Process primers

What this track covers

Knowing the technology is half the job; knowing the process is the other half. Each primer explains a process from the ground up, says which gases matter and why, and where the analyser sits.

Lessons, in order

1. Combustion, excess air and flue gas oxygen explainedBurners need slightly more air than the exact amount that burns the fuel, so that combustion is complete.Beginner3 min
2. How an air separation plant works and what is measuredAn air separation unit compresses air, removes water and CO2, cools it until it liquefies and distils the liquid into oxygen, nitrogen and argon, which boil at different temperatures.Beginner3 min
3. PSA, VPSA and membrane gas generators explainedPSA nitrogen generators use carbon molecular sieve to adsorb oxygen from compressed air, giving nitrogen with ppm to percent residual oxygen.Beginner3 min
4. Heat treatment furnace atmospheres explainedA furnace atmosphere protects the metal from oxidation or adds carbon to its surface.Intermediate3 min
5. Hydrogen electrolysers and gas analysis: what to measureAn electrolyser splits water into hydrogen at one electrode and oxygen at the other.Intermediate3 min
6. Biogas, landfill gas and digesters explainedAnaerobic digestion converts organic waste into biogas: methane, CO2, water vapour and traces of H2S.Beginner3 min
7. Controlled-Atmosphere fruit storage explainedFruit keeps breathing after harvest, consuming oxygen and releasing CO2.Beginner3 min
8. Cement kiln gas analysis explained: O2, CO and safetyA cement kiln burns fuel to heat raw meal to about 1450 C.Intermediate3 min
9. Steel plant gases: coke oven, blast furnace, converterIntegrated steelworks make three main by-product fuel gases: coke oven gas, rich in hydrogen and methane; blast furnace gas, lean and mostly CO, CO2 and nitrogen; and converter gas, rich in CO.Intermediate3 min
10. Emission monitoring (CEMS) basics: what a system doesA continuous emission monitoring system measures pollutants and oxygen in stack gas and reports concentrations corrected to a reference oxygen and dry basis.Intermediate3 min
11. Compressed air quality and dew point (ISO 8573-1)ISO 8573-1 classifies compressed air purity by particles, water and oil.Beginner3 min
12. Inert gas blanketing in pharma and chemical plantsBlanketing fills the space above a liquid or powder with nitrogen so that oxygen stays below the limit at which a flame can spread.Intermediate3 min
13. Glove boxes and Controlled-Atmosphere chambers explainedA glove box is a sealed chamber filled with nitrogen or argon in which oxygen and moisture are held at very low levels, often through a circulating purifier that removes both.Intermediate3 min

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