Gas Cells

CIC Photonics Gas Cells

Quality, innovation, and ruggedness are key characteristics that define our gas phase sampling cells. Our attention to detail has placed them at the top of the market for over 25 years! CIC Photonics expertise has developed and designed innovative custom cells. We work together with our customers to ensure that we are providing a reliable solution for their application. For over 25 years, we are proud to be the solutions provider when no alternative solution has exactly met a customer’s needs. Our gas cells offer the highest optical throughput performance in the market, not only offering the highest signal to noise ratio (SNR) for spectral analysis, but also the most accurate spectra collection. Each gas cell is maximized for energy throughput while performing a spectral shift accuracy verification. A gas cell should not introduce any spectral shift that is due to the alignment process. Our gas cells are constructed of 316L Stainless Steel for maximum corrosion resistance. The gas cell bodies are coated with nickel to further enhance anti-corrosive properties or can be electropolished. For more demanding applications the gas cells can be constructed out of Hastelloy C22 or C276. We understand the nature, toxicity, and corrosiveness of customer’s production chemistry used at their facilities. Our measured leak rate specs are the most stringent in the market for elastomer seals. We leak test all our gas cells via helium detector to leak rate levels below 1×10-8 cc/sec of Helium prior to shipment. (Typically, under 3×10-9 cc/sec of He).

Measured Leak Rate (cc/sec of He) 1×10-9 1×10-8 1×10-7 1×10-6
= = = = =
Expected Time to Leak 1cc 32 Years 3.2 Years 115 Days 11 Days

Long Path Gas Cells (White’s Cell Optical Configuration)

A long path gas cell, as a function of its pathlength, increases the interaction of the analytes with the beam of light, thus, yielding a higher absorptivity of the sample gas. There is a delicate balance between a longer pathlength and the total energy transmission of a gas cell. Improper gas cell optical design, poor optical alignment procedures, inferior quality of optical components and coatings can significantly reduce the SNR of the sample spectra. This will translate into a low-performance gas cell where the advantages of having a longer pathlength are lost. CIC Photonics has developed specialized cells for applications requiring demanding operating conditions, testing/sampling environments, and unique material requirements. CIC Photonics gas cell’s incorporates protected gold-coated mirrors with proprietary strata that bonds the reflective coatings and protects the mirrors from chemical attack. These mirrors provide over 98.5% reflectivity in the mid-infrared region, thus empowering the long path gas cell with extraordinary optical power throughput. Our superior mirrors are fabricated out of stainless steel or optional nickel. A caveat of using long path gas cells is the inherent larger volume in comparison to short path gas cells. We have engineered our long path gas cells with a laminar gas flow plenum to enter and exit the gas cell sampling ports. A typical gas cell requires 3 volume exchanges to have exchange 90% of its content (T90). Our gas cells reach T90 with only 2 volume exchanges. All of our long path gas cells exhibit these common features:

  • Internal temperature and pressure sensor options available
  • Fabricated out of 316L SS and can be electropolished or Ni coated
  • Continuous operational temperatures up to 315° C with certain seals
  • Various sealing material options depending on sample requirements
  • Evacuable to <1×10-7 Torr and can be pressurized up to 300psig / 20 bar (depending on optical windows).
  • VCR gas ports for gas sampling inlets and outlets, other options available.
  • Integrated optical purge box with movable reference optics for ease of background collection
  • Proprietary protected gold coated SS mirrors. Solid Ni mirror optional
  • Highest signal to noise ratio and optical spectral accuracy (spectral shift) of any gas cell available on the market
  • Input/output circumferential plenum provides a highly laminar flow and rapid gas sample exchange. (Two volume exchanges to T90)
  • Permeation cover for low moisture detection application
  • High thermal stability of sampling gas temperature enabled by circumferential plenum flow
  • Commonly offered optical windows are, but not limited to, Sapphire, AgCl, BaF2, CaF2, Ge, KBr, ZnSe, and ZnS
  • 120V and 240V heating package options that are tuned via PID loop to match thermal properties of a gas cell

Note: Italic text reflects unique characteristics of our gas cells

Ranger gas cell differentiators:

  • 9.6 m standard pathlength
  • 1.6-liter internal volume
  • Dual heating zone for enhanced thermal stability control.

4Runner gas cell differentiator:

  • 6 m standard pathlength (shorter pathlengths available at the factory)
  • 0.6-liter internal volume with a 0.34-liter option

Direct/Short Path Gas Cells

Our line of short path gas cells inherits most of the robust characteristics and features of our long path gas cells. The exceptions are laminar flow, optical purge box, and mirror specs since those are unique features of our long path gas cells. All of our short path gas cells exhibit these common features:

  • Internal temperature and pressure sensor options available
  • Fabricated out of 316L SS and can be electropolished or Ni coated. Hastelloy option available.
  • Continuous operational temperatures up to 315° C with certain seals
  • Various sealing material options depending on sample requirements
  • Evacuable to <1×10-7 Torr and can be pressurize up to 300psig/20 bar (depending on optical windows).
  • VCR gas ports for gas sampling inlets and outlets, other options available.
  • Three volume exchanges to T90
  • Commonly offered optical windows are, but not limited to, Sapphire, AgCl, BaF2, CaF2, Ge, KBr, ZnSe, and ZnS
  • 120V and 240V heating package options that are tuned via PID loop to match thermal properties of a gas cell

Scout Gas Cell Differentiators

  • 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm pathlengths available
  • 2.8ml volume per cm of pathlength.
  • Adjustable height for various spectrometer sample compartment fitment or table mount
  • Fiber optic coupling option available

CRV Gas Cell Differentiators

  • 1mm up to 5cm pathlength options
  • 120V or 240V heaters available, 240V controller is CE certified
  • Adjustable height for various spectrometer sample compartment fitment or table mount
  • Cryogenic embedded cooling coil option for operation down to -40°
  • Pressure rating options up to 135 bar/2,000 psi

Cherokee Gas Cell Differentiators:

  • 1m path or custom length available
  • Fiber optic coupling option available
  • Brewster angle windows configuration option

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