ACD Gas Calibration Gas Generators Frequently Asked Questions

• What is ACD Calibration Gas?
  

Simply put, Advanced Calibration Designs calibrators are gas generation devices that are superior to the previous approaches to gas sensor calibration equipment for the health and safety industries.
Advanced Calibration Designs exceed the limitations of all previous forms of calibrating gas monitors. They do this through Integrated and Expandable products that provide the backbone of the new era in calibration gas standards.

• What is economical gas standards?
  Historically, calibration gas came in the form of cylinders, which have severe limitations.  Cylinders of cal gas are most often filled almost entirely with air, which makes them extremely inefficient.  99.999% of a 10 PPM cylinder of any gas is simply clean dry air. ACD uses the background air at the calibration point to blend with the desired gas which provides enormous advantages. 
  
  
• What is calibration gas on-demand?
  ACD products generate the gas on demand rather than storing it, providing many advantages over the old approaches. Since there is no gas present until the user requests it, and the gas is never under pressure. ACD products are safe for air transport and do not deteriorate over time. It is not uncommon for customers to use the same calibration source for 5, 10 or even 15 years of calibration
  The on-demand generation of the gas allows a single calibration source to generate adjustable concentrations. Cylinders are a single fixed concentration. Most ACD generating sources can provide concentrations of between 0.25 and 125 parts per million. In addition to this, the flow rate can be varied between 0.2 and 1.0 liters per minute using the internal pump. Calibrations of sample drawing gas detectors can be accommodated by the use of the internal mass flow sensor.
  
  
•  What are the expandable capabilities for gas monitor calibration?
  

Our products are integrated and expandable, with a single hand-held product smaller than a 58-liter cylinder, the end-user can have up to 10 different gases and hundreds of hours of cal gas at his disposal. Best yet, your service technician can get on a plane with a single checked bag and be on site ready to calibrate a multitude of different sensors.

Our current lineup of available gases includes: ammonia, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hexane, hydrogen, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and toluene.

• What does innovative gas monitor calibration?
  ACD products are designs that continue to evolve and expand for the future needs of the industry.  At ACD, we continue to add new gases to our existing line of instruments. As these sources become available, they will be integrated into use with the instruments you already have. Our goal is to provide gases for any manufacturer’s instruments at any flow requirement or concentration required by the end-user at the point of calibration. 
  Unlimited shelf life, safe air transport, selectable flow and concentration, interchangeable gases, small, portable, and extremely accurate. 
  
  
•  Why do I need to calibrate my gas monitor?
  Generally, gas monitors are placed in potentially hazardous areas that are damaging to monitor systems, causing degradation over time. Zero and span levels will vary as the gas sensors age and are exposed to harsh environments. All sensors have finite lifespans and must be replaced periodically, and to test that the sensors are responding correctly, each sensor needs to be exposed to the gas that it is detecting to confirm it is working and is reading accurately. This ensures safety in the workplace, preventing the frustration of false alarm conditions. Many sensors will read zero concentration, appear to be working, and read zero when exposed to gas when they are no longer working. Bump testing and calibration will confirm if the sensor in question is indeed working correctly.
  
  
• How often do I need to calibrate my gas monitor?
  There are no hard and fast rules governing the frequency that your sensor needs to be calibrated. General guidelines are suggested by your manufacturer for the system you have. In general, you should calibrate your sensors on a fixed schedule and then see how it responds. If you start by calibrating them every week, and you notice they are always right on the span and zero values, you may move the frequency back to every other week and go from there. It is really hard to give general rules because every environment is different, but certainly calibrate your sensors after any event, such as a leak in that area where the sensor has come in contact with the gas. We suggest that a new system start with a periodic calibration as suggested by the manufacturer, and then adjust it as you monitor the performance of your system from calibration to calibration.  
  
  
• How do I calibrate my gas monitor?
  Calibrating a gas detector is the process exposing the sensor to a known zero air source, adjusting the sensor to read zero, adjusting it to a known concentration of the gas that is in question, then adjusting the sensor to read that value. The best calibration gas concentration would be near the alarm level of the sensor in question, ensuring the highest accuracy at that level.
  
  
• How accurate is a Cal 2000 calibration gas cylinder?
  Electrochemical Calibration Gas Instrument accurate calibration gas generation. The Cal 2000 provides up to 100 times as much calibration gas as a disposable cylinder at a fraction of the cost. The Cal 2000 provides unmatched versatility and accuracy in calibration gases. Field replaceable calibration gas sources (generating cells) provide a  calibration standard for accurately testing Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen, Hydrogen Cyanide and Hydrogen Sulfide gas detectors with a single instrument.
  
  
• Why would I buy an ACD instrument rather than a cylinder of cal gas?
  Our gas instruments are more accurate, versatile, price effective and environmentally friendly than cylinders.
  
  
• How do the instruments work?
  There is a liquid containing generating source inserted into the instrument. Current is passed through the source and calibration gas is generated on demand and blended with air to create calibration gas or it simply permeates out and is blended with air to create calibration gas.
  
  
• Do ACD calibration gas instruments support multiple languages?
  Yes, many are multiple language capable. Go to the individual languages page to learn how to change the language of your instrument: Deutsch Espanol Francais Portuguese. 
  
  
• How do I know how much calibration gas I have left?
  Each instrument has an indicator that warns the user before he runs out of cal gas.
  
  
• How long do the calibration gas sources last?
  We have a range of gas sources that run from 2 to 100 hours of use, roughly the equivalent of 2 to 100 cal gas cylinders at a fraction of the cost.
  
  
• Can I use one instrument to generate more than one type of cal gas?
  Most instruments can be used with several gas sources. For instance, you can have one CAL 2000 instrument and five different generating sources for it.
  
  
• Does altitude or temperature effect the instrumentation?
  Yes, but the instrumentation ranges from all internal self adjustment to easily user adjustable settings.
  
  
• What does it mean when my instrument reads 'source failure'?
  Usually it means that the instrument is not recognizing the source. Check the four pin connector and ribbon connector for corrosion and clean if necessary. It may also mean that the electrolyte level of the generating source is low. The level should be about < from the top. Distilled water can be added if necessary.
  
  
• What does it mean when my instrument reads 'flow too low'? 
  'Flow too low' means that the internal pump in the instrument cannot achieve the flow rate you have set the instrument to operate at. Look for a restriction in the calibration equipment such as a kink in the hose or a small orifice in the calibration cup. Insure free flow for the instrument through the calibration equipment.
  
  
• My instrument is due for calibration, what do I need to do? 
  Contact Customer Service  to obtain an RMA #.
  
  
• Does the flow rate affect the output?
  The flow rate determines the minimum and maximum concentrations. The concentration does not change the output but rather limits it. We rate our cells at 0.5 LPM. If you pass a certain current across our cell at 0.5 LPM, the output would be halved at 1.0 LPM.
  
  
• Why is my CAL 2000 instrument reading flow too low? 
  The CAL 2000 instrument has an internal mass flow sensor that measures the flow through the unit and is used to control the flow. If the sensor is not seeing the flow that the user has asked for, it shows a flow too low error and then shuts off. The reason for this is so that the calibration gas concentration is accurate. Typical reasons for the flow too low error include flow restrictive calibration adaptors, as well as customers who are trying to calibrate a sample drawing sensor with a lower flow rate than our unit is providing. Sample drawing systems can be calibrated by setting the flow to zero on the CAL 2000 and attaching the hose to the sensor. The CAL 2000 will read the sample draw flow and then you may set the desired calibration of calibration gas and calibrate the sensor. If calibration adaptor is too restrictive, the restriction needs to be reduced so that the pump in the CAL 2000 can achieve the desired flow rate. If there seems to be no external issues, the problem may be with the pump itself. The pump is pressed into place and can be knocked out if the instrument takes a good fall. If that occurs, simple placing the pump back into its’ place and the problem should be solved. If the pump is installed correctly but still failing it may be because of the rotary vanes in the pump. These vanes throw out when the motor turns and can get jammed by dust. If you suspect that this is the problem, the pump can be removed by gently siding it straight back from the hose connectors. Compressed air can be forced though the pump through the nipples on the top of the pump and this very often will dislodge the dirt in the pump and the pump can be reinstalled in the instrument and will often solve the problem.
  
  
• Does the flow rate affect the output on the CAL 2000?
  When you change the flow rate on the CAL 2000, the range of output changes. If you are flowing at 0.5 LPM, you can choose any output between 0.5 PPM and 50 PPM. If you have the flow set to 1.0 LPM, you may select any output between 0.25 ppm and 25 PPM. If you have selected 0.2 LPM of flow, you may select from 1.25 to 125 PPM. So the real range with one cell is .25 to 125 PPM, this full range can be achieved by altering the flow rate of the instrument.
  
  
• Do you need to download a copy of our user manual for your instrument?
  Please search our web site for your product using the search bar. If you need any additional help, do not hesitate to get in touch.
  
  
• How is the flow controlled in the GENie QC-1? 
  The GENie QC-1 utilizes a sealed glass ampoule with an ammonia solution inside as the source for the ammonia gas. Once the user breaks the vial and places it inside the instrument, the ammonia permeates out of the ampoule at different rates depending on many variables. The user selects the concentration of calibration that they want, say 50 PPM. The instrument then adjusts the flow rate in order to achieve that output and displays the flow rate to the user. There is a coarse adjust knob that user can change in order to achieve the concentration that is required. If the user sets the output to 50 PPM and the instrument then can’t achieve that output, it will give a “output too low” indication. At that point the user adjusts the coarse adjust knob until the required output can be achieved. The instrument will stabilize and run at that 50 PPM level and display the flow rate. The flow will be between 0.2 and 1.0 LPM.
  
  
• How does the CAL 101 Bump Test instrument track 350 bumps?
  A memory chip inside the source keeps track of the number of bumps used and how long the button is pressed down.
  
  
• What is portable calibration gas generator?
  

Want to solve stability or transportation problems with special gas mixtures in disposable cylinders? 

Then switch to the Advanced Calibration Designs (ACD) (USA) hand-held, battery operated Cal 2000 and generate, on site, a range of reactive gas mixtures in balance gas purified ambient Air. The technique is based on ISO 6145-11 Preparation of Calibration Gas Mixtures using Dynamic Volumetric Methods - Part 11 Electrochemical Generation.   

ACD CAL2000 has been sold world-wide since 1999, and is the only ATEX for EU and CSA approved for world-wide gas generation for usage in hazardous areas. It is available with interchangeable cells, standard 50 hours generating capacity and in some cases 100 hours, always with balance gas Air. Users can choose one or more generating cells from Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide, Hydrogen Cyanide and Hydrogen. The complete generating unit weighs less than 2 Kg, is operated by  Duracell batteries, is designed to be hand-held and supplies dynamic gas mixtures on demand - no fuss, no transportation problems (as with cylinders), and unlimited shelf life. ACD and Spantech offer a back-up service which enables the CAL2000 to be re-certified every year to USA NIST standard +/-10% or +/-5% accuracy on some cases on request. 

• What is low-cost PPM gas generator means?
  Many reactive gases at PPM level are difficult to store in cylinders with limited shelf lives. ACD’s new low-cost option for gas generation of PPM chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, chlorine dioxide and ozone.
  Many of these gases start at around €1000 for a full generator with a generator cell. The rugged new ACD generators offer unlimited shelf lives, production on demand (so no gas storage issue), no cylinder disposal is required, so this is the greener option, easy transportation by air or other means, multiple gases generated from one unit and certified accuracies. 
  
  
• What is the future of calibration gas generators/solutions?
  Eliminate the need for cylinders of reactive gases with on-demand generation, to NIST standards, at a fraction of the cost of bottled gas, no shelf life and no transport issues, take it with you wherever you go, up to 8 gases in a single case. Portable and simple to use, the future of reactive, toxic gas calibration, from ppb to high ppm levels. 
  
  
• How should the Correct Calibration Gas Mixtures from Handheld Gas Generators be?
  

GENie calibration system, available from Spantech (UK), is ACD’s most versatile and accurate calibration system. Parts per million (ppm) and sub-ppm levels of calibration gases are generated at the point of use. The list includes Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen, Hydrogen Sulphide, Hydrogen Cyanide, Ozone, Ammonia, Toluene and Hexane.  Any base unit can be paired with different source modules to generate the desired ppm level in Air as a calibration standard. Internal mass flow sensors accurately calibrate at any temperature or altitude. The sources for Ammonia, Toluene and Hexane provide 96 hours of calibration gas.

The GENie O3 is small, lightweight, portable generator used for fixed points and hand-held detectors. The user adjustable concentration levels has LCD setting between 0.2 and 1.0 PPM which will calibrate most Ozone gas sensors. The internal mass flow sensor and ultraviolet light source provide accurate levels of Ozone gas with an expected life of up to 500 hours of use. The GENie O3 comes with a NIST certificate of calibration to +/- 10 %, providing exceptional accuracy as well as high precision. 

The GENie QC-1 Ammonia utilises a sealed glass ampoule which is broken to produce up to 8 hours of Ammonia gas. A 12 pack of these vials is provided with the instrument gives up to 96 hours of calibration gas. Replacement vials are economical, making the GENie QC-1 a perfect tool for calibrating fixed or portable Ammonia sensors. With user adjustable outputs, the instrument can be set from 10 to 150 PPM. This compact and rugged instrument is built for use in the harshest environments, and is supplied in a strong nylon carrying case. Its ergonomic design and easy to read LCD display lends itself to portability and ease of use in a safe environment.

We are proud to be the only authorised distributor of ACD Calibration Gas Instruments products in the United Kingdom.