Beta Pack

An Ecotron is an experimental facility used in ecological research to study the effects of environmental changes, such as climate change, on ecosystems. It typically consists of a set of controlled environments, such as rooms or chambers, where environmental conditions can be manipulated and monitored, such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 levels. These rooms required fine control of their gas composition over time. Hence the need to analyze their gas atmosphere at regular intervals. 

Our multiplexer gas analyzer was assembled for a wide range of applications. In this case, the schematic represents an Ecotron with 12 individual chambers that are fed with a mix of gas. The system is built around our fast and accurate pressure-driven flow controller, OB1 with one channel, to flow the gas from the input to the output. The aim of a multiplexer gas analyzer is to choose which line of the system is analyzed at a specific time point. By utilizing 3/2 valves, the gas flow can be directed to specific chambers or towards the analyzer. Subsequently, each output can be analyzed individually by controlling the configuration of the 3/2 valve. In this setup, only one line of pressure is employed, which is split between the different chambers to draw gas from the inlet to the outlet. Flow rates can be monitored and regulated thanks to the BFS flow sensors. 

Elveflow offers a tailored solution with high versatility, which enables good control of multiple gas lines and automated measurement acquisition.

MULTIPLEX GAS ANALYZER: THE SETUP

Hardware:

• OB1 pressure controller with as many channels as many independent lines to control
• 1x mass flow sensor (BFS)
• 3/2 valves (twice as much as the number of chambers)
• Valve controller
• Tubings and fittings
• Elveflow SDK (C++ / Matlab /  Labview / Python) or serial communication protocol

What you should have from your end:

• Gas analyzer