BUYER'SGUIDE
CONTROL Combustion system. Ionic Fuel Technology, Inc., offers the IFT combustion system, which improves fuel efficiency, decreases gaseous emissions, and reduces boiler maintenance for heating and power generation plants. By adding negatively charged ions to the combustion air, the system increases the speed and extent of combustion reactions. This leads to thermal efficiency gains of approximately 3%, an average 3% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, as well as reduced volumes of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, soot, and total particulates. 120 Massflowcontroller. Sierra Instruments, Inc., introduces its Side-Trak mass flow meters and controllers line. The instruments' platinum sensor reduces sensitivity to environmental changes and eliminates zero and span drift. The units deliver a typical set point accuracy of less than 1% across the entire flow range, and in a twoyear test, the sensor's maximum deviation was less than 0.5%. 121 Polyethylene geothermal piping. Equistar Chemicals, LP produces the high molecular weight resin used to manufacture high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for thermal heat exchangers. HDPE offers several advantages for geothermal energy piping, including durability in contact with many chemicals and extreme temperatures, crack and abrasion resistance, as well as an excellent strength-toweight ratio. HDPE pipe used in geothermal energy systems typically has a 50-year life expectancy. 122
FIELD TESTING VOCs in water. Envirol, Inc., markets Quick Test, a field analytical test kit to measure halogenated volatile organic compounds (HVOCs), including trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and
trihalomethanes, in water. This small, portable instrument has a detection limit of below 5 ppb, based on a photochemical reaction that produces coloration proportional to the HVOC concentration in water. Results are reached in approximately 15 min. 123
LABORATORY Spectrometer. Oxford Instruments, Inc., introduces its Lab-X 3000 benchtop energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. This flexible analyzer does not use radio-isotopes, hazardous chemicals, or complex dilutions. Application packages are available to analyze waste oils for sulfur, chlorine, and lead. Solids, liquids, or powders are analyzed with little or no preparation, and testing is usually completed in 60 s. 124
MEASUREMENT Chlorophyll measurement. Hach Co. presents its chlorophyll analysis system for quantitatively estimating phytoplankton biomass in water. This spectrophotometric method, a simplified version of Standard Method 10200, utilizes the 4-nm bandwidth of Hach's DR/4000 UV-vis scanning spectrophotometer to measure chlorophyll-a and pheophytin-a. 125 Thermocouple thermometer. Dwyer Instruments, Inc., introduces its L472 digital thermocouple thermometer. This hand-held microprocessor-based thermometer is designed for use with Type I or Type K thermocouples. It features a display backlight for use in low light conditions, a 20-min automatic power-off, an ANSI standard minijack connector, and storage and recall of up to 25 measurements in differential or normal modes. 126
MONITORING Hazardous gas. Capital Controls Co., Inc., introduces the Chloralert Plus hazardous gas monitor designed to rapidly measure the presence of ppm levels of chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, or ozone. The unit can accept input from up to four independent sensors with multiple alarm relays. The backlit LCD displays short-term exposure limits, time-weighted averages, calibration data, alarm settings, and an alarm history for each sensor. 127
SAFETY Hand protection. Best Manufacturing, Inc., offers the Chemrest chemical resistance guide for determining appropriate hand protection for working with toxic chemicals. This computer program, available on diskette or as a free download at http://www.bestglove. com, details the toxicity and risk hazards of more than 200 common chemicals. 128 Petroleum leak detection. Whessoe Varec and Fiberchem's subsidiary FCI Environmental installed their new PetroSense petroleum leak detection system at two above-ground storage tank facilities in Florida. These early warning systems allow tank operators to economically retrofit internally lined tanks to meet Florida's stringent new environmental regulations for above-ground storage. The systems, based on fiber-optic chemical sensors, have been approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for use in both contaminated and uncontaminated sites and can be installed without taking tanks out of service. 129 For more information on products and services mentioned in "Buyer's Guide," use the Electronic Reader Service cards found via ES&T's Web site.
MAY 1, 1999 /ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES TECHNOLOGY/ NEWS • 2 1 5 A
