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30 years ago

30 years ago

Product catalog summary
Introduction
The document discusses the development and impact of the K2000, a pioneering device in air separation technology, and its evolution into the N2Sense, a leading online process gas analyzer.

Specifications and Development
The K2000, developed by Kontol Analytik, was a significant innovation weighing about 60 pounds. It required custom manufacturing and assembly due to the lack of comparable technology at the time. This device marked a major advancement in air separation facilities, setting a standard that is still widely used today.

Technological Advancements
In 1993, Yves Gamache introduced the first digital analyzer for detecting nitrogen in argon and helium, utilizing spectroscopic emissions of low-power plasma. This technology overcame the limitations of the previous argon ionization detector, which relied on a radioactive source and had issues with cross-sensitivity and moisture.

Current Innovations
The N2Sense represents the latest in online process gas analyzers, offering ultra-compact technology that performs significantly better than its predecessors. It includes comprehensive connectivity options, reflecting continuous innovation by ASDevices and Yves Gamache.

Historical Context
The document highlights the transition from older technologies, such as the argon ionization detector developed by James Lovelock, to the interference-free digital analyzer by Gamache, which eliminated the need for radioactive sources and improved measurement accuracy.
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Catalog excerpts

30 years ago-1

World’s First N2-in-Argon Digital Analyzer Was Born In 1993, Yves Gamache created the world’s first digital analyzer to detect N2 in argon and helium, a completely interference-free device based on spectroscopic emissions of low-power plasma. Until then, the dominant technology for the measurement of N2 in argon was based on the argon ionization detector using the ion mobility principle, developed by James Lovelock. The detector used a small radioactive source, tritium foil, that generated high-speed beta radiation slowed down by the argon flow, turning into metastable that finally ionized the nitrogen impurity. Major drawbacks included managing the source of radioactive waste, as well as dealing with strong cross-sensitivity, meaning the response to CH4 and CO was the same as N2. Moisture was also an issue. The new technology created by M. Gamache eliminated these problems. The new device was quite bulky, weighing about 60 pounds. Since nothing comparable existed at the time, the new components had to be manufactured and assembled by hand, by the manufacturer Kontol Analytik. This major innovation – called K2000 – was the result of over 1 year of research and development. Yves Gamache and the K2000 (1993 edition) N2Sense 2023 It also marked the starting point of what became a worldwide standard for air separation facilities. Still today, most of them use a system based on this patented technology. Currently, the N2Sense is the best online process gas analyzer on the market, with its ultra-compact technology that performs 100 times better and offers all required connectivity options. Along with the ASDevices team, Mr. Gamache has never stopped innovating. The company is very proud to now offer its most recent generation of online process analyzers, called the Sense l

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