When purchasing a new combustion analyzer, there are several variables to explore to make sure you get the most out of it. This guide will help you determine key features that can help you get the most bang for your buck.

New Combustion Analyzer Buyers Guide

Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or a relative newcomer to the industry, there are several important factors to consider when buying a combustion analyzer, including:

• Accuracy
• Cost of Ownership
• Ease of Use
• Maintenance
• Safety

As technology evolves, so do technologies that allow for more efficient work while helping reduce the possibility of human error from beginning to end of the service process. Further, today’s technology makes all this possible without compromising on any of the above factors.

Advances such as documentation and reporting directly from the analyzer and mobile app, along with the ability to perform firmware upgrades at no cost, help greatly reduce error and cost of ownership.

The following list breaks down 10 advanced features to look for when considering a new combustion analyzer.

What to Look For in a New Combustion Analyzer

1) Intuitive User Interface

Gone are the days of having to fumble around with a manual or an instrument that may be challenging to use. While a comprehensive review of the instruction manual and any necessary training must occur, the intuitive design of modern combustion analyzers makes it possible to simply pick up a combustion analyzer and begin using it.

Tailor-made combustion analyzers, designed to work the way you think, will result in you spending much less time needing to frequently return to a lengthy instruction manual to figure out how the unit functions to perform the task at hand.

2) Interchangeable Batteries

With older combustion analyzers, batteries were either lithium-ion or disposable. The choice was one, or the other. Today, you have options such as the MSA Bacharach® PCA 400, that use both.  This makes it so you don’t have to worry about batteries dying in the field, as you can simply swap one for the other.

A lithium-ion battery can provide hours of operation. If the battery runs out and you don’t have time to charge it, simply swap it out with 4 × AA batteries, and you’re back in business.

3) Ability to add Sensors for NO, NO₂ and SO₂ 

In addition to an intuitive interface and interchangeable batteries, your new instrument should be able to grow with you. Industries and detection needs can change over time, or even from job to job.

New combustion analyzers today are expandable, so you can start with the basics, such as oxygen and carbon monoxide sensors, but then add other sensors in the field when necessary.

So, if the job requires sensing different gases, such as a nitrogen oxide (NO_X) or sulfur dioxide (SO₂), newer models allow you to change the sensors instead of replacing your instrument.

4) Bluetooth^® Communications

Another useful feature of a new combustion analyzer is Bluetooth communication capabilities.

Tuning a boiler is just one example of how useful Bluetooth connectivity in a combustion analyzer can be. Boilers are tuned by pulling a flue gas sample from the stack. In the case of a rear breach boiler, hose extensions may be needed, which can result in added time to pull the flue gas sample from the boiler’s breach to where the burner is being set up.

With a Bluetooth-capable combustion analyzer, this doesn’t have to be the case. Using the Bluetooth-capable device, you can use the standard hose length and transmit test results directly to your iPhone, iPad, or Android device to get continuous readouts. Because your Bluetooth-enabled analyzer is connected to an app, you get results fast while being able to both analyze and document your report from your smartphone.

5) Sensor Advancements

Another consideration is sensor advancements. For example, to prevent cross-sensitivity and provide more accurate test results with a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor, a filter removes nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and the sensors are hydrogen-compensated to provide flue gas samples with more accurate CO readings. Oxygen sensor technology has also advanced to the point that sensor life is expected to be up to 5-7 years.

6) Integrated Hose and Probe Connections

Newer analyzers now have an integrated hose and probe. This has changed the way these components connect to the analyzer, allowing for a simpler attachment than older combustion analyzers. Today’s technology allows for the hose and probe to connect with a quick one-click-into-place attachment style.

7) Integrated Magnetic Boot

New analyzer designs come with integrated magnets, eliminating the need to buy optional magnetic boots or cover accessories for the analyzers. This allows you to attach the analyzers to the back of the boiler and remain hands-free while conducting a test.

8) Touch Screen

A touch screen on a new combustion analyzer is no longer a luxury. Some newer designs feature touch screens large enough for you to read at distances of at least 4 feet. These industrial touch screens also allow for easily tailored preferences when viewing customer data. This feature is a convenient extension of the analyzer’s intuitive characteristics.

9) Data-logging

Modern analyzers feature more intuitive data logging capabilities, allowing users to quickly capture and view results in various ways. Technicians can also save this data for comparison during future scheduled maintenance activities. This means workers could pull up maintenance history when returning to a site, making it easier to schedule future maintenance and potentially perform soon-to-be-needed maintenance in the same visit.

Workers can also download data to a computer and create things like charts and graphs for customers. With this easy-to-interpret data readily available, technicians can better inform customers of the work being done for them.

10) Calibrations Performed within the Analyzer

The latest technology in new combustion analyzers enable them to virtually perform calibrations for you and transfer all sensor information using Near Field Communication (NFC). This improves the accuracy of results.

Using NFC technology, technicians can simply tap the new sensor to the combustion analyzer, which provides the calibration code and type of sensor. It also identifies which position a technician should place the sensor within the analyzer and gives the user a calibration confirmation message.

Consider a New Combustion Analyzer Now to Provide Best Quality Service

Using a combustion analyzer with the 10 features above can help you get the most from your device and set you apart from the competition. At the end of the day, the quality of your work says a lot about you and your business. The analyzer you use should be fast, accurate, reliable, and durable. It should empower you to offer premium service while being able to show the value of your work to your customers. Just as much as you stand behind the work you do, the instruments you use should stand behind you.

If you think that your current combustion analyzer falls short in these areas, it’s time to consider a newer instrument that will provide the advanced capabilities necessary to maintain a business in today’s market.

If you’re looking for a combustion analyzer that incorporates multiple premium features, including the 10 key features mentioned above, consider the MSA Bacharach® PCA 400 handheld combustion and emissions analyzer. Powered by state-of-the-art technologies, it offers the key features necessary for commissioning, tuning, maintaining, and certifying  boilers.