6. What options are there for the Cyclone Long Pathlength Gas Cell?

The Cyclone range of long pathlength gas cells can be provided in many variations. There are three basic cell sizes:

P/N 24102 Cyclone C2 fixed pathlengths of 0.5m, 1.0m, 1.5m, 2.0m, 2.5m

P/N 24105 Cyclone C5 fixed and variable pathlengths of 1.0m, 2.0m, 3.0m, 4.0m, 5.0m, 6.0m, 7.0m and 8.0m

P/N 24110 Cyclone C10 fixed and variable pathlengths of 2.1m, 3.2m, 4.2m, 5.3m, 6.3m, 7.4m, 8.5m, 9.5m, and 10.6m

The choice of cell will depend on the concentration of gas to be detected, it's temperature and pressure.

All versions of the Cyclone cells can be provided at a set fixed pathlength, but the C5 and C10 cells can also be offered as variable long pathlength gas cells. This allows for far greater flexibility by choosing an appropriate pathlength for a specific concentration of gas to be analyzed. The cell can be adjusted for use with strongly absorbing gases (reduce the pathlength) or with small concentrations of gas (increase the pathlength).

The bodies of the cells can be provided in either borosilicate glass or nickel coated aluminium. Choice of the body will be determined by the nature of the chemical to be studied. All cells can be run under vacuum conditions, but the metal bodied cells are rated to study gases at a pressure up to 125psi, whereas the glass bodied cells are only rated to 28psi (1 atmosphere above ambient pressure). There are optional pressure gauge kits for the C5 and C10 cells, to monitor the pressure of gas within these gas cells if desired.

KBr, ZnSe or CaF2 windows can be used in the all cells. However, for metal bodied cells, KBr windows should not be used due to the increased pressure specification. Choice of the window is dependent on the spectral frequency range offered by the material and it’s chemical resistance to the vapor being analyzed.

Each version of Cyclone gas cell can be heated if the appropriate heating jacket and temperature controller is used. These are P/N 24302 for the C2 cell, P/N 24305 for the C5 cell and P/N 24310 for the C10 cell. The heating jacket slips over the entire gas cell body and maintains the gas cell internal environment at temperatures from ambient up to 200C. Temperature control helps to prevent gases from condensing within the gas cell, if the gas cell itself is cooler than an incoming gas to be analyzed. Condensed products could cause contamination or memory effects within the gas cell. It is always preferable to purge the gas cell with dry nitrogen before and after use, even if using the cell at temperatures above ambient.

The mirrors in the cell are mounted on a nickel coated aluminium metal frame and are coated in gold with an additional protective coating.

Viton perfluoroelastomer O-ring seals are used throughout the Cyclone range of gas cells as standard.

Also see answer to the question "What pathlength gas cell do I need for my samples?"