Analysis of Trace Carbon Monoxide (CO) in Hydrogen Fuel Using Jetanizer™

User Benefits

- Use of the Jetanizer, FID nozzle-type methanizer, makes it possible to detect carbon monoxide (CO) by FID, enabling analysis with a simple system configuration. - Trace analysis of CO and CO₂ with excellent repeatability is possible, even with N₂ carrier gas.

Introduction

In recent years, accompanying the development of fuel cell technologies that generate electricity using hydrogen (H₂) fuel, popularization of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and home fuel cell systems is progressing. Because the main impurities that reduce the efficiency of hydrogen fuels are carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and methane (CH₄), the international standard ISO 14687-2 specifies allowable concentrations of these impurities. One GC detector that can be used to analyze these impurities in hydrogen fuels is BID (Barrier discharge Ionization Detector), which uses helium (He) as the carrier gas. However, recent He supply problems have heightened demand for high-sensitivity analysis using an alternative carrier gas. The Jetanizer is an FID nozzle-type methanizer, in which a catalyst is packed inside the nozzle. Although conventional FID is not sensitive to CO and CO₂, these compounds can be converted to CH₄, which can then be analyzed by FID, by replacing the FID nozzle with the Jetanizer and slight changes in the analysis conditions. Use of the Jetanizer enables highly sensitive simultaneous analysis of CO, CO₂, CH₄ and other compounds with N₂ carrier gas. This Application News article introduces an example of analysis of CO (allowable concentration: 0.2 ppm), which is one of the impurities in hydrogen fuels, using the Jetanizer and a Shimadzu Brevis GC-2050 gas chromatograph. For details concerning the performance of the Jetanizer, please refer to Application News 01-00599. This analysis was conducted with a Brevis GC-2050, which achieves uncompromising analysis performance in a space-saving instrument. In comparison with this company’s existing GCs, the GC-2050 has an approximately 35 % smaller installation footprint, and also contributes to enhanced productivity.

19 de noviembre de 2024 GMT