Efficient gas management is important for any laboratory that utilizes gas cylinders, dewars or generators for applications such as gas chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry or life science experiments requiring precise environmental control. Failing to properly regulate gas pressure, track gas usage and prevent gas waste can cost a laboratory time and money, and can even interfere with test results, yet any manual process for tuning, monitoring and switching gas sources also adds more time to an analyst’s work day. An automatic gas management system recently launched by Harris Products Group aims to streamline and improve these crucial processes with a data-centered approach to maximizing efficiency.
The DataSMART system is a fully automatic switchover manifold system with monitoring, tracking and reporting capabilities suitable for both low-pressure and high-pressure applications and a wide range of gas sources. The system includes a touch screen display, an integrated telemetry system that provides real-time readings and alerts, customizable options for bank switching, and historical data storage, so lab managers and users can track gas consumption trends over time.
The automatic switchover system keeps gas flowing at a constant pressure when it is necessary to switch gas supply from a primary to reserve cylinder. For operations using liquid dewars, DataSMART monitors pressure on the primary cylinder after switching to the secondary container and utilizes a check back feature to switch back to the primary source if pressure increases, ensuring maximum use of gas from the dewar and limiting the amount of unused gas when the dewar is returned to the gas distributor. The system also offers an option to set the desired switchover pressure level and can be controlled through the touch screen without the need to open the unit and change dip switches.
The telemetry system allows for pre-set trigger points so real-time alarm notifications can be transmitted directly through email or text. The system also records the dates and times of every switchover and can be used to schedule deliveries precisely when they are needed and for the exact amount needed in order to optimize efficiency.
“The DataSMART line of automatic switchover manifolds is the first product to offer the users a full view of their gas process for their industrial, specialty gas, and medical application, with pressure and flow monitoring, data collection and customizable alerts that can be received anywhere in the online or connected world,” said Randy Edenfield, director of engineering equipment at Harris Products.
Also available is a subscription service, DataSMART Production Analytics, that records and analyzes data to provide practical insights into productivity and efficiency. Computers or mobile devices can be synced through a secure, cloud-based system to access their reports and analytics. Another optional feature is DataSMART’s mass flow meter that allows lab managers to generate reports on how much gas has been used over the past hour, month or year etc., so users can gain a better understanding of their overall usage based on precise measurements of gas volume used over time or for specific projects.
“If you cannot measure a business process, you cannot improve upon it,” said David Gailey, manager of specialty gas products at Harris Products. “We are committed to assisting customers with all gas delivery and application solutions. We developed DataSMART to help businesses utilize data to make informed decisions that will improve their operations.”