range Shifting (DRS) adapts from trace (PPB) to high concentrations without sensor failure.
  • Advanced Environmental Calibration (AEC) ensures accuracy regardless of environmental conditions like humidity or oxygen levels.
Electrochemical Sensors
  • Limited to specific gases (e.g., CO, H₂S); cannot detect broad chemical ranges.
  • Prone to cross-sensitivity, leading to false positives/negatives.
  • Requires frequent recalibration and sensor replacement due to degradation.
  • Sensitive to humidity, temperature, and pressure fluctuations.
  • Detects and differentiates up to 100 chemicals, including VOCs and toxic gases, with no cross-sensitivity.
  • No consumables or sensor replacements; uses ambient air as carrier gas, reducing maintenance costs.
  • AEC corrects for environmental variables, ensuring reliable data in all conditions.
  • 24/7/365 continuous monitoring with 3-minute sample times, no recalibration needed.
Infrared Sensors (IR)
  • Limited to gases with specific IR absorption (e.g., CO₂, CH₄); cannot detect many VOCs or toxicants.
  • Lower sensitivity (PPM range), unsuitable for trace-level detection.
  • Interference from water vapor and dust affects accuracy.
  • Not suitable for complex chemical mixtures.
  • DHGC with multi-dimensional separation identifies a wide range of chemicals, including VOCs, at sub-PPB levels.
  • AEC mitigates interference from humidity, dust, or other environmental factors.
  • Handles complex mixtures via two independent chromatographic columns, preventing masking or aliasing.
  • Real-time speciation and quantification, ideal for diverse applications like wildfire toxicity or industrial emissions.
Photoionization Detectors (PID)
  • Detects total VOCs without identifying specific compounds.
  • Prone to false positives due to non-specific detection and cross-sensitivity.
  • Requires UV lamp replacements and calibration, increasing costs.
  • Limited sensitivity (PPM range), not effective for trace-level detection.
  • HyperSignature Technology identifies specific chemicals with 3D signatures, eliminating false positives.
  • Sub-PPB detection sensitivity surpasses PID capabilities, enabling early hazard detection.
  • No consumables; ambient air as carrier gas reduces operational costs.
  • 24/7/365 operation with wireless connectivity (Radio, Cellular, Ethernet) for real-time reporting.
Mass Spectrometer Gas Chromatographs (GC-MS)
  • Requires lab-based operation, not field-deployable for real-time monitoring.
  • Needs inert carrier gases (e.g., helium), increasing costs and logistics.
  • Complex sample preparation and long analysis times (hours).
  • High maintenance and operational costs.
  • Field-deployable with rugged design for fixed or mobile use; 16-hour battery or 110/230 VAC power.
  • No consumables; uses ambient air, eliminating the need for carrier gases.
  • Real-time analysis in 3 minutes, ideal for HAZMAT, industrial, and emergency response.
  • Low cost of ownership with minimal maintenance and no calibration gases.
FTIR Sensors
  • Limited to gases with strong IR absorption; poor for non-polar compounds.
  • Interference from water vapor and CO₂ reduces accuracy in humid environments.
  • High cost and complexity; requires skilled operators.
  • Lower sensitivity (PPM range) compared to advanced chromatography.
  • DHGC detects a broad range of polar and non-polar compounds with sub-PPB sensitivity.
  • AEC ensures accuracy in humid or variable environments, unlike FTIR.
  • Push-button operation requires minimal training, enhancing usability.
  • Cost-effective with no consumables and low maintenance, ideal for continuous monitoring.

Key Advantages of AccuSense

  • Unmatched Chemical Specificity: Identifies up to 100 chemicals with HyperSignature Technology, generating 180,000 data points for precise 3D signatures, overcoming the non-specificity of LEL, PID, and Electrochemical sensors.
  • Trace-Level Detection: Achieves sub-PPB sensitivity, surpassing the PPM limitations of LEL, IR, PID, and FTIR sensors, enabling early detection of hazardous gases.
  • No Consumables: Uses ambient air as a carrier gas, eliminating the need for costly carrier gases (GC-MS) or sensor replacements (Electrochemical, PID).
  • Environmental Robustness: Advanced Environmental Calibration (AEC) corrects for humidity, temperature, and pressure, unlike IR, Electrochemical, PID, and FTIR sensors, which suffer from environmental interference.
  • Real-Time and Continuous: 24/7/365 monitoring with 3-minute sample times, unlike lab-based GC-MS or periodic sampling systems, ideal for industrial, HAZMAT, and community protection.
  • Field Deployability: Rugged, portable design with wireless connectivity (Radio, Cellular, Ethernet) and CERES Plume integration, surpassing the lab-bound limitations of GC-MS and FTIR.

Conclusion

AccuSense’s Dual-Hyphenated Gas Chromatography technology overcomes the critical weaknesses of LEL, Electrochemical, IR, PID, GC-MS, and FTIR sensors, delivering lab-quality chemical detection, identification, and quantification in real-time. Its no-consumables design, environmental robustness, and field deployability make it the ideal solution for industrial monitoring, emergency response, and community air quality protection.