Overview
The percentage-level (%) Krypton (Kr) thermal conductivity analyzer utilizes highly stable Thermal Conductivity Detection (TCD) technology. It is widely used in air separation units (ASU) rare gas extraction, insulating glass unit (IGU) gas filling, semiconductor excimer laser gas blending, and advanced lighting manufacturing. Delivering precise, online measurements of Kr concentrations in binary or quasi-binary mixtures (such as Kr/Ar, Kr/Air, or Kr/Xe, it monitors filling saturation in energy-efficient windows, tracks purification efficiency in distillation columns, and ensures precise mixing ratios for high-end industrial processes.
Principle
When the sample gas enters the thermal conductivity cell, and a thermistor is used above the film to maintain a constant temperature. In this way, a small cavity is formed below and above the membrane, and the measurement gas can diffuse into it. In this way, the heat loss caused by the thermal conductivity of the sample gas is compensated by heating, and the power required to maintain a constant temperature of the membrane is a measurement of the thermal conductivity of the measured gas.
Application
• Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) & Energy-Efficient Window Manufacturing
Gas-Filling Verification: Real-time measurement of Kr concentration (typically targeting 90% to 95% Kr balanced with Air or Argon) during the automated gas-filling process of double or triple-pane insulating glass windows.
Thermal Insulation Quality Control: Non-destructive or online sampling to verify that the filled window units maintain the required krypton concentration to achieve designed thermal performance (low U-factor).
• Air Separation Units (ASU) & Rare Gas Purification (Kr/Xe Extraction)
Krypton-Xenon Column Monitoring: Continuous analysis of Kr concentration during the extraction and distillation of crude Kr/Xe mixtures from liquid oxygen loops in cryogenic air separation plants.
Noble Gas Refining: Monitoring final purification stages where krypton is separated from xenon to verify product purity before bottling and distribution.
• Semiconductor Lithography & Excimer Laser Gases
Excimer Laser Gas Blending (KrF lasers): Precise quality control and ratio monitoring of laser gas mixtures containing percentage-level krypton (Kr) blended with neon (Ne), fluorine (F_2), and argon (Ar) used in deep ultraviolet (DUV) photolithography scanners.
Laser Chamber Atmosphere Recycling: Monitoring and verifying Kr concentration in specialized gas recovery systems designed for expensive laser-source chambers.
• Advanced Lighting & Specialty Lamp Production
Incandescent & Halogen Lamp Filling: Measuring the concentration of Kr gas mixtures used inside energy-saving incandescent bulbs, halogen headlights, and mining lamps, where Kr's heavy atomic mass retards tungsten filament evaporation, extending bulb life.
Fluorescent and Glow Tube Manufacturing: Controlling the precise fill pressure and mixing ratio of Kr/Ar or Kr/Ne mixtures in neon sign tubes and energy-efficient fluorescent lamps.
Measurement components and ranges
• Kr: 0 ~ 10% up to 100%(Vol)
For detailed introduction, please refer to Thermal Conductivity Analyzer.