Environmental gas analysis techniques - 2012

Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is a relatively new gas analysis technique that has become quite popular in a number of industries, including those focusing on environmental applications. It provides major advantages for selected gas analysis applications and should see demand continue to grow, even in a difficult economic environment.

TDLAS is a fairly recent development within the spectroscopy sector. The use of a laser source instead of an optical filter combined with a conventional lamp provides a much narrower linewidth and results in a more sensitive and selective instrument that can measure sub-part-per-million levels of many gases. The rapid development and improvement of inexpensive, lower power, and rugged lasers have allowed the TDLAS market to develop over the past decade. Although TDLAS instruments can measure only a single gas per sensor, they are more rugged and easier to maintain than conventional nondispersive infrared (NDIR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) gas analysis instruments. These advantages make TDLAS particularly attractive for monitoring emissions in industrial settings.

The global market for TDLAS-based analyzers in the environmental sector will total around $30 million in 2012. This consists primarily of instruments used for continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS), while portable and fixed-site ambient systems also are included. Although this market cannot avoid being impacted by a weak global economy, demand should still experience some growth in 2013 before picking back up to a more robust pace.

The foregoing data were derived from research for SDi's upcoming market analysis and perspectives report titled Environmental Analysis Instrumentation: Monitoring the Health of our Planet, January 2013. For more information, contact Stuart Press, Vice President, Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242 Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (310) 641-4982, fax: (310) 641-8851, http://www.strategic-directions.com/.